The cat has lost its appetite - 3 reasons and what to do

Cats are charming and majestic creatures that can be shy or bold, obedient or overly active depending on their mood at any given moment.

As cat parents, we never know what kind of cat we will encounter day to day. Cats go about their business and can have a hard time keeping up while they're hanging around the house or sleeping in the closet.

However, we know our cats and know when something is wrong.

Although cats may behave normally, sometimes they have an interesting habit, you know, just decide that they don't want to eat. There are many reasons why cats may refuse to eat.

There are some simple reasons, but there may be some deeper issues that we need to be aware of.

Eating problems

Sometimes owners do not pay much attention to what they feed their pet. If the diet is too monotonous, the question may later arise of what to do if the cat loses its appetite. Obviously, the animal may get tired of the same food over time, so the cat will be extremely reluctant to eat it. Then it is enough to introduce new components - feed or familiar homemade food.

Another problem is insufficiently high-quality products, for example, sausages, pates of dubious composition, cheap food from little-known manufacturers, etc. It is important to pay attention to the composition and, if necessary, consult a veterinarian. It is possible that even some normal foods are contraindicated for your cat due to the characteristics of the digestive system.

Force feeding rules

Before force-feeding, it is important to ensure that such actions will not harm the animal.

The rules for force feeding are as follows:

If the cat can lift its head, offer it liquid food. Place the food on a saucer or let it lick it off your finger. Try to encourage the animal to eat with your actions.
Make a ball out of the pate , place it in the animal's mouth and stroke the throat to provoke the swallowing process.
Milk or other liquid food can be given to your pet from a syringe. To do this, it is recommended to use a 2-5 ml syringe without a needle with the plastic tip removed.
If the cat has closed its mouth tightly, try to force it open slightly , and squeeze out the food itself as close to the root of the tongue as possible.
If the cat's body is too weakened, force feeding is carried out using a probe , which is inserted into the nasopharynx. The tip of the probe is passed to the stomach, and liquid food is injected into the animal’s stomach through a tube using a syringe.

When force-feeding, the cat's body is supported by droppers with vitamins and other useful substances.

Features of syringe feeding

Buy a medical syringe and cut the nose with scissors. Fill the syringe with the prepared food, which should be squeezed directly into the cat’s mouth.

Feeding a cat with a syringe

Try to push it into the gap between your teeth, squeezing the food out of your cheek. When feeding this way, raise your pet's muzzle a little.

Features of feeding a cat with a syringe:

pour food in small portions so that the animal has time to swallow it;
make sure that food does not get into your pet’s windpipe;
squeeze out the food when the cat exhales, and when inhaling, stop the food supply;
If your cat is choking on food, give her time to clear her throat and calm down, then continue syringe feeding.

Thus, the cat should be fed in small portions several times a day.

Force feeding a newborn kitten

The best product for feeding a newborn kitten is a special mixture that can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. She will notice the cat's milk to the pet.

Be sure to read:

Development of kittens by weeks and months: how they grow, look, until what age is considered a kitten

If it is not possible to purchase food, you can prepare it yourself, for example, by diluting baby dry formula in water twice as thin as indicated in the instructions.

Place the prepared food in a bottle with a nipple, pipette or syringe

Place the prepared food in a bottle with a nipple, pipette or syringe. Feed the kitten slowly so that it has time to swallow the food. When force-feeding, hold the baby in an upright position by inserting a syringe or pipette into the cheek.

Calculation of the mixture in the first 1–4 days – 30 ml per 100 g of weight per day. The kitten should gain 15 g of weight per day. After seven days, the pet’s weight should be twice as much as at birth.

What to feed a sick cat

To quickly restore the strength of a cat with poor appetite, you need to follow a special diet . On the recommendation of a veterinarian, you can purchase special medicinal ready-made food. For pets who refuse to eat due to illness, there are liquid foods.

