Today, almost every person has pets. The most graceful of them are cats and female cats. Taking care of your pets from a very early age, you may encounter some problems.
When the baby is active, eats well, and has a healthy appearance, the owner should not worry. But not all owners know what to do if a small kitten does not eat well, looks exhausted and lethargic.
The kitten is not eating well. Why?
At some point the owner notices that the kitten is not eating well
.
Lack of appetite in adults is not as serious as for a small one. The kitten is not eating well, what should I do
? How bad are the consequences of malnutrition for a kitten’s body?
First you should try to determine the cause of poor appetite. The kitten began to eat poorly
if this is a spoiled kitten who suffers from overeating, when the owners offer the baby all the best and constantly.
Why does the kitten eat poorly?
?
Another likely option is excess food; overfeeding The owner does not calculate the portion according to weight, size and age, and the baby constantly receives an excess amount. As a result, the kitten eats little
and ignores food.
Causes of poor appetite in a kitten
However, a kitten may refuse to eat due to poor health or illness. Absolutely any malaise leads to general lethargy and loss of appetite - the kitten eats little and sleeps a lot.
An extremely dangerous situation arises if
the kitten eats very little
, and in addition to refusing to eat, stops drinking.
Reasons why a kitten eats little
, diseases such as:
— problems of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, colic, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, etc.);
— pathologies of internal organs (diseases of the liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc.);
— soreness of the oral cavity (gums bleed, teeth are cut, teeth hurt, etc.);
— infestations (helminthic, skin parasites, ear mites);
- poisoning;
- blockage of the esophagus, stomach (foreign body);
- stressful state;
- infectious viral diseases, etc.
What to do if the kitten is not eating well?
It’s not difficult to notice that a small pet is sick. The whole appearance of the baby indicates that a malfunction has occurred in the body. These are stomach problems, vomiting, high fever, nasal congestion, rapid weight loss, suppuration of the membranes of the eyes and mucous membranes of the mouth, mournful meowing and indifference to the outside world. Due to sharp pain, the kitten will not be able to eat food. And only a veterinarian, with the help of test results and examination, will be able to help the baby.
The owner can only maintain the health of the purr with proper nutrition and good care. The kitten's menu should be varied and healthy. If your baby eats food, you can try to introduce him to more natural products. But abruptly switching from one to another is strictly prohibited. The product must be introduced gradually so that the body adapts to the new product. At the veterinary pharmacy you can buy special vitamin supplements and treats for kittens. It will not be superfluous to purchase sprouted green grass. Pet stores sell special collars and liquids against fleas and other bloodsuckers, from which you need to protect your pet. Timely preventive vaccinations will only be beneficial.
As a result, if the kitten does not eat well for two days, there is no need to worry. But if the appetite worsens further, and symptoms of the disease appear, you should take the baby to the veterinarian as soon as possible in order to provide qualified assistance in a timely manner. We are responsible for those we have tamed.
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What to do when the kitten begins to eat poorly?!
The kitten eats poorly and sleeps a lot,
or, conversely, restless. The temperature can be elevated (over 39.5 C) or lower (lower limit 37 C). Waiting for everything to return to normal on its own is dangerous. A little more than a day without food for a kitten under the age of six months is fraught with consequences that are difficult to correct. Due to weakness and dehydration, the baby’s body will not be able to cope with the disease on its own.
The kitten eats little, what to do
? He should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.
If the kitten is very weakened, do not torment him with a trip in transport, this is dangerous in his condition, call a veterinarian at home.
The doctor will provide the necessary assistance, examine the baby, and prescribe recommendations for treatment. In an emergency, the kitten must be hospitalized.
The dangers of not enough food for a kitten
An adult cat is able to survive for a long time without food or get by with a minimum of it. But for a small animal, nutritional deficiency can lead to serious problems. If a kitten does not eat anything or eats very little and poorly, this is fraught with:
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- anemia;
- pathologies of the liver and kidneys;
- breathing disorders;
- heart rhythm disturbances;
- developmental and growth retardation.
Of course, these complications occur when the animal eats poorly and eats little for quite a long time.
It happens that appetite disappears for just a few days, and then returns to normal. But if the kitten is thin and has not been eating well for a week or more, it’s time to sound the alarm.
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Prevention
To prevent the development of infectious diseases, pets must be vaccinated. Even if they live in an apartment and do not go outside, they have a risk of becoming infected.
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The veterinarian conducts an examination and prescribes additional examination.
Living conditions play an important role in maintaining the health of a cat. Adequate, high-quality nutrition is a guarantee of high immunity. Pets should not be fed from the table or given human food.
To prevent the cat from getting bored, they constantly play with it and teach it different tricks. Such activities will tax her intellect and she will not get bored. If you need to move or create another stressful environment, you should first give the animal a mild sedative.
If a cat lives in an apartment, it is still treated for parasites with appropriate means every six months.
When you notice the first signs of thinness, it is better to contact a veterinarian. Only he will be able to correctly determine the cause of the condition and prescribe treatment.
What to do to help the kitten?
The baby will be very lucky if the adoptive mother treats him normally and does not deny him food.
If the baby is not yet a month old, and he is left without a mother, there is only one way out - buy a special bottle with a mixture for kittens and feed the pet artificially. If the kitten does not suck the rubber nipple and feeding cannot be established, you can try to find a wet-nurse cat who recently gave birth to the same cub. When introducing animals, you should give them time to sniff, because some adult cats can aggressively perceive a stranger, even if he is a newborn.
