A cat does not eat or drink: causes and treatment

Cats are, in most cases, selective about their food choices. Owners can spend a lot of time studying the preferences of their pets. By observing cats eating food, we can draw a conclusion. They slowly absorb food and do not eat what they do not like. The owners can only satisfy the requirements of the pet and monitor its health. The first sign that your cat is not well is when your cat refuses to eat for 3 days or more. Do not rush to sound the alarm, there are many reasons why a cat does not eat anything.

Reasons for refusing food only

Reasons why the animal does not eat:

hormonal surge;
infection with external or internal parasites;
stress;
transfer to new and unusual food;
dirty bowl;
diseases of internal organs;
hot weather;
the stomach is full of wool;
viral or bacterial infections;
anorexia;
poisoning.

Transfer to new or unusual foods

If a cat refuses to eat, then the reasons may be a change in diet or diet:

cats do not like changes in food, a certain taste and smell is a guarantee of the quality and safety of food;
cats are predators, cold food is unusual for them;
If an animal is accustomed to artificial food enriched with additives and flavorings, it will probably refuse a less odorous treat.

Stress

Cats are emotional animals and react painfully to changes in the atmosphere at home:

there are many animals or strangers in the house;
repair;
visiting a veterinarian;
moving;
illnesses, injuries and operations;
external and internal parasites;
obesity;
death of a family member;
jealousy;
fear, melancholy, loneliness;
addition to the family.

Hot weather

The following suffer most in hot weather:

long-haired shaved cats;
short-nosed breeds;
animals with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system;
obese pets;
animals over 8 years old.

Cats love warmth - they need to maintain their energy potential. They have no sweat glands on their bodies. Cats cannot evaporate moisture and cool themselves. They cannot feel this, since they lack thermoreceptors, and can quickly overheat. Before the onset of hot weather, you should consult your veterinarian. He will prescribe medications in case your pet becomes ill.

Dirty bowl

What does dirty cat dishes lead to:

clean cats completely refuse to eat or drink when the bowl is infested with ants and foreign odors;
It is dangerous to feed less squeamish pets from dirty dishes due to infection.

It is necessary to wash bowls after meals or at least once a day - this will protect them from the source of pathogenic bacteria.

Hormonal surge

Factors causing hormonal surge:

puberty;
estrus;
pregnancy.

If an animal is going through a period of sexual activity, it may forget about food for a whole week. This does not mean that the cat is sick. After a maximum of seven days, your appetite should return. If your cat's appetite has not returned after the effects of the hormones have ended, you should contact your veterinarian for vitamins.

Helminthiasis or the presence of external parasites

The danger comes from the toxic waste products of worms and fleas. If the animal is not treated, its condition quickly deteriorates - the number of parasites grows exponentially.

Typical signs of a parasitic infection:

itching;
cough;
poor sleep;
diarrhea and vomiting.

Stomach is full of wool

If long-haired animals are not combed, they lick the fur with their rough tongue and swallow it. A lump collects in the stomach, which interferes with the digestion of food. The cat develops diarrhea and vomiting, and the animal refuses to eat.

The video from the channel “Network of Veterinary Clinics Bio-vet” talks about some of the reasons for poor appetite in cats.

Viral or bacterial infections

Even domestic cats that do not roam outside are susceptible to infections. Many bacteria and viruses enter the home on the hands and soles of shoes. The most common of these are feline herpes and calcivirus.

Typical signs after the incubation period appear as follows:

the pet is lethargic and sad;
the animal is not active and sits in one place;
sneezes;
his nose is running;
vomits with mucus and blood;
ulcers appeared in the mouth and nose;
the eyes become inflamed, thick mucus is released;
there is fever and temperature;
The animal does not drink water and dehydration develops.

You cannot let the disease take its course and self-medicate. Effective treatment should only be prescribed by a veterinarian so that the consequences for the pet’s health are minimal.

Anorexia

Causes of the disease:

Stomatitis, diseases of the oral cavity that interfere with the absorption of food.
Nausea - food stays in the stomach for a long time and irritates the chemo- and mechanoreceptors. The cat loses its appetite and is in constant pain.
Infectious and inflammatory processes.
Tumors can cause intestinal obstruction, constant pain and the growth of metastases in the liver.
Anorexia can be caused by taking antibiotics, painkillers and diuretics.
It can also be caused by diabetic ketoacidosis, pulmonary or heart failure, and uremia.
Antitumor therapy has a toxic effect on enterocytes, stimulates chemoreceptors and causes nausea. As a result of its action, the cat loses its sense of taste.
Lipidosis, cholangiohepatitis and infectious diseases of the liver and intestines.
Pancreatitis and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract occur with vague symptoms, but always with drowsiness and refusal to eat.

