A fussy eater is rarely fussy about everything. Usually there is one protein they will take and five they will not, and finding out which is which costs a small fortune in full-sized tins that end up in the bin. A variety set solves that cheaply, offering six flavours one at a time and a clear answer at the end of the week about what actually gets eaten.

The recipes are wet rather than dry, which is the format that tends to win over a reluctant eater. Moisture carries aroma, and aroma is most of what a cat or dog is judging in the second before they sniff a bowl and walk away from it. It also means more water goes in with the food, quietly useful for cats in particular, since they are poor drinkers and take most of their fluid from what they eat. Serve a portion alone or spoon some over the usual dry food.

• Six flavours: chicken, tuna, salmon, duck, beef and lamb
• Wet recipes with a strong aroma
• Suitable for both cats and dogs
• Works as a treat or as a topper over dry food
• Presented as a gift set

Two things worth knowing. And a variety set is a taster rather than a diet: complete daily feeding needs food formulated for the species and life stage, and any change should be made over several days.

Who it's for: households working out what a new or fussy pet will actually eat, and anyone buying a small present for someone else's dog or cat.