Have You Changed Your Cat’s Food
Cats are creatures of habit, and many develop preferences for certain types of food. Whether its food in gravy or jelly, pate-style wet cat food, or dry biscuits, cats who are used to eating the same thing will often go on strike if their food has suddenly changed.
If this sounds like your cat, try offering a bit of their old food. If your cat starts eating again, you know your cats a bit of a diva who disagrees with your opinion on what the best dry cat food might be! Always remember, when changing your cat over to a new diet, its best to do so slowly, mixing it gradually into their old diet over a couple of weeks.
When Should I Worry About My Cat Not Eating
You should be worried about your cat not eating if the issue lasts for more than 24-36 hours or if it is accompanied by other troublesome signs and symptoms.
In such cases, chances are the appetite loss is caused by an underlying disease and needs to be adequately managed. The veterinarian will perform diagnostic tests to determine the root of the problem.
Such diagnostics tests and follow-up veterinary care can be costly. Therefore, it is helpful to have a reliable pet insurance plan. We recommend the OneVet plan. With OneVet, for $19.99, you get 24/7 access to an online vet and up to $3.000 in emergency funds.
Is Your Cat Lethargic Or Grumpier Than Usual
If your cats behaviour has changed, something more serious might be going on. Cats who are ill will often hide away, and they may become more aggressive, lashing out if they are moved or disturbed. This may also be a sign of pain, fever, or infection. If your cat has stopped eating and is sleeping more than usual, this is a worrying sign too.
If this sounds like your cat, a vet visit is the best option. Be careful when moving your cat to their carrier, as they may lash out with their teeth or claws if they are uncomfortable.
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Tuna And Catnip Treats
Every good kitty deserves a treat or two especially if it contains catnips! Cats absolutely love catnips, a herb from the mint family Labiatae. It contains an active ingredient known as nepetalactone, which may cause a high in your cat to help your furry friend relax! However, be sure to moderate your cats intake of this homemade cat recipe as too much catnip may cause nauseousness.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Recipe Instructions:
Your Kitten Might Have Eaten Something They Shouldnt Have
The natural curiosity of kittens sometimes gets them into trouble. Kittens have been known to eat string, tinsel, hair ties, and other objects that can get stuck in their stomach or small intestines. Never let your kitten play with string, balloon ribbons, hair ties, plastic grass used in Easter baskets, tinsel, or other objects they could eat.
Surgery is sometimes needed to remove the offending item, so call your veterinarian right away if you suspect that your kitten has eaten something they shouldnt have or if their decreased appetite is also accompanied by vomiting.
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Does Your Cat Have Vomiting Or Diarrhea
As with most animals, an upset stomach is a common cause of inappetence in cats. Cats that are vomiting or have diarrhea will often stop eating due to nausea. Check your cats litter tray for signs of diarrhea, or try to observe them when they go outside.
If your cat has an upset stomach, its a good idea to talk to your vet. They might ask you to monitor them for a couple of days, start probiotics at home, or bring them in for a check over.
Vomiting and diarrhea can also be signs of an underlying disease such as feline pancreatitis , so your vet may recommend performing tests, including bloodwork or an abdominal ultrasound, to get to the bottom of the problem. They can then advise you on the best course of action to help your pet feel better.
My Older Cat Is Drinking But Not Eating: 6 Ways To Help
Spend a few days as a cat parent and youll quickly realize that kitties arent the most transparent with their emotions. This statement is especially true of cranky senior cats and even truer when your fuzzy friend isn’t feeling well.
If your older cat wont eat but has no trouble drinking, they might be trying to tell you something. And because senior cats are more susceptible to illness and irritation, you have to pay extra attention to their quirky moods and habits.
Luckily, there are several potential ways to help when your cat is not eating. In this guide, well explore six approaches to aiding your ailing animal.
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Is Your Cat Drinking A Normal Amount
Cats dont tend to drink much, so a reduction in drinking can be hard to spot. However, an increase in drinking is a common sign of an underlying health problem like diabetes, kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism . You might also notice your cat urinating more than usual due to their increased thirst.
If you aren’t sure if your cat is drinking a normal amount of water, you can measure the amount they drink from their bowl. However, if you suspect that they’re drinking more and they’re not eating, getting them to the vet without delay is usually the best course of action. Your vet might suggest testing a blood sample and urine sample to check for some of the conditions mentioned.