Diseases of internal organs

The reasons for refusing food can be diseases of the cardiovascular system: difficulties in the functioning of the heart, its increase or decrease.

At first it is impossible to detect the disease, but later the following symptoms appear:

dyspnea;
metabolic disorders;
cough;
apathy;
difficulty standing upright.

Respiratory diseases, such as:

bronchitis;
rhinitis;
pleurisy;
emphysema;
bronchopneumonia;
laryngitis.

Symptoms may include the following:

the animal sneezes;
coughs (sometimes with blood);
a runny nose appears;
possible attacks of vomiting interspersed with blood;
breathing may be difficult and signs of asthma may appear.

Respiratory system disorders can be caused by hypothermia and allergies.

Also, the cause of poor appetite can be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, such as:

mumps;
peritonitis;
gastritis;
pharyngitis;
poisoning.

The symptoms are as follows:

runny nose;
mucus from the mouth;
enlarged lymph nodes;
difficulty breathing and chewing.

Stomach ulcers can also affect your pet's appetite.

Typically the symptoms of an ulcer are:

the cat vomits (possibly with blood);
he is hiding;
meows;
defecates frequently;
doesn't eat;
I lost a lot of weight.

Signs of a cat's illness can be learned from the video provided by the Children of Fauna channel.

Fasting days

If the cat is nervous or upset, it may refuse to eat for the day. Already on the second day, as a rule, appetite returns to normal. The owners don't need to worry.

Poisoning

Signs that a cat has been poisoned:

the cat does not eat or drink, there is vomiting;
the pet is lethargic, weak, just lying down;
elevated temperature;
internal and external bleeding, hematomas;
anemia of the mucous membranes;
seizures, inappropriate behavior.

The sooner the cat is taken to the clinic, the better. The likelihood of salvation increases if the owner knows exactly what kind of poison the animal was poisoned with.

Oncology

Symptoms of cancer:

tumors, swellings, bumps on the skin;
non-healing wounds;
discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth, anus;
bad breath;
the cat is lethargic, barely walks, behaves unusually;
looking sickly and thin;
the animal suddenly begins to limp;
diarrhea and vomiting appear;
hyperemia on the skin (may peel off);
decreased or loss of appetite;
dyspnea;
The cat doesn't go to the litter box much.

Veterinarians have invented a vaccine against the leukemia virus, and therefore against lymphosarcoma. The sooner the owner receives advice from a veterinarian, the higher the likelihood of maintaining the health of the pet.

Something hurts

Reasons for refusing to eat:

the cat loses its appetite due to pain;
A lot of energy is spent on absorbing and digesting food, which a sick animal does not have.

Kidney failure

Signs that your cat is sick:

starts drinking more;
not active, lethargic;
loss of appetite, vomiting appears;
the animal is losing weight;
hair falls out;
My breath smells strongly of acetone.

Foreign body

Symptoms that will help you understand that your cat has swallowed something inedible:

Vomiting and diarrhea.
If an object moves through the gastrointestinal tract and injures it, black feces are observed.
With partial patency, the animal can carry a foreign object in itself constantly. This causes vomiting, dehydration and dull fur.

If the object ruptures the walls of the esophagus or causes pneumothorax (air entry), the animal will die.

The video from the channel “Children of Fauna” tells what to do if a cat swallows a foreign object.

How does the condition manifest?

In cats, periods of increased activity are usually followed by apathy and drowsiness. It is difficult for owners to understand why and at what exact moments this happens. Therefore, a situation where a cat is lethargic, hardly eats and sleeps a lot, is alarming.

The owner should clearly know that poor appetite and less active behavior do not always indicate an illness in the animal. And the veterinarian is sometimes unable to understand why the cat is lethargic. The observations of an attentive and loving owner are extremely important here.