Such food has a pleasant aroma and taste, which stimulates the animal’s appetite. A small portion of this food contains the amount of nutrients that a pet needs for a day. The product is quite high in calories, so the cat quickly becomes full.

To quickly restore the strength of a cat with poor appetite, you need to follow a special diet.

The animal can also be fed lean meat, such as chicken with broth. Poultry can be replaced with beef, rabbit or liver.

The cat will also like fish broth. The diet of a sick pet should include egg whites, cottage cheese and milk. But if the cat is poisoned or has problems with the gastrointestinal tract, dairy products can be given only after the doctor’s permission.

What to feed an adult cat if she refuses to eat

For an adult cat with poor appetite, it is recommended to prepare dishes from sea fish, intestines, liver, spleen, cow brain or other animals. You can give low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, beef, lamb, fish, vegetables.

All products are cut into small pieces so that the pet can chew them, massaging the gums. It is not recommended to give cereals and baked goods, as such products disrupt the intestinal microflora.

If necessary, the veterinarian can prescribe medications - appetite stimulants.

What to feed an adult cat with poor appetite

To improve your cat's appetite, you can feed your cat not only homemade food, but also commercial food recommended by a veterinarian. The doctor may also prescribe taking vitamin complexes for appetite.

Be sure to read:

How to fatten a cat: when weight gain is required, methods of fattening, what to feed, what not to do

Any dish should be given to your pet warm, cut into small pieces or in liquid form.

Important! The cat must have constant access to fresh water and food.

Nervous system disorders

This is another common reason why a cat has no appetite. Cats and cats are quite sensitive animals. They react to almost any significant change in lifestyle, and sometimes the pet’s reaction can be unpredictable. Obviously, some situations are likely to cause stress, which explains why I lost my appetite :

Moving to a new place. For example, a kitten that has been separated from a cat and settled in a new home is at risk.
Long, hours-long journey.
The arrival of a new pet.
Birth of a child.
Dangerous situations (for example, a fight with a cat, the threat of a dog attack, etc.).
Insufficient attention from the owner, conflict atmosphere.
Long-term absence of the owner (it is known that cats very often become attached to a specific person and do not like change).

In rare cases, cats lose their appetite even due to harmless reasons - changing the bowl, changing the location of the toilet or rest area. Therefore, it is worth analyzing whether there were any significant changes the day before. If the reason for loss of appetite is related to stress, it is necessary to give your pet as much attention as possible.

Why doesn't the cat eat? — 10 reasons for a cat’s lack of appetite

Lack of appetite in a cat is a sign of poor health of the animal. There can be many reasons for lack of appetite, and a cat may also stop eating as a result of some illness. But don’t panic if your pet has a slight decrease in appetite for several

their days.

So, let's look at the most common causes of loss of appetite in a cat:

