What to do if a cat doesn't eat anything?

Sometimes it happens that a cat won't eat or drink anything, and it's hard to immediately figure out the reason. Today, we'll discuss the possible causes of this behavior and share recommendations on what to do in this situation. Of course, everyone has those days when their appetite decreases and they don't feel like eating anything at all. But when this state persists, especially for several days, it's time to sound the alarm. There's likely something wrong with your cat's body.

Reasons why a cat is starving

There are many reasons why a cat won't eat or drink. Diseases can be infectious or non-infectious. Some diseases can be caused by:

• viruses;
• fungi;
• bacteria.

Helminthiasis

Regardless of whether your cat goes outside or not, preventative anthelmintic treatment is mandatory for all animals every 3-4 months.

Helminth eggs can enter the home on the soles of shoes, household items (from a store or market), and even on your hands (after all, we all touch handrails on public transport and numerous door handles).

Important! Don't underestimate the danger of helminthiasis, as there are many different types of feline parasites, many of which can be dangerous to their owners.

Gastritis

Gastric inflammation in cats is quite difficult to diagnose, as it often shows no symptoms in the early stages. The causes of these problems in veterinary medicine are not yet fully understood. Helicobacter pylori has been detected in samples from sick animals, but a link between its presence and the onset of inflammation has not been scientifically established. It is also unknown whether animals can contract the bacteria from humans.

Veterinarians list the following as provoking factors: improper nutrition (in particular, the use of cheap, low-quality food), the use of aggressive medications, helminthiasis, and stress.

Among the main symptoms of gastritis:

• loss of appetite;
• digestive system disorder (diarrhea, vomiting);
• lethargy;
• anxiety.

In most cases, gastritis responds well to treatment with specialized medications. However, self-medication is not recommended. It's important to establish a correct diagnosis, which is only possible after a complete examination of the animal. Without medical treatment, acute gastritis can become chronic, leading to gastric ulcers, which can even be fatal.

Enteritis

Enteritis is a serious infectious disease that progresses rapidly and is characterized by a strong inflammatory process in the small intestine.

Depending on the cause of the inflammation, the following types of enteritis are distinguished:

• viral;
• bacterial;
• post-traumatic;
• helminthic.

In common parlance, viral enteritis (panleukopenia) is often called "plague".

The severity of symptoms varies with different types of the disease. Typically, these include refusal to eat, vomiting, severe diarrhea (containing undigested food particles), and general weakness.

Important! Enteritis progresses quite quickly, and the animal's condition worsens with each passing hour, so it's crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Toothache

During the teething period, a young cat may temporarily refuse food if a baby tooth, firmly attached to the gum, becomes loose but does not fall out. Eating causes pain, which causes the cat to refuse food. This isn't a sign of a lack of appetite. The cat simply spits out solid food after taking it into its mouth. It's as if it was hungry but suddenly changed its mind.

In older animals, similar symptoms can occur with dental caries. Toothache can be as severe for animals as it is for humans. A swelling on the face (a gumboil) may also be present. The cat will protest violently when you try to look into its mouth, even if it previously didn't resist such manipulations.

Inflammatory processes and injuries in the oral cavity

It is difficult for an animal to eat when there is inflammation or injury in the oral cavity:

• ulcers;
• swollen gums;
• periodontitis;
• stomatitis.

Any of the listed problems can cause the animal pain during feeding, which can lead to a complete refusal to eat.

Be sure to examine your pet for symptoms of stomatitis!

Foreign body in the throat

A common reason a cat can't eat or drink is because a foreign object is stuck in its throat. This could be a fishbone or something similar. It's important to monitor what your pet eats. Don't let them grab anything from the floor or ground. Don't even try to remove anything yourself, as this could damage the mucous membrane of the throat or push the object further down, making the situation worse.

Important! Foreign bodies can become lodged not only in the throat but also in the stomach or intestines. This can lead to gastrointestinal obstruction. Food rots in the intestines, causing severe toxicity, which can lead to death.

But sometimes the foreign body is hard, and when moving through the intestines, it can lead to perforation (tearing all layers, resulting in the contents of the digestive tract entering the abdominal cavity), which in turn provokes peritonitis - an extremely dangerous condition.

