Do you have a cat that no longer eats? There can be many reasons behind this behavior, some related directly to appetite and some related to underlying diseases. In any case, you must always manage to make him eat because he is not capable of fasting for several days like us.
So how to act correctly? In this article I give you everything you need to know to understand where the problem comes from and especially to act correctly so that your cat can eat normally again.
Cat that no longer eats: Causes related to appetite
The causes that are related to appetite are the most common and are not serious in themselves, it often takes simple corrective measures to put in place to get your cat eating normally again.
Here are the appetite-related causes that make your cat no longer want to eat:
- The smell of food: If the food seems bad to him, he will not touch it. Check the expiry dates carefully and smell the food yourself. You can make up your own mind about the freshness of the food.
- He eats elsewhere: If you have an outdoor cat, he probably eats elsewhere, whether at a neighbor’s house or animals such as cats or rodents. If you notice that he goes out often and doesn’t eat much but doesn’t behave differently and doesn’t even approach food, he’s probably already eaten.
- Stress: Cats are routine animals, they hate change. If a new animal has arrived or its environment has changed, it will take time to adapt so that it feels safe again.
- Pain: A cat in pain will not be hungry. Generally, he will be listless and purr often to fight the pain. If your cat is listless and not eating, that’s a clear sign of pain that should lead to a visit to the vet.
- Disturbance of smell: Cats can have a disturbance of the sense of smell, whether it has blocked nostrils or it is a deeper problem. The sense of smell is essential to the cat and he cannot be 100% sure that his food is good without smelling it.
Causes not related to appetite
Causes not related to appetite are often linked to a pathology that must lead to a visit to the veterinarian to prevent it from getting worse and that it can be treated in time.
- Inflammation: Inflammation, especially in the throat, can cause pain when eating and eating will be unpleasant for him, so he will stop doing it.
- Coryza : Disease affecting the respiratory system, coryza can cause a young food in the cat which has more difficulty breathing while eating and with a flat stomach.
- Infection: An infection in the mouth or teeth will make every swallow of food painful and your cat will often decide not to eat at all.
- Metabolic disorders : A metabolic disorder will change your cat’s eating habits, which will then start to stop eating.
- Poisoning: Household products, toxic plants , the sources of intoxication and poisoning are numerous and your cat will not eat as long as he suffers from them.
- Certain Medications: Some side effects of medications can decrease a cat’s appetite. If he is currently taking it, check for side effects.
- Hairball : Cats sometimes get hairballs stuck in their throats or stomachs, and stop eating for this reason.
The signs that it is a disease
Sometimes, simple signs make it possible to determine that the lack of appetite of the cat is related to a disease. For example, if your cat vomits , has diarrhea, drinks a lot or is listless, this is a sign of illness.
A sick cat will inevitably eat much less or not at all.
What will the vet do?
In some cases, a visit to the veterinarian will be essential and he will carry out several examinations to find the cause of the problem and provide you with the most suitable solution.
He will first ask you questions about his diet (potential changes, since when the cat no longer eats, etc.) to get a precise idea of the circumstances.
Then, he will carry out a general clinical examination, to get a precise idea of the general state of health of the cat and to see if a global underlying disease is not the cause of the problem.
He can then provide you with the most suitable treatment to solve the problem.
What can I do myself?
If your cat is no longer eating, you can help it to ingest food better by applying the following points:
- Give him good food: To stimulate his appetite, you can give him food that he will love, such as tuna or fresh meat. He rarely resists this kind of food which is for him the best he can have.
- Make her food easy to eat: Wet food is easier to eat and can be pureed to help her eat better. The easier the food is to eat, the more it will want.
- Sprinkle food with brewer’s yeast: Brewer’s yeast makes food more attractive to cats and will help them eat more easily.
- Reheat food: Cats love lukewarm food and don’t like it when it’s too cold. Putting it to warm will make it more attractive to him, whether in terms of smell or in terms of taste itself.
- A bowl for every cat: Cats are territorial animals and a cat will not want to eat from a bowl with the smell of another animal.
- Vitamin B12: Supplementing your cat with vitamin B12 will stimulate their appetite.
How to avoid loss of appetite in cats?
To ensure that your cat always has the food it needs, you can implement the following solutions:
- Avoid contact with sick animals: This is the best way to avoid contagious diseases and keep them healthy.
- Adopt a balanced diet: The more balanced the cat’s diet, the more its appetite will be properly regulated. For example, mix dry and wet food well.
- Regular check-up visit to the veterinarian: To prevent potential problems and that he can stay in good health.
Why is a cat that no longer eats dangerous?
Cats have a different digestive system from ours and cannot go without eating for more than 2 or 3 days. It is essential that they feed regularly, hence the need to act quickly if your cat stops eating and to take him to the vet if no natural solution is having an effect.
FAQ: Answers to the most common questions
Many questions are related to the cat refusing to eat. Here are the answers to the most common questions on this topic.
Cat that hasn’t eaten for a week
The situation is serious and you can count yourself lucky that your cat is still alive. An immediate visit to the veterinarian is essential if you want to save him. You can visit the on-call vet if necessary.
Cat that no longer eats or drinks
If your cat can no longer fit into its body, contact the veterinarian immediately. He is probably in too much pain to swallow anything and absolutely must receive prompt treatment to prevent this from being fatal to him.
Cat not eating and vomiting
Your cat probably has a disorder caused by poor digestion, poor diet, or even the ingestion of something toxic. If the symptoms are still present after 48 hours, a medical examination will be necessary.
Cat who no longer eats and drinks a lot
Your cat is trying to overcome permanent dehydration, which may be due to poor digestion or food poisoning. If this does not pass, go to the vet.
Cat that hasn’t eaten for 3 days
Don’t wait any longer and go to the veterinarian for a quick medical analysis that can treat your cat in time.
Cat that no longer eats and sleeps a lot or all the time
If your cat sleeps a lot or all the time , he is sick and should be taken to the vet if symptoms persist beyond 24 hours.
The final word
A cat that no longer eats must be closely monitored, and if natural solutions are not enough to make it eat again, a visit to the veterinarian is essential.