How Can I Get My Sick Cat To Eat And Drink
Try buying a few types of canned food in different flavors. Warm it slightly by placing it on a small plate. Adding fish oil, chicken broth, tuna juice, or something similar will get your cat interested. If you have a cat that is very picky about his food, you may want to try feeding him a different type of food.
For example, if you feed him canned tuna, he may not like it very much, but he will eat it if he is given a choice. You can also try giving him some raw meat, such as chicken or turkey, and see how he responds.
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Cat Not Drinking Water Heres What To Do
If your cat is not drinking water, it could indicate a serious health issue or simply a dirty water bowl. Find out what to do if your cat won’t drink water, and how you can ensure the well-being of your feline friend.
Just like you, its important for your cat to stay hydrated so theyll feel well and stay healthy. If you have a cat not drinking water, watch out: this could be a sign of illness or injury in your feline friend. In this article, well cover how much water a cat needs, why a cat might stop drinking water, and what you can do to get your cat drinking again. If you enjoy this article, check out our other cat-friendly articles here.
I Don’t Like To Eat When I Have An Upset Stomach Could Gastrointestinal Problems Be Why My Cat Won’t Eat
Just like their humans, gastrointestinal problems can cause cats to feel nauseated and consequently, experience a drop in their appetite. Cats suffering from GI issues will often display other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and weight loss.
Common GI issues in cats include:
- Pancreatitis
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Mental Or Physical Issues
These health problems can be anything, from stress to an external injury or an internal-organ pain.
Like humans, animals can suffer from stress and depression from time to time. When they do, they lose their appetite as well. This could stem from the loss of their owners, a change of the living environment, or after theyre scared or punished.
Otherwise, your furry friends may be the victims of digestive problems or dental problems that make mundane tasks too painful to do. In this case, you should consider feeding your cat foods specially made for digestive problems.
Help My Cat Wont Eat Or Drink What To Do When Kitty Refuses
Felines are curious, whimsical, often misunderstood and sometimes quite troublesome creatures. If youre a relatively new pet parent, you know how difficult taking care of a cat can get. And if youve had experience dealing with feline furballs before, then you probably have tons of stories to tell in which the cat has been the main culprit for your sorrows.
Kitties of all breeds and ages can be a pain in your neck.
Sometimes theyll do crazy things just for the kicks of it, whereas in other cases theyll just start acting out without a clear explanation. Either way, theyll behave strangely for one reason or another.
The most common type of alarming behavior is when your cat is not eating or drinking all of a sudden.
Yes, cats are capricious by default.
But what happens if your pet wont eat or drink even if theres no apparent reason for it? Should you start worrying? Should you call your vet? Or should you spoil the cat by trying every single food item you can find in your house?
Before you start panicking, take a deep breath and try to relax. There are numerous reasons as to why your cat refuses to eat or drink.
Some of them are potentially dangerous to your feline furball and could indicate an undiagnosed health disorder. Others, however, are completely natural and harmless. So, without further ado, here are the reasons as to why your cat is refusing to eat or drink.
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Diagnosis Of Loss Of Appetite In Cats
Due to the variety of causes of a cat’s loss of appetite, a veterinarian will want your pet to undergo a complete evaluation. One of the first things that may be done is checking your cat’s weight and temperature, as well as the usual workup of a CBC , a urinalysis, and biochemical profile. The workup can rule in or out specific disorders, like infectious diseases. Also, your vet will perform a physical examination to find things such as wounds or other signs of trauma.
A chest or abdominal x-ray or ultrasound will probably be recommended to look for any abnormalities. If parasites are suspected to be the cause, the vet will order a fecal examination. Furthermore, your cat will undergo a thorough oral examination to check for dental diseases.
As the loss of appetite can sometimes be psychological, it may be difficult to come up with a diagnosis if lab tests come back normal. You can assist in the diagnosis by keeping track of and informing the vet of any changes to your cat’s behavior, as well as what occurred around the house when those changes began.
What Happens If A Cat Doesnt Eat For 3 Days
Cats can survive for about two weeks without eating but only three days without drinking. The longer your cat goes without proper nutrition, however, the weaker they become, so its important to contact your vet if you suspect they havent been eating or drinking for a while.
Cats can suffer from dehydration if they dont drink enough water, but they can also be dehydrated when they do drink too much. If you notice that your feline is not drinking or eating enough, you may need to take them to the vet.
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Why My Cat Is Not Eating Or Drinking
You may have to play detective to find out why your cat isn’t eating. If you live in the country, Kitty may have found an old barn infested with mice and her predatory instincts kicked in.
