Why does a cat NOT eat [13 reasons and what to do]

What will you learn from the article?

How long can a cat go without eating? What are the dangers of starvation?
The main reasons why a cat refuses to eat is Stress
Changing your diet
Thermoregulation
Sexual instinct
Pregnancy
Parasites
Oral diseases
Poisoning
Foreign body or fur in the stomach and intestines
Viral infection
Liver, kidney and urolithiasis
Consequences of anesthesia
Postpartum period

What to do if the cat doesn't eat

A good appetite is always considered an indicator of health, so many owners begin to sound the alarm when their beloved pet eats poorly or refuses to eat at all. But refusal to eat is not always a sign of illness or behavioral disorders; sometimes it is a normal condition. You need to learn to understand why the cat does not eat in order to provide the correct help to the cat in time if necessary.

What can cause loss of appetite?

If a cat refuses to eat, there can be many reasons - the onset of the disease, psychological, childbirth and the postpartum period, age, etc. We will try to talk about the most common of them. The main reasons associated with the animal’s health include:

Presence of worms. There is an opinion that in the presence of parasites, the pet’s appetite increases. This is a misconception - histamines are the source of many infections that can cause permanent loss of appetite.
Gastrointestinal diseases. These include ulcers, indigestion, and gastritis. They are manifested not only by refusal of food, but are also accompanied by an unpleasant odor from the mouth and diarrhea.
Diseases of the circulatory system.
Diseases of internal organs - gastrointestinal tract, liver, genitourinary and reproductive systems, oncological diseases. It is especially dangerous when the cat, in addition to food, also refuses water. This may indicate serious kidney and liver problems (CKD). This is also indicated by changes (more precisely, yellowing) of the skin, signs of intoxication - often foam appears at the mouth. If you notice these signs in your pet, go to the veterinary clinic immediately.
Bacterial or viral infections cause apathy, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
Food poisoning, intoxication with chemicals, potent poisons. In these cases, the prognosis depends on the substance that provoked the pathology. Often, cats’ instinct tells them how to treat themselves, where to find the herb needed for healing. But in case of severe poisoning by toxic substances, it is not always possible to save the animal even with medications.

If you suspect your pet has a disease, do not try to help the cat yourself; you will only waste precious time.

When is it necessary to go to the doctor?

Be sure to consult a veterinarian if your pet has poor appetite if additional adverse symptoms are present:

repeated vomiting;
loose frequent stools, especially with blood;
decreased general tone, apathy;
complete refusal of water;
ineffective intermittent urge to urinate or defecate;
pain in the abdominal cavity;
bloated belly;
sneezing, drooling, discharge from the eyes;
formation of dry, painful crusts on the nose and around the mouth;
feverish condition.

Symptoms of an incipient disease

What to do if the cat refuses to eat? First of all, you should observe your pet. If he is unwell, this will manifest itself not only in a lack of appetite, but also in behavioral characteristics:

alarming and loud meowing;
persistent desire to hide in a dark place;
anxiety;
lack of activity;
apathy and lethargy;
change in the color and smell of stool.

If you find at least one of the described signs, do not delay visiting the veterinarian.

Consequences of not eating

Even if the cat refused to eat because of a serious illness, this situation can have unpleasant consequences for his health:

Exacerbation of chronic diseases. If your pet is diagnosed with pathology of the kidneys, liver, or intestines, then refusing food even for a day can provoke an attack.
Weight loss, which is very dangerous for cats.
Lack of vitamins, which will lead to a deterioration in the general condition of the animal.

If the cat refuses food and water, you cannot hesitate. Urgently show your pet to a specialist so as not to lose him. It is especially necessary to carefully monitor the nutrition of a kitten up to six months. If an adult animal can go without food for two days or more, then the baby will probably die within a day of fasting. If the kitten refuses food without obvious signs of illness, the owner should feed it milk from a pipette.

The cat refuses food, drinks only water: should we sound the alarm?

In 90% of cases, a sick animal loses its appetite, and other symptoms are added: high fever, frequent loose stools mixed with blood, mucus, an unpleasant putrid odor, vomiting, runny nose, frequent shallow breathing.

