I got Morganna (a female Burmese Blue) when she was two years old and she was found stealing food from a local hotel kitchen. When rescued she was very underweight and with diarrhoea from a very unsuitable diet. The rescue returned her to health, got her spayed, chipped and vaccinated before I adopted her. She was still somewhat underweight when I first got her. The rescue told me not to give her dry food as it gave her diarrhoea, and had been feeding her Sheba pouches.  I continued with this regime and for the first few months all was well. She was greedy for food and wolfing down 2.5 Sheba pouches every day, licking her bowl spotlessly clean. It did take her a long time (around 6 - 9 months) to settle and not run away from visitors, people walking past her, sudden etc. Probably to be expected as she was living on the street!!! She is not a lap cat, but liked to sit beside me and purr and liked a fuss (on her terms). She is very vocal and likes to greet me with her tail high and a friendly meow.

I've now had her for a couple of years and her eating habits have changed dramatically. She has become very fussy and goes off cat food flavours apparently on a whim (wasting quite a lot of food). She is now at a healthy weight, isn't losing weight (3.9Kg), but now only eats between 1.5 - 2 pouches a day (sometimes less). I have tried her on other types of food - she will sometimes eat Purina Gold, sometimes Sheba trays, but always leaves some in her bowl. I tried both Felix and Whiskas in the past but she wouldn't eat either. I did try her on Blink! having bought some when it was on offer - which she appeared to love, but when I bought a larger pack she wouldn't eat it at all (typical cat). Last year she seemed to prefer fish flavoured Sheba in gravy, rejecting Lamb, Duck and Turkey. This year, she's gone off the fish flavours and now prefers food in jelly :-( There are some things she will always eat - treats (meaty sticks and Dreamies) and steamed chicken breast - but a cat can't live on those long term!!! She won't eat raw meats at all. On the days were she rejects the whole bowl of food at two meals, I'll offer some steamed chicken breast - and I think she's now manipulating me to get more chicken!!

I'd really like her to eat better quality complete cat food, so tried a test box from Untamed. On opening the tins, the food looks and smells like human grade real meat and fish. Luckily she liked the chicken flavours (and cleaned her bowl), but was disgusted by the fish flavours, so I have ordered more of the chicken ones in the hope she will eat these.

I should add that I live on a farm and she has access to outside. I can't keep her in at night, as she goes out the cat flap to hunt in the barns for mice - and I'm sure she is eating these to supplement her (from her point of view) disappointing diet of cat food. She used to bring her "trophies" home and eat the mice in front of me - leaving the voles and shrews on my lap as a "gift", but she has stopped doing this of late - although I've seen her outside eating a mouse first thing in the morning on a couple of occasions. I think she has stopped bringing me "gifts" because she saw me throw them away!!

I have had cats most of my life and this is the first one that has become a fussy eater! I'd be more worried if she was losing weight, but her weight seems to remain stable even when she appears to be hardly eating much. She saw the vet in January for a health check and booster vaccination and the vet was happy with her health and weight. I'm really hoping I can find a way to waste less cat food!!

it may be hayfever.  If this is there first spring they may not be used to our pollens yet. 

For cats experiencing hayfever-like symptoms (like itchy skin, sneezing, or watery eyes), consult your veterinarian before giving any human antihistamines, as dosages and potential side effects can vary significantly in cats.
Here's a more detailed explanation:

    Consult Your Veterinarian:
    It's crucial to seek professional advice before administering any medication, including over-the-counter antihistamines, to your cat.

Commonly Used Antihistamines:
Your vet might recommend over-the-counter antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), or Claritin (loratadine).

Dosage:
The correct dosage for cats will be different from human dosages, and your vet will be able to provide the appropriate amount for your cat's size and condition.

Formulation:
Ensure you use the correct formulation of the medication, as some versions contain decongestants or pain relievers that can be harmful to cats.

Other Treatments:
In addition to antihistamines, your vet might recommend other treatments, such as steroids, fatty acid supplements, or other immune-modulating drugs, depending on the underlying cause and severity of the allergies.

Side Effects:
While generally safe, some cats might experience side effects from antihistamines, such as depression, dry mouth, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Preventative Measures:
Antihistamines are often better used as a preventative measure before the allergy season starts, rather than for addressing flare-ups.

Long-Term Management:
If your cat has chronic allergies, your vet may recommend long-term management strategies, such as immunotherapy (allergy shots) or immunosuppressive medications.

Thanks for the tips. Is it possible for creatures (including us) to suffer from hayfever during the winter? Both cats started sneezing 2 months after arrival - the first at Xmas and the second in late January.

I recently took both to the vet and they didn't know what it was. Their theory was "something that just flares up now and again like humans can get spells of sinus trouble for no obvious reason." Both cats though??

I was given a week's worth of an anti-inflammatory liquid and antibiotic tablets for both. No change. All it did was to make one of the cats throw up and me £200 lighter.

Hi
I haven’t personally heard of cats adopted from hotter countries sneezing in uk.

There will definitely be be a reason for it. A good clue is that both of them are doing it so
If all illnesses like cat flu, respiratory illness etc are all cleared by your vet for them both, it has to be something in the house causing it.
Try and work out what was about when they started sneezing. Have they food been changed? Any smalls or vapour about before?
Do they sneeze all the time or in certain rooms etc etc
Not heard of smoke causing excessive sneezing but it may be, try for a few days not smoking near them and see if it stops.

Common Causes of Cat Sneezing:
Allergies:
Cats can be allergic to things like dust, pollen, mold, or even certain foods.
Irritants:
Noxious odors, household chemicals, dust, or smoke can irritate a cat's nasal passages.

It’s trial and error to see what the cause can be.

X

 Hi
Firstly thank you so much for adopting from Greece, so many poor street cats there 

Good that you have seen your vet and I would suggest another visit for both to be safe.
However I am wondering if you have any air fresheners or sprays, plugins? Many of these are not good for cats and some dangerous.
https://www.thecatbutler.co.uk/cat-care-guides/are-air-fresheners-and-reed-diffusers-safe-for-cats-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=Many%20air%20fresheners%2C%20especially%20the,mild%20irritation%20to%20severe%20toxicity.

Give Henry and Hettie hugs from us

Hi thank you, yes he's still wanting to eat and is a really greedy cat.  I've not heard that about pumpkins but I'll give that a go thank you. 

Fingers crossed it works