A sudden transition to unusual or new food. Like humans, animals have their own taste preferences. And a sudden change in diet can cause loss of appetite. Therefore, if you decide to switch your pet to a new food, it is better to do it gradually;
Weather. When it's hot outside, even a cat with a good appetite can completely forget about food. In this case, you should not force feed the animal; it is better to give your pet more clean drinking water;
Stress. Cats are very sensitive animals; they can experience stress, anxiety, and fear. In a stressful situation, a cat may refuse food for a while. If the source of the animal’s distress cannot be excluded, then the owner should be attentive and involved in the pet’s life during this difficult period. You may need to consult a veterinarian. He will give recommendations on caring for the animal or prescribe sedatives;
Dirty bowl. As you know, cats are very clean animals and a dirty bowl or dried food with an unpleasant odor can ruin your pet’s appetite. But this is not the most dangerous thing, because a dirty bowl can cause the development of certain diseases in an animal;
Presence of worms or external parasites. Parasites, both external and internal, cause discomfort to the animal. As a result, the cat may lose its appetite. To avoid this, you should regularly treat your pet for parasites and keep the tray and bowl clean;
A surge of hormones. During pregnancy, heat, and puberty, your cat may temporarily refuse to eat. A hunger strike can last for several days or even a week. Cats, not male cats, are most susceptible to this. If hormones are the reason for refusing to eat, there is no need to sound the alarm; your appetite will return on its own;
Accumulation of hair in the stomach. Cats constantly lick themselves, and this leads to a buildup of fur in their stomach. This problem is especially acute if the owner does not pay due attention to combing his pet. In addition to lack of appetite, the accumulation of hair in the stomach can lead to stomach and intestinal upset;
Diseases of internal organs. Loss of appetite can result from many diseases: tumors, diabetes, kidney and liver diseases, stomach diseases, etc. If loss of appetite for 1-2 days is accompanied by other alarming symptoms, you should immediately contact your veterinarian;
Viral or bacterial infection. Even if the cat does not leave the apartment, he can catch the infection. If the animal has become lethargic and apathetic, you should be wary. Lack of appetite during illness is natural, and if your pet has lost its appetite precisely as a result of illness, you should not let the illness take its course. You need to contact your veterinarian immediately;
Anorexia. Anorexia develops in an animal due to loss of smell or touch. In the most severe situations, your veterinarian may recommend tube feeding. If there is loss of appetite due to anorexia, it will not be possible to cure a cat without the intervention of a veterinarian. Anorexia is a serious disease and should be treated by a professional.

If a cat is not eating due to illness, this can often be determined by the animal's appearance. An attentive owner will always notice if something is wrong with his pet. A timely visit to the veterinarian will not only identify, but also eliminate the cause of the cat’s lack of appetite.

Food poisoning

Cats suffer from decreased appetite for obvious reasons related to eating disorders. As a rule, several symptoms are observed at once :

nausea and vomiting;
loose stools;
general weakness of the animal;
loss of activity, drowsiness, etc.

If this situation continues for more than a day, exhaustion is observed, it is better to contact a veterinary clinic: you will need to take medications.

Reasons for refusing water

To restore your cat's interest in water, change the bowl first.
If your cat won't drink water from his bowl, he may not like the dishes, or he may be drinking from a toilet, dripping faucet, bucket, or other kitchen container.

Psychological reasons for refusing water:

uncomfortable bowl;
there is stagnant water in the drinking bowl;
food from a nearby bowl got into the liquid;
after playing with water she became dirty.

Having identified the reason for refusing water, it is important to eliminate it.

Diseases

If your cat has lost his appetite and is lethargic, these may be symptoms of some disease.:

infections;
inflammatory processes;
development of benign or malignant tumors;
dysfunction of the liver, intestines or stomach;
oral diseases.

Such pathologies lead to anorexia (complete lack of appetite), which can lead to depletion of the body. Therefore, if your appetite has disappeared for no apparent reason. You should immediately contact a veterinary clinic for examination.

How long can a cat go without eating? What are the dangers of starvation?

A healthy adult cat can fast without health problems for up to 5 days, an aging animal - no more than three, a kitten - a maximum of a day, an animal with a chronic disease - no more than two days.

These are approximate dates, taking into account that the animal drinks enough these days. Longer fasting or fasting while refusing to drink is dangerous for the life of a pet.

A kitten under 6 months of age can die within 24 hours of fasting, so if the kitten does not eat, it must be force-fed.

In addition to the risk of death, refusing to eat can cause the following health problems:

severe weight loss;
exacerbation of any chronic diseases;
avitaminosis.

The cat doesn't eat well, but is active: should I worry?

Cats sometimes get into a state where they don’t want to eat, because there is another, more interesting activity - playing, trying to seize the moment and sneak into the room where there is an aquarium or a cage with a parrot. Perhaps the body turns on a mechanism to get rid of excess weight.

Finally, there was a transition to a different, better quality diet. Less food contains more calories. The feed mixture included a feed intake limiter—dietary fiber.

The yield was reduced and its smell decreased because the digestibility of the feed increased. The owner compares the current food intake with the previous one and laments that the cat has begun to eat less. If the cat begins to eat less, but feels good and looks neat, there is nothing to worry about.