Be sure to read:
The cat does not drink water: reasons, daily norm, what to do, is it dangerous, how to force the animal to drink.
The coat quickly loses its attractive appearance, becomes dull, patchy, the eyes can sour, become cloudy. Any of these manifestations accompanied by refusal to eat is a reason to immediately contact a veterinary hospital.

For small kittens, even daily fasting is not the norm. A growing body needs nutrition, so babies almost never have fasting days.

If the pet looks healthy, is playful, feels and behaves normally, there is no need to worry, the time will come when he will begin to eat in his usual way. It is necessary to provide him with a sufficient amount of clean drinking water, you can give him an activated carbon tablet, it will not make him worse, he absorbs toxins well.

Reasons not related to health

Someone may be surprised to learn that your cat may refuse to eat due to stress or this is a manifestation of character. But it does happen, and quite often. If you offend your pet, not every one of them will “mark” the territory. Some animals, in response to undeserved insult, demonstratively refuse food, including their most favorite treats.

In addition, cats may not eat for several days for various reasons:

Moving to a new home. Cats get very used to a place and every change of environment is stressful for them. In this case, all that remains is to wait until the pet gets comfortable in its new home.
A sudden change in diet. When switching an animal to natural food or changing dry food, the cat can express its protest in this way. In such a situation, it is enough to choose exactly the food for your pet that he will like.
After undergoing vaccination.
During puberty. At this time, hormones are released in the animal’s body, which affects behavior and appetite.
Dirty bowl. Cats are very clean, and most of them do not eat from dirty dishes.
Wool in the stomach. Hairballs that enter the digestive tract during shedding clog the esophagus and stomach, causing discomfort to the animal. To prevent this, you should regularly comb the fur during the shedding period.

Physiological reasons

Outdoor pets may eat elsewhere. When returning, they will not experience hunger, having snacked on hunted game (mouse, bird), donations from compassionate passers-by, or trophies from a trash can. Uncontrolled eating causes poisoning and infection with dangerous diseases. You can minimize the risk by feeding your cat before going outside.

New food, when switched to another type of food (to natural food from industrial lunches), often becomes the cause of starvation. The cat boycotts the proposed menu, trying to force the owner to play by the old rules. You need to be patient and not give in to provocation.

Cats do not like dirty bowls, the smell of spoiled food, or insects crawling nearby the plates. Neglect of sanitation rules causes poisoning.

Worms and fleas kill your appetite. Reproducing exponentially, they feed on blood, dumping waste products into it, which become the cause of intoxication. It is necessary to regularly carry out preventive measures to destroy parasites.

Another reason is a stomach full of wool. If the owner does not comb the pet, it will do the grooming on its own. The cat will be bothered by stool problems and vomiting. You can fight it with veterinary drugs that help remove the hair from the outside.

In extreme heat, animals refrain from eating, preferring only to drink water. Kittens lose interest in feeding during hormonal changes in the body to adult mode, as do pregnant and estrus cats. Cats actively searching for a partner also eat less, less often than usual. Sometimes purrs go hungry for days after eating a large, heavy meal the day before.

Be sure to read:
One of the cat’s eyes is watering: reasons, what to do at home, medications and folk methods

How to help your pet?

Apart from psychological problems, refusal of food in animals means that the normal life cycle is disrupted and urgent veterinary intervention is required to determine the cause and treatment. Since there are only two reasons for cats refusing food: an infectious disease and an upset stomach, it is necessary to find out what exactly is bothering the pet.

The reluctance to eat a favorite food in a healthy cat can last a little more than an hour after the next meal. Then she is ready to eat again if offered. So, if a cat refuses to eat, lies down, and looks lethargic, what should you do?

Take your temperature. To do this, you can use a thermometer placed in the anus. The procedure is unpleasant, but it must be carried out and try to keep the animal from running away. The normal temperature for cats is 38 °C. Its increase indicates the presence of infection, and its decrease indicates a decrease in vitality due to lack of food and water. However, a normal temperature does not always mean that your pet is healthy, but in this case the likelihood of inflammation is sharply reduced.

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Advice from veterinarians on what to do if a cat doesn’t eat or drink, just sleeps; why a cat with liver disease doesn’t eat and goes to the toilet.