If you suspect the presence of any disease, the baby should be shown to a veterinarian. Once the diagnosis is known, the doctor will prescribe a safe and effective treatment regimen. It is important for the owner to strictly follow all the doctor’s advice and recommendations and under no circumstances self-medicate. If the reason is an unpleasant odor from food or dishes, it is recommended to change the brand of food, and also choose bowls made of high-quality plastic.
What to do to get your cat to eat
There are many ways to get your cat to eat. However, your most important job as a pet parent when your cat isn't eating is to monitor her physical health.
If your pet's loss of appetite lasts more than a few days, you should contact your veterinarian. Once you and your veterinarian have ruled out any physical problems or illnesses, you can begin to follow these tips.
- New food . Getting your cat to eat can be done by simply changing what they eat.
- Reduce anxiety . If your cat picks up on your anxiety, try cat yoga. This will calm you down and help you build a positive relationship with your kitten.
- Appetite stimulants . You may need to consult your veterinarian if your cat is still not eating after a few days.
Causes of decreased appetite
There are quite a few factors that provoke a decrease in appetite in kittens. Some can be easily eliminated, while others are difficult to treat even in a clinical setting. Here are the main reasons:
- the animal eats poorly because the food does not suit it;
- decreased appetite is caused by changes in weather or living conditions (a kitten may not eat due to stress, just like a person);
- the owners overfeed the pet, and it protests, showing poor appetite;
- the baby doesn’t get enough attention or play and is sad, feeling bad “morally”;
- an infection has entered the body;
- there is any disease of the gastrointestinal tract, so the kitten refuses to eat;
- the animal eats little due to food poisoning.
If the kitten begins to eat poorly, you definitely need to figure out why. Often you cannot do this on your own. In this case, a veterinarian will help.
Reasons for kittens refusing food
Each organism is individual, and animals are no exception in this regard. There are a variety of reasons why a cat refuses to eat. Below are the most common ones. So:
- does not eat anything . For example, if he was just taken into the house, torn away from his mother. Naturally, in the first days the baby suffers, experiences stress, misses his mother and wants to return to his usual environment. By refusing food, he thus rebels and tries to show his protest. Similar situations happen with older children with tails, if they don’t like something (the atmosphere in the family, the owner’s attitude, etc.).
- It often happens that a kitten does not eat well or is on a complete hunger strike because he does not like or does not like the food . For example, if a very small animal (a month and a half old) is offered adult food, it is quite natural that he refuses it. Tiny pets that have just been weaned from a cat need, first of all, mother's milk.
- Sometimes a small kitten does not eat due to various ailments . These could be worms, dental or gum diseases, digestive problems, etc. In this case, the baby usually behaves restlessly - “cries”, sleeps poorly; vilifies or, conversely, stops walking around; looks unhappy and sick.
- If your baby approaches the bowl and then suddenly jumps away from it or scratches with its paw, it may be that she doesn’t like the smell . Cats are very sensitive in this regard. By the way, a dirty bowl can also be the reason that an animal refuses to eat or even drink milk.
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It is not always possible to determine the cause yourself. If we are talking about a very small pet, it is better to contact a veterinarian. He will help you understand the situation and tell you what to do and what to do.
What to do if the kitten does not eat dry food?
Depending on the reasons that we indicated above, the owner’s actions will naturally be different. If the kitten is not accustomed to dry food, it needs to be taught. This is not difficult to do: you just need to first mix a very small amount of granules into your usual food; you can first soak them a little with warm water. Gradually increasing the proportion of dry food, in two weeks you will achieve that your pet will eat only a ready-made diet.
During the training period, completely exclude any other types of food, both natural and canned. And in the future, if you want your kitten to eat dry food without fail and with appetite, do not give him anything else. A high-quality ready-made diet contains everything necessary for the baby’s growth and development, and by eating food with a constant composition, he will only become healthier, and any unpleasant surprises, such as digestive disorders, will be excluded.
If you suspect damage to the oral cavity or the occurrence of pathologies when changing teeth, you can carefully examine the kitten’s mouth yourself. Even an ignorant person can notice scarlet rather than pale pink gums, bleeding and wounds, but only a veterinarian can determine the cause of the problem and prescribe treatment. A direct route to the clinic is also indicated in case of any signs of illness in your pet.
Feeding high-quality dry food is the best choice for a cat owner, as evidenced by the millions of animals who have lived long and happy lives on such diets. Therefore, it is worth spending effort and competent actions to cope with any reason for refusing dry food.
What to do if a small kitten cannot eat and drink on its own?
It happens that a little purr is separated from its mother cat too early. Experienced breeders of purebred animals give the kitten to new owners no earlier than 3 months of age, when it already knows how to eat on its own and is accustomed to a certain food. If the kitten was taken away from the cat when it was very tiny or the baby was simply found on the street, it is likely that he simply has not yet eaten anything other than his mother’s milk. The baby doesn't know how to lap from a bowl. Moreover, he has no habit of drinking water.
Such a cat will have to be fed milk from a pipette or bottle with a nipple. Moreover, it is recommended to use a special cat's milk substitute. Then you can gradually teach the kitten to lap from the bowl and eat wet food. A good way is to offer the baby food from your hand, sometimes this helps kittens start eating new food.
