Along with a checkup and a good diet, this easy acupressure session can help you deal with your picky eater.
If your cat is a picky eater, he’s not alone. Cats are often referred to as “capricious eaters”. There are several reasons for this – and several things you can do to help fix it.
For starters, your cat is a “protein addict”. This means that his diet should be rich in animal protein. The ancient Egyptians discovered and cultivated the talent of the cat to rid their grain of mice and other rodents. A mouse is made of bones, muscles and organs, with some vegetable content in the stomach. In other words, a mouse represents the natural balance of protein and complex carbohydrates that make up the ancient feline diet. The internal organs and nutritional requirements of today’s cats have not changed much from those of the marginally domesticated mice of ancient Egypt.
Second, in the wild, there is a six to eight week window during the kitten period during which the feline mother teaches her babies what is safe to eat. Once this structured knowledge is embedded in a kitten’s psyche, it is pretty much fixed for life. So if you offer a food that the mother hasn’t introduced, she’ll probably turn her nose up at it.
Finally, cats are predatory by nature. They prefer to eat small animals that they have just killed. Commercial pet food would not be their first choice and is not as nutritious as real meat.
Over thousands of years, cats have adapted to life with humans, but these basic instincts are still part of their makeup. A growing number of people are now feeding their cats foods that more closely represent the ancient feline diet, but many still struggle with picky behavior, especially when trying to introduce something new.
Loss of appetite – 3 steps to a solution
Proper nutrition and your cat’s ability to metabolize nutrients play an important role in their health and longevity. Anytime your cat’s appetite drops, you need to start by finding out if he’s just a picky eater or has a health problem.
1. There are many physical reasons a cat may not eat, including illness, injury, poisoning, stress, or aging issues. Eliminating them is always the first step in combating loss of appetite. A visit to the veterinarian is therefore essential, especially if the cat is vomiting and/or has diarrhea and/or has not eaten for more than 24 hours.
2. If your cat has no underlying medical issues, but still seems uninterested in what he is eating or not eating, the next step is to try different varieties of food to see what he likes. Proceed slowly and carefully – a sudden introduction of new foods can trigger diarrhea.
3. If your cat still needs an appetite boost, acupressure can help. Even if he has a medical condition, taking an integrative approach by combining acupressure with your vet’s recommendations can restore his appetite more easily. Through thousands of years of clinical observation, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have identified specific “acupuncture points” known to help stimulate appetite and aid in the absorption of nutrients.
Acupressure session
- Shan gen, “Base of the Mountain”: This “classic” acupuncture point is located just behind your cat’s nose, towards their eyes and on the midline. It is known to trigger an urge to eat. Starting at your cat’s nose, rub gently toward their eyes using the soft tip of your index finger. Continue rubbing this spot for a slow count of 20. This point is specifically used to stimulate appetite in animals and has the added benefit that most cats find it relaxing.
• Stomach 36 (St 36), “Master point for the gastrointestinal tract”: This point is commonly used for any appetite and digestive disorder. It is the benchmark for supporting the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. St 36 is located on the lateral side of the hind leg just below the knee joint (fat). Scratch this acupuncture point lightly for a slow count of 20.
• Spleen 3 (Sp 3): In Chinese medicine, the spleen is instrumental in breaking down food into a nutrient-rich substance that is the basis of blood. Sp 3 is an acupuncture point known to bring powerful energy to the entire digestive process. It is often used to resolve diarrhea or constipation as it balances energy in the abdomen. Gently place the soft tip of your thumb or index finger on Sp 3, which is located on the medial side of the hind leg just above the cat’s paw.
Take your time and enjoy this acupressure session with your cat. With veterinary care and healthy foods that mimic his ancestral diet as closely as possible, acupressure may be just what he needs to recover from being a picky eater.