If she’s getting food somewhere else, whether from hunting, begging or raiding trash cans, she may be too full to eat what you offer. If she’s just been vaccinated, she may have temporarily lost her appetite but will get it back soon.
If you’re on the move, she could have a touch of motion sickness. If she lost someone close to her, be it another feline friend or a favored human, she might not be in the mood to eat.
It could be she simply likes her food served hot. A minute or so in the microwave will solve that.
There may be a more serious reason your cat isn’t eating. Kidney failure, intestinal problems, pancreatitis and several types of cancer and infections can lead to a loss of appetite.
It may be something less worrisome like a toothache or tongue or mouth injury. Has Kitty gotten into something poisonous? If you wouldn’t want a toddler drinking or eating it, neither should your cat. Some plants, insects and frogs are poisonous.
One overlooked poison is opossum urine. Gnawing on something an opossum urinated on can cause necrosis of the tongue.
How Much Water Is Enough
In order to stay hydrated, your cat needs around-the-clock access to fresh drinking water. Keep her bowl clean and fill it regularly, especially if it’s placed near her food dish, as she may drop a few food crumbs into her drinking bowl.
But how much water per day does she actually need? Not as much as you might think.
“Cats don’t drink as much per kilogram of body weight as do dogs,” explains the Committee on Nutritient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Therefore, the amount of water your cat needs varies with the food she eats and her environment. The committee notes that cats usually drink about an ounce of water for every half ounce of dry food they eat. Wet food, on the other hand, provides your kitty with food and moisture at once and can help her stay hydrated.
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When Should I Worry If My Cat Stops Eating
If your cat is showing signs of pain or symptoms of illness like vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, or problems urinating, you should seek veterinary advice. This is also the case if they show behaviour changes like hiding away, altered drinking habits, or urinating more or less than they usually would. Showing signs of ill health alongside inappetence is a clear sign that something is wrong with your pet.
You should also worry if your overweight cat suddenly stops eating. Although you might think theyve got enough fat stored to see them through, cats can suffer from a serious and often fatal disease called hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver. This condition occurs in cats who lose weight too rapidly, especially due to starvation and causes liver failure.
Cats need to eat more frequently than dogs because their feline body isn’t designed to cope as well with periods of starvation. If your cat stops eating for more than 24 hours, this is a concern, even if they are acting normally. The following list is designed to help you look into things further if your cat has stopped eating. It may help you give your veterinarian more information at your appointment. However, its not a substitute for seeking advice from a veterinary professional.
How To Deal With Cats Who Wont Eat Or Drink
– To get rid HL of your precious fluffy pal, you will need the help of various nutrients. In other words, if your cats body is too weak to ward off HL, youll need to refuel him with lots of water and food. Specifically, plenty of protein-contained food so that his body will have enough energy to metabolize.
– Try not to move your bossy felines stuff around too often, or he might take offense and develop an unwillingness to eat. If this approach is carried out and still, you could give him a change of scenery by taking him out to meet other cat fellows in the park or to your neighbors house.
– Spoil your feline fella a bit with wonderful-smelling things like sprinkling cheese or dried chicken meat. However, because cats avoid regular intake due to the want of being fed yummier food, you must cease to let he have what he wants as soon as your picky cat resumes eating again.
However, if you ever need to change your picky friends food, you should do it gradually.
– You shouldnt mix the pills into your cats food too regularly. Certain medicines whose smells are too pungent will drown even the most tasteful aroma of food. Such results in your cat may never try said food again. Instead, you can apply medical treats and never forget to carefully wash the cats bowls thoroughly before feeding them.
– Last but not least, if you see any strange behavior of your cat, you should visit a vet.
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Location Environment And Bowl Type
Preventive Vet staff review from Chris: There was a period in which Rajah and his sister Zsa Zsa weren’t getting along. What we found was that they had very few mentally stimulating activities, which led to boredom and aggression towards each other. My first purchase was the Trixie Mad Scientist Activity for its simplicity. It has become a favorite of Rajah’s . He’s constantly found pawing away at the activity several times a day, hoping to find some kibble. And although Zsa Zsa isn’t as food motivated, she enjoys watching her brother figure out how to get the treats!
Pro Tip: Make sure you choose the appropriate dispensing top that will either allow larger kibble or treats to fall out without too much effort or to keep smaller kibble from pouring out too quickly.
Questions? To chat with a veterinarian about stimulating your cat’s appetite,