Why a cat doesn't eat well what to do

If eating a certain food caused unpleasant feelings (nausea, too hot, the cat was frightened during the meal, etc.) the cat may refuse to eat it afterwards.

Why won't the cat eat its usual food and what to do about it

If a cat has stopped eating the food it was eating and there seems to be no reason for such behavior, you need to look into the problem in detail. Learn more about what to do if the cat refuses to eat in the article.

If a cat's appetite has decreased, it is cause for concern, but if the cat refuses to eat at all, it is already serious. Cats are built so that they will eat even when they don't feel well. A complete refusal to eat indicates that there is probably some serious reason related to the animal's health.

Why a cat might refuse to eat: 7 main reasons

1. Health problems. This is one of the main reasons a cat refuses food. These problems include:

• Respiratory problems, which in 70-75% of cases prevent the animal from smelling. Causes can be hereditary or respiratory diseases. Read more about the latter in an article on Hill's.
• Digestive system problems – the cat may be nauseated or in pain. A malfunction in any GI organ will affect appetite.
• Dental and gum problems. During dental pain, the cat may refuse to eat, even if very hungry.
• Foreign body. Some cats are very fond of picking up and swallowing anything their owners haven't had time to hide. These can be threads, needles, and small toys. They get stuck in the stomach or intestines and prevent food from passing through the gastrointestinal tract normally. Sometimes veterinarians find very unexpected objects during surgery. In long-haired cats, hairballs can also cause blockages. How to deal with them – see the article on the Hill's website.

2. change in texture, odor, pellets of food. It seems to the owner that the food has remained the same, but the pet has noticed changes that a human can't catch. Cats are very picky about this issue. However, in this case, the cat's appetite remains, it may eat a small amount of food and start asking for more, while there is more food in the bowl.

3. The food has gone bad. The cat feels that the food is stale or there is a moldy taste.

4. Stress and negative experiences. Some animals react very strongly to their environment. Noise, strangers, and other factors can cause a cat to refuse food. For example, sometimes a cat refuses to eat after spaying and other interventions not only because of pain, but also because of stress. Another thing that may stick in the pet's mind is any unpleasantness associated with a certain food, such as pain or vomiting.

Safe and dangerous symptoms of weight loss

The cat stopped going to bowls, is not interested in food for several days, when is it not worth worrying, and when is it time to sound the alarm?

The owner will be helped by the weight index, which is divided into three positions:

1. Norm. There is a thin layer of fat on the ribs of the pet, the abdomen is taut, the figure is lean. There is no cause for concern.
2. There is a slight lack of weight. The skeleton is practically not covered with fat, the cat's figure resembles an hourglass. Time to take action.
3. Exhaustion. The animal looks haggard, skeleton without fat layer, abdomen retracted. Urgent medical attention should be sought.

7 physiological reasons for weight loss

If the pet looks healthy, remains alert and playful, the problem is most likely the following:

1. Unpalatable food. Each animal has individual taste preferences, one likes fish, another likes meat, another has been accustomed to dry food since childhood. A sudden change in diet, the introduction of unfamiliar foods can lead to rejection of food. Owners who want to change the diet should do it gradually. Small amounts of new food should be added to the familiar food, gradually increasing the proportion towards the new product. Breaking the diet often occurs when an animal accustomed to dry food, the owner tries to transfer to natural food. A pet that is used to seeing crispy balls in its bowl will be wary of cottage cheese or meat mixed with cereal. If the pet refuses to eat unfamiliar foods, but the general condition is not a cause for concern, persistence in changing the diet remains to be shown.
2. Heat. On hot days, even pets with excellent appetites may refuse to eat. In this situation there is no need to worry, as soon as the heat goes down the cat will remember to eat.
3. Stress. A cat is a sensitive animal, it is sad, worried, afraid, worried. Lack of appetite becomes the body's response to a stressful situation. The owner should understand why the cat has stopped eating, maybe it is sad because of the departure of one of the owners, worried because another pet has appeared in the house. In this case, you should consult a veterinarian who will prescribe a pet sedative medication.
4. Dirty bowls. Cats are characterized by high cleanliness, dirty bowl with an unpleasant odor and pieces of dried up food is a good reason for the pet to stop eating. Cat dishes should be washed daily.
5. Hormones. Sexual restructuring of the body (heat, pregnancy) leads to a sharp hormonal surge. During this period the animal often stops eating. The owner should not worry, the cat will have an appetite, the weight loss process will be completed as soon as the hormonal background returns to normal.
6. Lumps of hair. The problem is relevant for furry pets. The animal licks the coat constipated.
7. Age. An older animal loses interest in food due to age-related changes occurring in the body.