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Often, a pet’s refusal to eat can frighten the owner. When a cat is lethargic and spends most of its time in one position, this is certainly not a good sign. If the cat doesn’t eat or drink and just dozes, you need to understand the reasons for this behavior, because it’s entirely possible that your cat is sick and needs to be cured.

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From time to time, situations occur when a cat does not eat or drink for a certain number of days, but only dozes without apparent circumstances. If a cat does not eat and, accordingly, loses its appetite, then this can be called anorexia. But an animal’s appetite is determined by mental factors, in contrast to hunger, which is a physiological phenomenon.

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There can be many reasons why a cat does not eat for a number of days and only sleeps. Often a kitten does not eat because some harmful processes have begun in its body, in other words, a disease is emerging. Usually, if a cat is very lethargic, does not even drink water for a long time and lies in one place for most of the day, then this indicates diseases of the stomach or other major organs. After all, when experiencing severe pain, the animal will not be able to eat.

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It is also necessary to emphasize that if the pet is very lethargic during the day and does not even drink water for a long time, this may indicate the first heat. Many owners think that their pet is sick, but this is not the case. In this case, the animal begins to get acquainted with new natural urges, and this can lead it to confusion. Usually, this behavior and refusal of water and food can only go away for a few days, and then everything returns to normal.

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If the kitten doesn’t eat anything for a long time and doesn’t even drink water during the day, he’s lethargic and doesn’t want to do anything, then your pet is probably sick. Often, contagious diseases such as worms are a prerequisite for lack of appetite. To prevent your pet from losing weight and becoming lethargic, you need to give him preventive medications against parasites from time to time.

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Below is a list of the most common diseases among domestic cats. If the cat does not eat anything for a day or a certain number of days, is very lethargic and only lies in one place, plus he has also lost weight, then, of course, the pet has fallen ill. But what kind of infection is the prerequisite for this? Let's try to figure it out.

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As stated above, an accurate diagnosis can only be made by a specialized doctor, since there can be many reasons for lack of appetite. Diagnosis of a pet’s health condition comes down to the following measures.

you too abruptly and unplannedly began to accustom him to other foods;
First, if the cat has lost weight, then it is likely that she has gastrointestinal diseases. Typically, such a disease is accompanied by diarrhea and other unconventional discharge. Only a veterinarian can make a more thorough diagnosis.
This may also indicate liver disease. If the cat is sick, then you also need to go to the doctor, and for the future - create a diet that would cleanse this organ.
Pancreatic diseases. Sometimes a cat does not eat precisely because of this disease.
Diseases of the reproductive system.
Blood diseases.

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But just because your cat isn't eating doesn't mean she has one of these diseases. If your pet has lost weight, this may well be due to the fact that he:

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I don’t like the new food (the diet needs to be changed);
new place of residence (over time, the cat adapts, you can help him with this: veterinary stores often sell appropriate medications that help animals when moving);
other causes of stress (it is necessary to identify specific causes of stress).

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In any case, if the cat does not eat during the day, then this is not a big deal. But if this trend continues for a long time, then the pet must be taken to the doctor. However, you also need to take into account some nuances. For example, if you are worried about the health of your pet and don’t know how long it can go without food, then consider the following factors:

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A young and healthy cat can easily go without food for more than five days, and this will not harm him in any way. After this period, the body will be replenished with all the necessary vitamins and carbohydrates and the cat will feel normal again.
If your cat is already old and has stopped eating, then he can go without food for about three days without harm to his health. As in the previous case, after which his body will be replenished with vitamins. Of course, if the reason for such a diet is not a disease.
If the kitten is small and has not eaten all day, then it may die of hunger. A small and fragile organism can survive without food for about a day, in rare cases - a little more. Therefore, kitten owners need to immediately sound the alarm if their pet does not eat for at least half a day.
If you know that your cat suffers from chronic diseases, then she should not be allowed to starve for a long time. Regardless of the stage of manifestation and degree of the disease, a sick pet should not fast for more than two days.

If your cat doesn’t eat anything and has lost a lot of weight, then first you need to try changing your pet’s diet. After all, if your pet doesn’t eat during the day, and you just gave him new food or food, then perhaps the problem lies in the food. In this case, you need to do this: add not very much of the food that she ate previously to the new food, gradually reducing its level to a minimum.