Be sure to read:

A cat sneezes: causes, symptoms, what to do, treatment methods, what should alert you

Let's summarize: what to do if the kitten does not eat or drink

First of all, you need to carefully observe the animal. If there are no other alarming symptoms, you can try changing the food, bowl, and minimizing stressful situations.

But if the baby’s condition causes concern, and the owner cannot figure it out on his own, there is no need to waste time asking questions on various forums. You need to immediately take the animal to the veterinarian or invite a doctor home. An in-person examination and tests will help identify the exact cause of the ailment and prescribe treatment in a timely manner. If the fears are not confirmed, a professional doctor will give recommendations on proper nutrition. And just making sure your pet is healthy is never a bad idea.

Useful links:

When to be wary

If a cat begins to hide in dark, cool places, then this is an alarming and not a very good sign. It is possible that in this way she is trying to get rid of high body temperature.

The increase in temperature is a consequence:

scared, scared
physical activity,
hot weather,
poisoning,
acute pain.

This condition quickly normalizes. But if the temperature rises sharply by several degrees and does not subside for a long time, then this is a sign of the development of pathology. In this case, the animal must be urgently shown to the veterinarian.

How to understand that a cat is not feeling well. At these moments, her behavior changes sharply, she stops eating, sleeps a lot, does not want to use the litter box, meows pitifully, hides in a dark place - this signals the onset of the disease. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, mucus from the nose and eyes, and hair loss. When an animal tries to perch on a tile or cold floor, such behavior indicates its poor condition. Most likely, the pet needs medical attention.

As cats age, they increasingly desire privacy; they are irritated by noise and bright lights, so they take refuge in dark places. Old animals may partially lose hearing, vision, sense of smell, or become ill.

Many furry pets love to climb into bags and boxes; some manage to lie down in a vase or pan. This should not cause concern to the owner. You just need to be careful not to move the chair or chair abruptly, as the animal may sit under it and get hurt. Before turning on the stove or washing machine, first look inside to see if there is a fluffy ball there. Try not to let the cat's fun with hide and seek turn into a tragedy. Complete mutual understanding will be the key to a pleasant life together.

At the beginning of this week we once again went to the forest to pick mushrooms. Someone will probably say, it’s already cold. Yes, it’s not hot, but walking through the forest is quite normal, the main thing is not to forget to put on a hat so that your head doesn’t get too cold, and be sure to take a cape with a polyethylene hood in case of rain.

Symptoms of Difficulty Swallowing in Cats

There are three types of dysphagia, each of which can present with specific symptoms.

Oral dysphagia

Struggling to open the mouth or keep food in the mouth
Collect food from the sides of the mouth
Throws back head to eat

Repeated attempts to swallow
Gagging
Coughs
Drooling
Blood stains in saliva
Excessive chewing before attempting to swallow
Unusual movements of the neck and head while eating

Cricopharyngeal dysphagia

Regurgitation of food
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Repeated attempts to swallow
Gagging

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.

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.

Why does a cat need to hide?

The desire to hide in a dark place for a while is quite common among domestic cats. The hunter's instinct prompts them to take a position in a secluded corner so that they can calmly observe what is happening without being noticed. In other cases, especially small kittens, they want to be in a warm, cozy “nest”, where they are comfortable and safe. Fur babies grow and sleep a lot, so they need proper rest. Constantly playing TV and other noises do not provide the opportunity to have a good rest. Truly deep sleep is only possible in darkness and complete silence.

It should not be surprising that cats find secluded corners in completely different places.:

closet,
box,
under the bed or sofa,
washing machine drum,
on the shelf,
behind the battery,
under the owner's blanket.

If the cat hides constantly, then you need to buy one for it in a special store or make a house yourself. Fluffy pets love such shelters. This is connected not only with psychology, but also with physiology. Cats often sleep curled up. When sleeping in a confined space, they can lean their back against the wall of the house, thus relaxing their muscles.