Helping the animal when it refuses to eat

The first thing to do is to determine the reason for the refusal to eat. If the cat eats certain foods, then it is worth reviewing its diet so that the body gets all the necessary substances.

Observe the cat's behavior. If he goes outside and refuses food, he may have already eaten. Don't panic if the cat doesn't eat for three days. The important thing is that it drinks water and is active.

Take care of your pet's health, because we are responsible for what we've tamed. Don't wait and see the vet as soon as you feel something is wrong. Timely treatment can save your cat's life.

(8 ratings, average: 4,13 out of 5)

Help for 4 months fighting for the life of a country cat. Not eating alone, forced feeding. We have three veterinarians, no result, worsening. GASTROINTESTINAL . She is losing weight. Only bones stick out. All gastric medications, enzymes, nutritional supplements, nashepa, but still pain. Took in Stavropol (another city) External condition is terrible.

Hello. My cat is 18 years old. Does not eat and drink a lot. Started limping on one leg a week ago. We took him to the clinic for an injection and he recovered in a couple of days. But he does not eat at all, he is dry.

What the owner should do if the cat does not eat well

First of all, you should decide whether the owner is able to help the pet himself. If so, proceed as described above.

If a combination of the following symptoms are present, seek veterinary help:

• The pet is not drinking or eating;
• The cat is reluctant to chew food and has difficulty swallowing;
• Halitosis – bad breath from the mouth;
• The cat is constantly licking itself;
• Diarrhea or stool retention develops;
• drooling;
• vomiting;
• hair is disheveled and dull;
• skin rashes;
• Conjunctivitis, rhinitis, and dry nose at the same time.

How do you get a cat to eat?

Forcing the cat to eat should not be forced, unless otherwise prescribed by the veterinarian. In such a situation, dry pellets are diluted to a liquid state and injected into the mouth with a syringe without a needle. If necessary, a nasopharyngeal tube is used.

The reasons why a cat does not eat well are manifold, and in most cases the pet eliminates them on its own. If this is not the case, changing the dishes or food helps.

And when partial or complete starvation is accompanied by painful symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.

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Veterinarian and expert of our site Don State Agrarian Institute, (graduated from DSKhI, 1978) at the moment it is already a university. Did not find an answer to your question? Feel free to ask on the topic of the article HERE in the comments I answer allYou can write your suggestions and wishes here: our authors, contacts

First help for a cat if it stops eating

If there is nothing unusual in the cat's behavior, the owner should not take any emergency measures. Most likely, the cat has decided to unload the gastrointestinal tract, obeying its natural instincts. You must give him access to enough clean drinking water and offer him food from time to time. He will decide when it is time to return to his normal eating routine.

If the cat looks depressed, his whole appearance indicates malaise, there is vomiting, diarrhea, temperature has risen above normal or the hunger strike has lasted 3 days or more, you should visit the clinic to rule out the possibility of serious illness or begin treatment as soon as possible.

What are some ways to stimulate your pet's appetite?

The animal, which is on a natural diet, should be offered a choice of several approved foods. He may be bored with meat, but kefir, fish or fresh cucumber will awaken his interest in food.

The same taste and texture of dry food discourages eating. Replacing the dry food with wet pouches or pâté can solve the problem of lack of appetite. A temporary switch to a dry food from another manufacturer, of equal quality and a different flavor than the one he has been receiving lately, helps a lot.