The main signs of cat health, in addition to good appetite and good spirits, are:

shiny and smooth coat;
pink and slightly moistened mucous membranes;
cold and slightly damp nose (normally, during sleep it can become warm and dry);
pulse, respiratory rate and temperature are within normal limits;
absence of excessive discharge from the eyes, ears and nose, plaque in the mouth, salivation and unpleasant odor from the mouth and ears.

It is important! The normal duration of rest for a cat per day is 12-14 hours or more.

How many days without food is considered normal for cats?

Normally, fasting can last a different number of days depending on the reason:

During the day, a cat can starve without harm to health in the hot season, while it consumes more water;
also, no more than a day is considered normal fasting after moving;
stress from changing ownership can also cause loss of appetite;
meeting dogs on the street can become a stressful situation for a cat and also cause poor appetite;
stress or manipulation performed by a veterinarian during a visit to the clinic can also affect the animal’s appetite;
The cat may not eat for two days after anesthesia;
during the release of hormones, the cat can eat on the third day;
cats periodically refuse food and water altogether for several days during pregnancy.

For kittens

If a kitten under the age of six months is lethargic, does not play, sleeps a lot and has no appetite at all, then this is an alarming sign. The younger the animal, the faster all processes in its body proceed. For kittens under 6 weeks of age, going without food for even 12 to 24 hours can cause death. New owners often experience starvation of their pet when they take it home when it is two or three months old.

Reasons for fasting:

too young and not ready for solid food;
separation from mother;
stress;
change of home decor.

For cats and cats

If a young cat eats poorly for several days for no apparent reason and only drinks water, then most likely the animal is sick. He can cope with the infection, or there will be a remission of a chronic disease. Usually after this the owners stop worrying. But we need to fight not the symptoms, but the causes of the disease. To do this, it is imperative to contact a veterinarian, find out what exactly is happening to your pet and prescribe a course of treatment.

For a pregnant cat

While waiting for kittens, cats develop the following characteristics:

Pregnant cats, like women, experience toxicosis. In the morning there is loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.
The pet becomes selective in food; she may be offered her favorite treats, but she refuses them. You need to buy specialized food for pregnant cats with a high content of micro- and macroelements.
As the belly grows, pressure in the abdominal cavity increases and appetite decreases. From the 3rd week of pregnancy, the cat is fed 5-6 times a day in small portions. The food is wiped and soaked for absorption, and the amount of water is increased.
When the cat refuses to eat at all, birth is expected soon.
Refusal to eat in combination with fever, weakness and an unpleasant odor from the vagina of a pregnant cat is a reason to urgently consult a veterinarian.

For old cats

As cats age, their digestive organs wear out.

Typical diseases and problems appear:

gastritis;
enteritis;
dysbacteriosis;
diarrhea;
constipation;
change in stool color;
vomiting, fasting;
stomach ache;
weight loss.

How to help your pet

The best help for your pet is to see a doctor. An exception may be situations when you are absolutely sure that such a condition is caused by stress. For example, a recent move to a new place of residence or the arrival of a new pet or family member. But even here your cat needs help. There are special medications that will help the animal calm down faster and enter the usual rhythm of life (for example, Kot Bayun infusion, collar or Feliway spray).

Feliway is a specially developed pheromone for cats that helps normalize the pet’s behavior in a stressful situation.

Before visiting the veterinarian

Before visiting the veterinarian, the owner can independently take measures to somehow alleviate the pet’s condition:

Ensure peace and quiet, remove light irritants (dark windows).
If possible, isolate from other pets (if there are any in the house) in case of an infectious disease.
Place the pet on a clean bedding, not too soft, but comfortable.
Place clean water and some of your favorite food next to your pet.
You can force the cat to drink from a syringe without a needle (2-3 ml every half hour). This must be done if your pet has diarrhea or vomiting, or if the sick person is a kitten.
Drinking from a syringe is a necessary measure to prevent dehydration.
If there is grass specially grown for your pet, offer it.

You cannot give any medications on your own without the advice of a veterinarian. They can smooth out the symptoms, and it will be more difficult for the doctor to understand the true cause of the cat’s ill health.

You can call your veterinarian by phone and get advice . He will not make a diagnosis over the phone, but he will be able to give some professional recommendations that can help the animal before arriving at the clinic.