Poisoning

Poisoning can also cause cats to refuse to eat or drink. Poisoning can occur from poor-quality food, medications, and even houseplants. Often, pets suffer from cleaning their food bowls with chemicals, which are then poorly rinsed. The animal eats from the bowl and is poisoned. Poisoning can occur not only through oral ingestion but also from inhaling fumes from cleaning chemicals, paint, acetone, or ammonia. These substances are full of irritants that negatively impact a pet's health. Therefore, if you're planning a renovation or a deep cleaning, take care of your pet's safety.

Sexual desire

A cat's heat cycle (especially the first) is characterized by a dramatic change in behavior. During this period, it's common to see a refusal to eat in the first few days. A cat may even lose interest in a favorite treat if another female is nearby. If there are no other alarming symptoms, and the cat's behavior suggests a typical hormonal surge, there's no need to worry. However, a visit to the veterinarian is still recommended.

As a rule, the first such period in cats occurs at 6-10 months (but in some breeds, maturation can occur earlier, as early as 4-5 months, or later, closer to a year).

Other reasons

Fasting is most often recorded in cases of inflammatory processes in the digestive organs. This is not only gastritis in cats (inflammation of the stomach) and enteritis (acute inflammation of the intestines). But hepatitis, pancreatitis, enterocolitis and cholangitis. poor health of the animal can also be caused by liver diseases, among which the most common are: amyloidosis, lipidosis or cirrhosis.

Of course, the list of possible reasons for refusal to eat is much broader and can include factors that seem harmless at first glance (disliking a new food or stress when changing residence or having a new pet in the house), as well as serious illnesses, including cancer.

Found the cause - what to do?

Even if you've identified the reason why your cat isn't eating, it's not always clear what to do next. Of course, the first step is to confirm your suspicions, and a visit to the veterinarian is essential. You might suspect stress, but your pet may actually have a serious illness. You might determine that something has been overdone, there are visual signs of injury, or a digestive upset, but the cause can only be determined after a full examination. Therefore, if your cat isn't eating or drinking, don't waste time self-treating; take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Important! Never force-feed your cat.

If a cat refuses even its favorite treat, there's a good reason. Animals won't starve themselves, overcoming hunger, unless they're driven to it by pain.

Simply leave some food and water freely available. Your pet may not eat for a while due to illness, but drinking is vital during this period. Be sure to check whether your pet is using the litter box (both for bowel and bowel movements). If there is no feces, the cause may be... intestinal obstruction (foreign body, clumps of licked hair). This can only be removed surgically. If you delay a visit to the vet, the cat may die.

When you urgently need to see a doctor

Even if an apparently healthy cat isn't eating or drinking, has become passive, or is anxious, it's still important to take it to the vet, even as a preventative measure. However, there are a number of symptoms that warrant an immediate visit to the vet.

The first thing to notice is a dry nose. Any temperature changes are also a warning sign. You should also see a doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

• sharp pain when touched;
• plaintive cries;
• severe depression of the animal;
• fever;
• vomit;
• severe diarrhea.

Any of these signs in themselves are cause for concern, and if the cat is not eating anything, then it is better not to delay a trip to the veterinary clinic.

How to help a cat that won't eat at home

You can treat your pet at home after visiting a specialist. Once the veterinarian determines the cause of the animal's illness, they can provide a series of recommendations for caring for the animal at home. In this case, the owner should act as a caregiver and monitor the animal's condition.

If your cat hasn't eaten or drunk anything and their appetite begins to improve after treatment, you should consider feeding them. You can warm the food slightly to enhance the scent. It's also important to monitor the amount of food they consume. Even if they're starving, you should initially limit their access to food, otherwise they'll overeat, and their weak bodies have a harder time processing large amounts.

If the cat does not eat or drink, then with the doctor's permission You can encourage her to feed. Water can be poured into her mouth through a straw, and the same can be done with liquid food. Feed little by little, but pay attention to her stool; if there's none, you can increase the portion.

Prevention

It's much better to prevent problems rather than trying to figure out why your cat isn't eating. This requires:

1. quality nutrition and proper regimen;
2. timely vaccination;
3. stress minimization.

Regular checkups are essential for a cat's long and healthy life. The same can be said for its living conditions. Beatings, yelling, and intimidation cause stress and, consequently, illness. The benefits of a healthy diet are well known. The only thing that can be added is that abrupt changes in food are not advisable. If you do decide to switch your pet to a different brand of food, do so gradually, observing its reaction to the dietary changes.

For more information on this issue, please see your veterinarian's recommendations:

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

Read also:

• What to do if your cat stops eating dry food?
• How to tell if a cat is sick
• My cat is vomiting blood: causes and what to do