Why starvation is dangerous for a cat

Failure to feed for several days leads to the development of a dangerous disease called liver lipidosis . When starving, the animal's body compensates for the lack of energy with its own reserves of fat cells. But the liver can not cope with the large amount of fat, the work of the organ itself and many metabolic processes are disturbed. This leads to dehydration, blood clotting disorders, and an imbalance of nutrients.

With this diagnosis, the furry patient is placed in the hospital for a period until he cannot eat on his own, and a tube is installed for forced feeding. Possible lethal outcome if the owner has procrastinated, did not apply in time to the veterinary clinic. After all, 2-7 days of starvation is enough for the development of liver lipidosis.

• Complete refusal of food and water for a day is a reason for urgent referral to the veterinarian.
• If the cat is overweight, you can not put it on a starvation diet. You need to take it to the doctor, who will recommend a low-calorie food rich in vitamins and minerals. It is a long process, but it is important not to go overboard so that the animal does not suffer.
• One possible cause is stress. Keep your pet away from nervous and anxious situations.

Why a cat won't eat: causes

1. Stress

In the feline family, mental and physiological processes are closely linked . Stress can lead to very tangible problems, such as cystitis or excessive licking of hair.

• Abuse or neglect by the owner. The pet may have "asked for it": it may have started marking its shoes or shitting all over the place. Animals have no concept of revenge, bad behavior can be explained by the deterioration of health.
• Abrupt changes in the environment – moving, the arrival of a new family member or another animal, a long absence of the owners.
• Uncomfortable environment – no place for privacy, infrequent feeding, no constant access to the litter box, constant noise, competition with other animals for food.
• Unsuitable food – many animals have food preferences. Choose good quality food, there are special premium options for finicky foodies.

2. disease

Look closely at the animal if he is not drinking, not eating or has a decreased appetite, lethargy, weakness, discharge from the nose or eyes, other unpleasant symptoms – a reason to go to the vet.

• Excessive salivation, foam from the mouth – a foreign object stuck in the throat or rabies.
• Cat tries to eat but quickly withdraws from bowl – foreign body ingestion, mouth ulcers, gum disease.
• Cat doesn't eat much, lethargic, lies down all the time, hides – anything can happen here (from viral infection to injuries from falling from height).
• Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness – the pet may have eaten a poisonous plant. Many indoor flowers are toxic to pets and eating them has serious consequences.
• An outdoor kitten in a new home refuses to eat – it may be stress due to a change of environment, viral infections, parasites, past negative experiences. The homeless animal should be taken to the vet for a checkup.

Why is it bad for cats to starve?

Starvation triggers a number of changes in the body, the purpose of which is to produce energy and maintain blood glucose levels sufficient to ensure the functioning of vital organs. First and foremost, the liver's supply of carbohydrates is used for this purpose. In cats, this is relatively small. Then the body starts to use the protein and fat reserves. Forced processing of large amounts of fat in cats can quickly lead to liver lipidosis – fatty infiltration of cells and malfunction of the organ.

The likelihood of this life-threatening disease increases if a cat is starved for more than 2 days, and being overweight increases the risk. Therefore it is important not to let your pet go hungry for a long time and if its appetite is reduced or it refuses to eat for 24 hours – do not put off going to the veterinarian.

Why doesn't the cat eat well?

Anorexia (decreased or absent appetite) can develop in a cat under the influence of many causes. Depending on the mechanism of occurrence, a distinction is made:

• Primary (true) anorexia, which results from a lack of hunger and is a symptom of severe systemic diseases (diabetes, chronic renal failure), cancer, poisoning, etc;

Both types of anorexia lead to decreased intake or complete rejection of food, which can have a negative impact on health. To prevent this from happening, the cause of the anorexia must be identified as soon as possible and if possible eliminated.

Causes of food refusal unrelated to illness:

Heat

If a cat is hot, her body seeks to avoid overheating by reducing heat production. One way to achieve this is to slow down the digestive system. In addition, in hot weather the energy requirement is reduced because the cat spends fewer calories to heat the body.