I always have a piece of paper pinned with a magnet on my refrigerator with the veterinarian’s number (it’s also written into my phone’s contact book). I usually call to find out a convenient time to accept my pets (so as not to sit in line later). But one day I needed a consultation when the cat was vomiting (she was poisoned by something, as it turned out later, but we did not identify the exact source, because she was walking in the yard and could have eaten anything). The clinic was no longer open (it was evening), and over the phone the doctor advised me to feed the cat Enterosgel and forcefully give her water. This way we were able to hold out until the morning, when the cat was able to receive help at the clinic (including putting on an IV).

After receiving doctor's orders

After the veterinarian has made a diagnosis and prescribed treatment, you should strictly follow all his recommendations. Do not hesitate to clarify all the details regarding taking medications.

Never stop treating your pet before the time prescribed by your doctor, even if it seems to you that he has completely recovered. Infectious diseases require a full course of therapy.

Perhaps the doctor will advise changing the diet, making it more gentle on the pet’s gastrointestinal tract. Special lines of well-known brands of cat food may be suitable, for example:

Gastro Intestinal from Royal Canin;
Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal - diet for cats with digestive disorders
Vet Life Cat Gastrointestinal from Farmina;
PRO PLAN Veterinary Diets EN Gastrointestinal;
Hill's Prescription Diet Feline i/d.

Additional recommendations

Following these recommendations will help your cat recover faster:

A calm environment will help your cat get out of stress. You should not force your pet into games and communication.
If your pet refuses the new diet, go back to the old one. If this is not possible, look for other cat food options (some animals refuse certain brands, so trial and error is the only way to find the right food).
Ecto- and endoparasites are destroyed using special preparations. There is no need to use them before visiting a doctor, but in the future it is always better to use them for prevention.
Inflamed gums can be treated with a solution of chlorhexidine or manganese (faint pink). This procedure is carried out twice a day. A piece of gauze is soaked in a medicinal solution and gently pressed onto problem areas of the oral cavity without applying pressure. Depending on the affected area, you can also use cotton swabs, precisely treating the desired areas.

What to do if you don’t eat or drink for a long time?

By drinking water, the animal will survive for 10 days. Without food and water, a cat will live a maximum of 6 days, depending on its age.

Kitty

Kittens are rescued in 2 ways:

find a wet nurse - a recently lambed cat for surrogate feeding;
fed from a syringe/bottle with an artificial mixture of diluted cat milk.

Adult cat or cat

You should not change food without the advice of a veterinarian. It needs to be heated, crushed and given in small portions. It is recommended to gradually switch to food for elderly pets, and to add a vitamin-mineral complex and vegetable oils to natural food.

The following are contraindicated for cats:

salty;
roast;
fatty.

Catnip added to water stimulates appetite.

Emergency assistance before the veterinarian arrives

At the first signs of refusal to eat, the main thing is not to panic and try to soberly approach the issue of determining the reasons:

Eliminate the possibility of purchasing unsuitable food
Try replacing food
Call emergency veterinary help
Do not start self-medication
Test your cat's sense of smell while giving her warm food from your hand.
Watch the cat, especially if you are in a suburban area - maybe the cat ate a mouse or ate from the neighbors
Avoid pet overeating

Every owner of a cat must remember that neglect of a pet can affect the occurrence of poor appetite and the development of dangerous diseases. Contacting a veterinary clinic when the first symptoms of food refusal appear will help the veterinarian quickly make a final diagnosis and prescribe the most effective treatment. The health of your pets is in your hands, and attention and care will help prevent the appearance of the above-described signs associated with loss of appetite.

When exactly should you take your pet to the doctor?

If a cat is fasting for more than 4 days, then this is a good reason for concern and prompt consultation with a doctor.

Alarming symptoms:

the cat is breathing heavily, screaming;
dry and hot nose;
vomiting and diarrhea are observed;
changes in appearance and behavior: the cat has lost a lot of weight and hardly moves;
discharge and changes in the condition of the coat.

It is very important to go to a veterinary clinic and not self-medicate, so as not to harm your pet and begin proper treatment as soon as possible.

If your cat begins to eat little due to kidney failure

There are two types of kidney failure in cats - acute and chronic, which are characterized by refusal to eat. There is severe emaciation of the animal, frequent vomiting and urination, as well as a constant feeling of thirst. A common cause of this condition may be poisoning from flowers of the lily family. The condition of acute renal failure can be treated with timely contact with an experienced veterinarian. Resuscitation facilities and prompt implementation of treatment procedures will help restore your pet’s health in the shortest possible time.