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Perhaps the cat is lethargic and does not eat during the day due to the dirty bowl in which her food is located. After all, bowls must be perfectly clean, so they need to be washed every day. It is likely that your pet does not like the location of his bowls. Try placing the bowl in a different place and watch the cat.

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In general, if the cat does not eat for a long time and is very lethargic throughout the day, or even several days, and the above tips did not help, then there is only one way out. What to do? Take your pet to the veterinarian as these symptoms indicate the development of the disease. Only a doctor can determine the real cause.

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eating too quickly;
the cat ate a lot at lunch;
the food you feed the animal is very difficult to digest;

the food is of poor quality and has already spoiled;
Perhaps the pet was poisoned by digging in the trash or eating something poisonous.

Try feeding your pet a different food and observe its behavior and condition. In addition, certain health problems in your animal may be a likely cause of this condition. It could be:

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digestive system cancer;
renal failure of the body;
diabetes;
presence of infection in the stomach;
the presence of parasites in the esophagus.

liver treatment in Germany In the first four cases, home self-medication is not allowed. Take your pet to the veterinarian for examination as soon as possible, otherwise the situation could end in disaster. A timely diagnosis and treatment can save the animal, but if you hesitate, you can completely ruin the health of your pet.

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If you think that your cat has parasites in his stomach, for example, worms, then you can check it yourself. How to do it? It's painfully simple. Go to the nearest veterinary store and buy an anthelmintic for domestic cats. Sometimes it can be mixed with water or added to food. More often it should be given to the pet in its pure form.

In addition, this can be caused by various diseases of the mucous system, in other words, the throat, nose, mouth, etc.

Of course, this is not so easy to do, especially when the animal breaks out. With one hand you need to open the cat's mouth, and with the other you need to put a pill in it. Make sure she swallows it, otherwise there will be no point. When the cat has eaten the drug, wait until it goes to the toilet.

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After the animal has left excrement in the tray, you need to visually assess it. If there are parasites in the animal's body, they will be visible in the cat's feces. If they are not there, then take your pet to the doctor.

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It is believed that a dry nose in a cat is the initial sign of illness. This is partly true, but not always. For example, after sleep your pet’s nose will be dry, as if you didn’t want the opposite. But if the lack of appetite is accompanied by this factor for several days, then there is only one way out - take the animal to the veterinarian.

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Also, touch your pet to see if he has a fever. If this is the case, then immediately take the animal to the doctor.

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My cat hasn’t eaten or drunk for 3 days, I give Rigedron 2 ml - every 10 minutes - I give activated charcoal - I give a little milk with a syringe - sweet water - glucose. The veterinarian in our city is strange - he refused to put on an IV for fear that the cat would scratch (this is not a veterinarian, I think, but an idiot). Help with advice: what should I do, the cat sleeps head down all the time! I would install the system myself, but I don’t know how.

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Comprehensive and complete inspection. The veterinarian will check the oral cavity, listen to the cat's breathing, palpate its tummy to identify stomach diseases, estimate the cat's weight and measure its body temperature.
You will also need to undergo urine and blood tests. They will help identify hidden diseases of your pet’s organs.
If certain signs are present, your veterinarian may order an x-ray of your chest and abdomen.
He may also order a stool test to detect parasites in the pet’s stomach.

Once the diagnosis is made, the veterinarian will prescribe specific treatment aimed at the cat’s recovery. This can be either specific treatment or supportive.

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Specific treatment consists of eliminating the reasons why the cat stopped eating and drinking. For example, these could be antibiotic injections that will help fight the disease. It can also be surgery if there are foreign bodies in your pet's body.

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As for maintenance treatment, it is designed to maintain the state of the animal’s weak body when the kitten does not eat anything. This may be therapy aimed at stimulating appetite.

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When I moved to a new place of residence, I had a similar problem. But then I didn’t know about stress and everything else, and I was seriously scared. The cat was afraid of the new apartment and was constantly hiding from me. He didn’t go to the toilet for a number of days, and he barely ate at all for probably 4 days. But over time, he began to slowly crawl out, and then I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything worked out fine, but I was so scared then.

