Cats are domesticated pets whose gums and teeth are built for hunting and tearing the flesh from their hunt. However, today, cats are precious pets in our homes, and it is our obligation to care for them and provide them with all the nutrients their bodies need. Now that we must care for our pets, teaching them how to chew is among the things we must do.

The following are some of the ways to get your cat to chew his food:

1. Get Slow Feeding Bowls

Some cats have a tendency to eat too fast, thus not chewing their food as required. Slow eating bowls prevent the cat from eating too fast since they are inserted with grooves that slow down the eating time. When cats chew their food well, there will be proper digestion, thus preventing regurgitation.

2. Interactive Feeders

These types of feeders make the cat chew their food well before swallowing by slowing down the speed at which your cat eats its food. Another added advantage is that it prevents obesity in cats since the cat will eat less as compared to swallowing the food whole.

3. Avoid Giving Large Treats

Give your cat foods that are small enough to prevent your cat from choking. Large, dry pieces should be broken down to allow the cat to chew them.

4. Add Wet Food to Your Cats Diet

Wet food is soft and comes in small pieces. This makes chewing food less of an issue since this type of food does not cause choking hazards as compared to large chunks of food.

5. Get Your Cat Checked by a Vet

Sometimes your cat not chewing its food could be a result of an underlying issue such as an injury or stress. It is therefore advisable to take them for a checkup if you notice that they are not chewing their food as required.

Why Won’t My Cat Chew His Food?

The common question asked by cat owners is, Why won’t my cat chew his food? Here are five possible reasons why your cat refuses to chew your food:

1. Your Cat May Have a Periodontal Disease

According to research conducted by Josie Turner, a journal focused on animal welfare, periodontal disease is the primary cause of cats’ loss of teeth. An older cat not chewing food is primarily because of oral disease, as older cats are prone to periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria that eat into the tooth enamel and gums. It mainly occurs in cats who are three years old or older. The only solution is to brush your cats’ teeth often and ensure they get checked by a vet occasionally.

Other characteristics of periodontal disease include bad breath, breathing gums, drooling excessively, and failure to chew food. Ultimately, your cat will lose its appetite and stop eating entirely due to the pain and discomfort it experiences.

2. An Injury on the Jaw, Tongue, or Around the Mouth

If your cat has been hit and hurt, maybe during a cat fight or falling from a position, they may have difficulty chewing. You will need to identify that your cat has been injured on the jaw by checking for any swelling or a lost tooth.

You should also check if cats are chattering their teeth or smacking their lips in a fussy manner to signal pain. If you notice this, see a veterinarian, and do not assume that the jaw will heal by itself.

3. Check Whether It Has Been a Habit Not to Swallow

When kittens are born, they barely chew anything. They are used to milk, which is a fluid. Introducing them to solid foods will require you to be patient and teach them how to chew. Before a cat eats dry food, you will need to have trained them as the owner.

Since young kittens as young as five weeks old are very active, they can be easily trained on how to chew. You can start training them using chicken necks and let them tear them slowly as they reach for the meat. Make sure to be present to act so they don’t choke, and also be very patient.

At first, your cat may be afraid of the new thing, so the first day, it may reject it. However, repeat giving your kitten a fresh chicken neck every day. After they have learned to chew, you can start giving them different foods to see what they love the most.

4. Hygiene

Cats are naturally clean animals. They love it when they have separate points for enjoying their meal far from their litter box. If you have placed their meal near their litter box, your cat may be in a hurry to take the meal if their litter box emits some smell.

It is best to have a different spot where the cat eats so that they can enjoy their meal in a pleasant place. Like humans, animals also have feelings, and they enjoy comfort. A clean environment for their meals could be what your cat desires to chew food normally.

5. Change

Cats love to follow particular routines and enjoy the company of those they already know. A change in behavior with your cat could result from bringing in a new cat or a change in their normal daily activities.

Cats respond to the pressure from uncomfortable scenarios through behavior change. Eating quickly could be among the ways they change and result in not chewing their food enough. Changing their routines and bringing in new cats or people into a home causes insecurity for a cat.

6. Stress

Cats can get stressed for many reasons, such as an illness or any change in their lives. Even the slightest change, such as a change of furniture, can upset a cat. Stress can also be caused by the perception that the food is insufficient, which could also lead them to eat very fast.

Dealing with stress can be difficult, and some cats can lose their appetite entirely or fail to chew their food as they should. To help your cat deal with stress, you must identify what bothers them. It would help if you were patient with them.

Should I Worry If My Cat Does Not Chew Her Food and Throw Up?

Yes, you should worry if your cat does not chew her food, as many reasons could cause it. However, you do not have to worry about them throwing up as their body responds to the inability to digest unchewed food.

The digestive tract of a cat strains to digest whole, unchewed food and thus gets regurgitated. The main problem with throwing up is that your cat may lose weight and grow unhealthy. You should see a veterinarian to help identify why your cat won’t chew and get the needed help.

My Cat Doesn’t Chew Dental Treats. Is It Normal?

Yes, it is normal if your cat does not chew their dental treats. Your cat may not like the flavor of the treat you give them. Try different treats and see which one the cat enjoys. It would be best to be careful with the size of the treats so that you do not end up choking your cat.

Moreover, cats are designed to tear meat and not chew. It is through learning that they know how to chew. To avoid a scenario where your cat eats dry food without chewing, ensure you train your cat as early as possible so they can effectively swallow the food you give them and avoid choking.

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