Sexual arousal

The urge to seek a mate, due to the production of hormones, can lead to eating problems. Unspayed cats sometimes lose their appetite if a cat in heat is nearby. Unsterilized cats may also refuse food shortly before and during heat.

Postpartum period

Many cats refuse food for the first 5 to 6 hours after giving birth. The reason may be reluctance to leave the kittens, fatigue or eating the afterbirth. However, if after 24 hours the cat is still not interested in food, you should see your vet.

Changing teeth

Kittens at the time of the loss of milk teeth and the eruption of permanent teeth may temporarily refuse food due to sore gums. You can solve the problem by offering kittens wet food. However, if the kitten's milk teeth are in no hurry to fall out, although the molars have already erupted, and the gums look very swollen, you should take the kitten to the veterinary dentist.

Why is the kitten not eating?

If a kitten is not eating food, it is first important to assess the accompanying symptoms. If they are absent, the cause usually lies in physiology, and if they are present – in a pathology that requires mandatory treatment.

Too early separation from the mother

Newborns under 6 weeks of age are not able to completely switch to solid food. Their gastrointestinal tract is not yet developed, so they will refuse any non-liquid food. These pets may also suffer from constipation. Their bowels need periodic stimulation with massage to relax them.

Unpleasant odor from food or utensils

All cats are big cleaners. Scattered bits of stale food on the floor and an unpleasant smell from a bowl or food will drive them away. The most frequent causes of dissatisfaction are plastic products, poor-quality croquettes and moist canned foods that stay too long in the feeder.

Age-inappropriate food or overfeeding

The size and density of adult food croquettes are always larger and higher. That's why small pets should buy foods designed specifically for kittens – so they can handle the size of the pieces.

Rejection can also be due to excessive consumption of food the day before. In this case, starvation is a temporary phenomenon, necessary to unload the overfilled stomach.

Stress

Usually occurs when moving to a new home and is associated with forced separation from the mother. It passes on its own during the first week, that is, during the adaptation period.

The presence of other sources of food

It should not be ruled out that the little sly dog eats on the side. If you live outside the city and let your pet out for a walk, you should ask the neighbors about it. In the apartment, it is worth checking that the trash can is securely closed and interviewing all relatives. There is a chance that the most generous of them feeds the baby sausage or other forbidden products.

What to do if the kitten doesn't eat well or doesn't eat at all

The way to solve the problem depends on its cause. If the kitten does not eat much because of heat, sex drive, or something equally innocuous, you can help him on your own.

Can the problem be solved by yourself

Solving the problem yourself is acceptable if 2 conditions are met at the same time: a clear understanding of the cause and the absence of alarming symptoms. Depending on the situation, the following actions can help:

1. Introduction of a cat milk substitute into the diet. Use it up to the appearance of the first teeth. After that safely switch to "baby" food. Don't forget to give your pet a gentle tummy massage after each feeding until he learns to empty his bowels on his own.
2. Regular cleaning of the feeding area, changing utensils and proper food storage. The best materials for bowls are iron and ceramic. Remember that dry croquettes should not be taken by weight, and opened wet canned food should be kept in the refrigerator.
3. Follow the feeding regime and norms. Do not give your pet more than he should and try to divide the daily portion into equal portions.
4. Provide proper resting space and attention. Separate the newly moved-in baby into a separate room, isolated from loud noises. Do not make him nervous the first few days, but do not leave him alone. Stay close, communicate and gently try to engage him in play.
5. Strictly forbid feeding. Don't be manipulative and don't give treats instead of basic food. Make sure your pet can't steal things on his own and stop any attempts to get food without permission.
6. Use cat teethers and rubber toys. Chewing on these items alleviates discomfort from the emergence of milk teeth and their change to molars.
7. Providing enough fluids. Dehydration is much more dangerous, so fresh water should be readily available. In hot weather it must be changed twice a day.

Why a cat doesn't eat well and becomes thin

Throughout life, cats can lose interest in food for a period of time. There are several reasons why a cat does not eat well and becomes thin. This behavior in a pet may be due to a behavioral disorder or a physiological characteristic.

