Is your cat not eating? Do you know why? Pet lovers get very worried when their pets do not eat and this is normal. Cats, especially are known to be very picky about their food and they are not to blame. They just want the best for themselves. Read on to find out why your cat won’t eat.
There can be many reasons both medical and non-medical that can cause your cat not to eat. Truth is, no matter reason, if your cat refuses to eat for more than a day, then you need to find out the reason and get your cats appetite back. Here are some of the reasons that cause a cat not to eat.
1. Dental Problems
When the cat has painful teeth and gums, they will definitely won’t want to eat. A cat can develop resorptive lesions on their teeth, have a fracture on their teeth, dental abscesses, inflammation on gums, and any other dental issue that can leave their mouth sore and painful. It is not easy to diagnose any dental issues until you get your cat to you the vet.
2. Your Cat Won’t Eat While Ill
If your cat won’t eat and drink, then illness could be also a probable cause. A cat can suffer from different infections including, intestinal problems, pancreatitis, kidney failure, and cancer. Cats are very good at masking illness and this is a cause to worry.
Diseases like cancer are not common in cats as they are in dogs. However, cancer in cats are more aggressive than in dogs and can turn fatal very fast if not diagnosed and treated on time. The good news is that there are holistic cancer treatments for cats and you can be able to get your feline friend the right help it needs.
3. Strange Environment
Just like with human beings, cats also get affected by a change in their surroundings, especially when they have had to travel. The change in routine can cause them to shortly lose their appetite. Animals that experience motion sickness when they travel, get nauseated and they also tend to refuse to eat.
4. Vaccinations
If your cat has lost their appetite after you have just taken it for a vaccination, then probably that could be the cause. Cats react adversely to vaccinations and this is a number one cause of loss of appetite in very many animals.
The side effects are temporary and mild and no treatment is needed. But should you notice your cat behaving indifferently then you can consult your vet.
5. The Flavor of the food
Cats can be particular in their food. They can eat a type of food for some time and then decide that they no longer want it. Cat food manufacturers can also alter something in the food you buy with no notice and this might result in your cat abandoning the food.
6. Foreign Body
When a cat eats something that they are not supposed to eat or have hairballs in their stomach or intestines, these items can get stuck in their system and cause an obstruction. When this happens, the cat will vomit each time they eat or drink anything because the food cannot get past the obstruction.
Your cat will not want to eat anymore. If the foreign body will not just cause an obstruction, but it can still cause diarrhea and vomit and lack of appetite too.
7. Psychological Issues
If your cat is not physically sick, then emotional issues can just be the cause of its loss of appetite. Depression and anxiety caused by minor changes around them.
For examples, changes in a familiar routine or schedule, or having new people around them can cause your cat not to eat. Cats take time to adjust to any change around them.
8. Respiratory Challenges
When a cat nose or eyes are clogged because of respiratory disease, or their lungs affected causing them not to breathe well, they may not want to eat at all.
Upper and lower respiratory problems can affect the cats’ ability to breathe and smell, and if there any discharges, they also temporarily affect the cats’ ability to see. Though these can be cleared up with an antibiotic, the cat will definitely lose its appetite for a while.
What to Do When Your Cat Won’t Eat
Should your cat stop eating, you need to determine the underlying cause. That is the first step towards solving the problem. Remember, not all reasons are medical and some you might solve just by changing a thing or two around your home.
You should act fast because a cat with no appetite can get sick quite fast. There are other ways that you can use to stimulate your cats’ appetite other than or alongside the treatment prescribed by the veterinary doctor.
In severe cases, the vet might recommend syringe feeding or they may also place a feeding tube so that the cat can get the nutrients that they need in order to stay healthy. These measures are taken as the cat continues to receive treatment for the anorexia.
Remember, if your cat won’t eat but will drink, then there is a high chance that they might have a dental problem, and they cannot be able to chew their food. A quick dash to the vet should sort this out. In the meantime, make sure that you give your cat as much fluid as you can to keep them hydrated.
If Your Cat Won’t Eat, Do Not Ignore It
If your cat won’t eat, it will definitely lose weight after using up its protein supplies. This will cause the liver to become overwhelmed because of the fats and can result in lipidosis, which is a rather serious condition that can lead to liver failure.
This means if your can won’t eat and you have neither traveled nor changed its routine then you should see your vet as soon as possible.
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