My cats are possibly among the fussiest in the world, it is a complete nightmare trying to find a decent food that they like. Over the last few weeks I've been having some good success getting them used to Nature's Menu from Pets at Home. I bought one of the big 48 pouch boxes online (not available in store) last week, and it's like a completely different food!! It's different in colour, texture and smell, and the cats won't touch it.

I've used three of the 48 pouches, one of each flavour (I know people will tell me to persevere, but they aren't remotely interested, I know they won't go for it). I'm really fed up to now have a huge box of completely useless food which is so different from the previous ones. I can't afford to waste money like that. Do you think they will take back an opened box? Can they refuse if I'm not happy with the quality?

No, I certainly wouldn't recommend "perservering". Cats can and will be very stubborn and if something doesn't smell right to them, they will flat out not eat it even if very hungry.

Obviously whether it is returnable is dependent on the policy of the business that you are dealing with. The flipside of having a generous return policy of course is that you will forever be wondering when you buy something from them whether you are unknowingly buying (and paying full price) for somebody's return. I think gifting it to a shelter would be a wiser thing, unless you felt like the description was misleading, or the food was spoiled or whatever.

I went through a lot of this with my cats as well, and now I'm to the point where I have a pretty wide variety of things that I rotate, and if one of them turns their nose up at something, that's fine, they'll get some dry food for that meal, and the other two will devour their food, but honestly, it doesn't happen often now that we've settled on a firm rotation from trial and error.

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The little monsters 3

I realise you are in the Highlands, but is there a Pets at Home that you could get to?

If there is, I would take it in and explain to the manager and see if they will refund. Otherwise your best bet is to contact the head office and see if they will sort it out for you.

I tried Benji on the stuff from the shop and he turned his nose up at it! He is not normally fussy but he wouldn't eat it at all.


Heather

Some shops do take it back and refund.
I did it with sainsbury here.
I also did it with zooplus but they were not happy about it and I had to pay p&p which was high due to the weight .
I figured that next time I can't return food, I will donate it to the rescue centre.

I've had the same issue with natures menu however I had bought it on amazon. Daisy was eating it fine, woofed it down and licked her ate clean except this one batch from amazon. She sniffed it and walked off. I emailed amazon they refunded it and told me to dispose of it how I saw fit.

I spoke to someone who works in pets corner and she said it was probably stored wrong. Even she admitted its so easy for it to turn a bit funny and even they've changed how they store stock etc.

I would take it back and complain, or even ring up customer services so they can investigate how it's been stored. If it's been anywhere near heaters, it would have turned a bit.

Hey
I give my cats this and i've noticed that the last box of food that I've brought (the small multi-flavoured boxes) now has different pouch packaging and that the food is a different consistency - almost harder.
My boys don't love it as much and the tuna one caused one of the cats to throw up the other day.

Do you think it might be a recipe change?