In some cases, loss of appetite indicates serious internal diseases caused by chronic diseases or infections. Causes that are not related to disease, but provoke loss of appetite in a cat may be the following:

• The period of heat and puberty . . As a result of the strongest hormonal surge, the cat's behavior changes dramatically – it becomes aggressive and overexcited. Temporary anorexia during this period is not pathological and should not worry the owner. Not planning to have offspring from a fluffy pet in the future, veterinary specialists recommend routine sterilization. Thus, it will be possible to avoid not only the manifestations of the sexual hunt, but many related problems.
• Congestion in the stomach lumps of hair . . The reason why the cat becomes thin and also eats little can be lumps of hair – trichobezoars, accumulated in the stomach. Under normal conditions, excess hair passes through the intestinal tract and is excreted with the feces. If the clumps of hair are too large, the pet cannot burp them, the stomach becomes clogged and stretched. As a result, the cat eats little and loses weight, stools are delayed, and its coat becomes unkempt.
• Stressful conditions for the pet. . It happens that the animal looks perfectly healthy, its behavior does not change, except for the refusal of food. The reasons may lie in the psycho-emotional state of the pet. Stress in the cat may occur against the background of the appearance of another animal in the house or a small child, as well as when moving, punishment or after quarrels between the owners of the pet.
• Feeding disorders . Quite often cat owners make the mistake of abruptly transferring the pet to a new food. This can cause the cat to refuse food. To avoid this behavior in a cat, veterinarians recommend accustoming or transferring the animal to a new type of food gradually. The food should be fresh and without any breaches in storage technology. Spoiled foods cats refuse to eat, because by nature they have a highly developed sense of smell.
• Age-related problems . Older cats become picky about food, they are more likely to have an appetite disorder and associated weight loss. After the age of six years, the animal's body undergoes changes and the process of digestion of food changes. In addition, animals at an advanced age are often diagnosed with dental and gum disease. Inflammatory processes in the mouth lead to the fact that the animal tries to eat less, the cat becomes thin and looks quite haggard. The owner of an older animal is advised to see a veterinarian and consult on the selection of a new diet. Older cats prefer moist and soft foods.
• Foreign objectsin the mouth. . When sharp objects eaten by the cat (bones, splinters, grass plants) get stuck, the animal refuses to eat due to the onset of inflammation and severe soreness. Particularly often foreign objects are found in the kitten's mouth, because due to their curiosity, babies try to try everything on the tooth. The pet looks hungry, meows pitifully, but is unable to fully absorb food. This causes the pet to lose weight and become lethargic. It is important to see a veterinarian for help in a timely manner.

Treatment and help

Due to the fact that there are many reasons for refusal of food, only a qualified specialist will be able to accurately diagnose on the basis of laboratory and clinical tests. The animal is given a thorough clinical examination, including auscultation and palpation, as well as thermometry. The doctor then prescribes:

After determining the reason why the cat has started to lose weight and lost interest in food, the veterinarian develops a treatment regimen based on the cat's age, weight, and breed.

First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the cause that caused the changes in the body. If the cause is an accumulation of hair clumps in the stomach, special pastes are prescribed that contain substances to help the clumps pass through the digestive tract. For the purposes of prevention, such means should be regularly given to animals, especially to the long-haired representatives of domestic cats.

Food refusal associated with libido is not amenable to treatment. Prevent manifestations of this kind can be prevented by spaying an animal that has no breeding value. In addition, timely sterilization of the cat protects the cat from the development of other serious diseases resulting from hormonal failures (ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or pyometra).

Treatment of infectious or bacterial diseases causing loss of appetite and sudden thinness should be based on the severity of the pathological process. Infections caused by bacterial foreign microorganisms are treated with antibiotics chosen according to the sensitivity of the bacteria.

It is also important to strengthen the body's overall immune strength. To keep the cat at the proper level of health, quality food and vitamin supplements must be given.

In order to prevent diseases such as rabies, plague of flesh, infectious peritonitis, it is important to immunize according to the vaccination schedule. If your pet displays symptoms of illness (lethargy, aggression, refusal to eat) you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to get an accurate diagnosis.