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My cat was also stressed at one point.
After communicating with the dog, or rather, after she chased it. So, no veterinary remedies or drugs helped her. The cat shut down and behaved strangely for two days. She showed her to the veterinarian, who prescribed several medications, but to no avail. And guess what? Ordinary valerian helped. I gave the cat a few drops and she purred as if nothing had happened! So sometimes the answer is right under your nose. acute liver disease treatment

liver cirrhosis in Berlin For what reasons does a domestic cat lose its appetite? Why doesn't he eat or drink, but only sleeps all day? You can find out the answers to these questions from us.

Intestinal obstruction

If your pet constantly screams during examination, this does not bode well: perhaps this is a symptom of intestinal volvulus, the presence of a hard, impassable object that has entered the intestines and blocked all the passages. Naturally, in such a situation the cat refuses to eat. How to feed an animal? Before examining the cat by a specialist, it is strictly forbidden to try to force feed it, pour any liquid into its mouth, including milk, or give a laxative. This can cause intestinal rupture, and the animal will die from internal hemorrhage.

Urgently seek help from a large veterinary clinic, where they will conduct all the necessary examinations, take x-rays and take tests. If the x-ray does not show any pathology, the doctor will prescribe a repeat x-ray with a radiopaque solution. The cat is immediately given barium chloride, since at least eight hours must pass after taking the marker for a high-quality photograph. If the second x-ray reveals intestinal obstruction, which may be caused by swallowed objects, wool, threads, then you will be offered surgery.

If no clear obstruction is detected, but the cat refuses to eat and has lost a lot of weight, then in the next 24 hours he will be prescribed IVs and intramuscular injections. These measures will make it possible to artificially support the body until digestive functions return to normal or until surgery becomes a vital necessity.

What to do if the cat doesn't eat.

In the case when your cat feels cheerful and cheerful, goes to the litter box normally, and the hunger strike lasts no more than two days, you can rest easy. It will be necessary to try to gradually introduce new foods into her feeding diet. If your cat eats natural food, try introducing cat-friendly foods into the diet. If the cat consumes industrially produced food, then we introduce a new type of food, and the introduction of the new food must begin gradually.

If your cat is not eating because she is in heat, you will need to make sure she is drinking enough fluids.

At the pet store you can buy cat treats, vitamin complexes, and sprouted grass.

If a cat's hunger strike continues for more than 2 days and additionally it develops symptoms of any disease, it is necessary to urgently seek veterinary help at your veterinary clinic.

Natural reasons for refusing food

Age. Old cats have a slower metabolism and their body does not need a lot of food. If an old animal does not eat for a long time, but only drinks water, becomes lethargic, lies motionless for a long time, and does not respond to the owner’s voice, these are signs of the animal’s imminent death.
Prenatal period. On the eve of giving birth, the cat completely refuses food, she restlessly rushes around the house, looking for a convenient place to give birth to kittens. This behavior should not alarm the owner. To make your pet less worried, prepare a secluded corner for her in advance where she will feel protected.
Postpartum period. Giving birth is extremely stressful for a cat, so there is no need to worry if she refuses food for a while. However, if she refuses water and practically does not pay attention to the babies, a consultation with a veterinarian is necessary. Often, this condition indicates serious problems with the reproductive system, for example, afterbirth remaining in the uterus.
A nursing cat may not feel hungry for several days. This condition is explained by her fatigue after childbirth. Don't worry if your pet doesn't refuse water and behaves normally - her appetite will soon return.
Heat. Don't be surprised: people aren't the only ones who don't tolerate heat waves well. In such a situation, the animal refuses food, but drinks a lot of water. The problem can be solved simply - place the animal in a cool room where the air conditioner or fan is running.

Let's sum it up

Today we tried to find out why the cat refuses food and water. As you can see, there are many reasons causing this situation. A successful solution to the problem largely depends on the owner’s attentive attitude towards his pet. Will you be able to determine in time that the cat is unwell and needs emergency medical care? Will you be able to understand that your affectionate purring friend is experiencing discomfort due to stress? Do you recognize your pet’s protest due to an undeserved insult?

Pet owners should be aware that physiological problems are usually a temporary condition. Having shown patience and care, the owner will very soon be rewarded with an improvement in the animal’s condition: he will become energetic, cheerful and will eat the offered delicacies with appetite. And psychological factors, for the most part, are reversible: the cat will get used to a new home, changed circumstances, and unusual food. The desire to eat delicious food will definitely return to him.