What to do

The treatment plan for dysphagia will depend on the underlying cause. If an infection is causing the problem, antibiotics will be prescribed, but if the problem is inflammation, steroids may be prescribed instead. Both of these medications may need to be administered to your cat at home for up to ten days.

If a tight or contracted muscle is causing your cat to gag and cough, your veterinarian may prescribe muscle relaxers to help the muscle relax and allow your cat to swallow.

If the cause is some kind of structural damage or abscess, surgery may be required to correct the problem.

If the biopsy shows that there are cancer cells in the abscesses, your veterinarian will discuss various chemotherapy and radiation treatment options with you.

Finally, dental disease may need to be treated by removing infected teeth and administering antibiotics.

Main reasons for seeking shelter

There are many explanations for why a cat hides in dark places. In some cases, the shelter is not always truly dark, but simply cool or, conversely, warm. There may be several favorite places for a pet, often they are well known to the owner. It is advisable not to disturb the animal at such a moment, because sometimes he needs to be alone with himself.

Why does a cat try to be invisible, let's name common reasons:

character trait;
the presence of another, older cat in the house;
the need to calm down after suffering stress;
anticipation of the appearance of offspring;
desire to play;
desire for security.

Timid by nature

By nature, some cats are sociable, while others prefer loneliness. Those who belong to the second category instinctively try to be “in the shadows” more often, which guarantees safety. Such a kitten will not sleep on a wide sofa with its tummy up, with its paws spread to the sides. Also, he will not once again catch someone’s eye. You can force him to come out of hiding with gentle words, a favorite treat, or a bright, entertaining toy.

If the cat is hiding, then you should not lure it out or put pressure on it. Perhaps something alarmed her, someone scared or offended her. She will go out on her own when she considers it necessary, wants to eat or take a walk. If you do not allow the predator to avoid an unpleasant situation, then its anxiety will only intensify.

Trying to get peace and comfort, even sociable cats hide. They may find a place for themselves in the linen closet or on the cool wooden floor under the bed. It all depends on whether the pet is cold or hot.

Away from the Boss

The presence of another cat or an older cat in the house causes the younger cat to hide more often. The owner can create a maze of boxes especially for him, through which he can easily get to a bowl of food or tray. The boxes must have multiple entrances and exits so that you can escape in time, avoiding a dangerous or unwanted collision with your opponent.

What to do if your cat constantly hides in a dark place. We need to keep an eye on her. If her health is fine, her fur is shiny, and her nose is wet, then the pet’s behavior is due to other reasons.

Relief from stress

After getting into an unpleasant situation or being offended, even the most sociable cat hides in order to survive the stress and regain equanimity. Cats get used to their home and don’t really like change. If a kitten is taken to another family, the naturally cautious animal will need time to adapt. In the first days, the pet will react sensitively to any sounds or movements, and if it senses danger, it will definitely hide.

When moving to another house, the cat becomes restless. For the first time, you can place him in a small room. Gradually he will get used to it and begin to explore other rooms. You will definitely need to take his bed, bowl, and tray from the old apartment. Having familiar things around will allow your pet to calm down a little and feel more confident.

Tamed domestic cats get used to it faster than those adopted from a shelter or from the street. It is not so easy to regain the trust of an animal that has lost its former home. It will take patience, a calm atmosphere and a kind attitude.

Interesting situation

Pregnant cats begin to hide in dark places, which means kittens will be born soon. To prevent your cat from hiding and throwing your things out of your nightstands and closets in search of a suitable place to place her offspring, prepare a box with soft bedding for her. Place it in a convenient place so that the cat and babies will not be disturbed.

Let's play hide and seek or go hunting

If your kitten hides under the sofa during the day and hits its owner by the legs, then in this way he is simply playing hunter. For him, a dark place is an ambush from which he stalks his prey. Some cats won't mind running around and playing chase, hide and seek, or cat and mouse. They can realize their natural hunting instinct at home only through play.