A cat suddenly not wanting their favorite food or treat is a common occurrence. It’s generally okay if your pet no longer eats one or two food items they used to enjoy. But it is another story if they refuse to eat altogether.
This article will explore the possible health reasons why your cat suddenly stops eating and what you can do to address their problem.
Possible Causes Why Your Cat Isn’t Eating
There are many possible reasons why your cat refuses to eat out of the blue. They may have digestive problems, obstructions, dental issues, or respiratory diseases.
Digestive System Problems
Lack of appetite is one of the first signs of a digestive issue. Depending on the illness, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain can accompany it.
Some of the common digestive problems you need to look out for include:
Acid Reflux
Intestinal bacteria imbalance
Irritable bowel disease (IBD)
Pancreatic problems
Parasites
Stomach issues
Tumor
Foreign Body Obstruction
Objects that your cats swallow can block their esophagus, making it hard for them to eat. These foreign bodies can even lodge themselves in your cat’s stomach and lead it to become upset.
Here are some typical non-food items that cats are fond of ingesting, which may cause obstructions:
Hair ties
Plant materials
Rubber bands
Small toys
Thread
Wool
Dental Issues
People have trouble eating when they have a toothache. They may even refuse to eat because of the pain. The same can be said for cats. If your cat has dental issues, they are more likely to stop eating, even if it’s their favorite healthy pet food.
Usual cat dental issues include:
Dental abscesses
Dental fractures
Diseased tooth
Inflamed gums
Resorptive lesions
Toothache
Tooth decay
Upper Respiratory Diseases
Colds and flu congest the nose and remove the sense of smell temporarily. The same goes for people and cats. Not smelling the food can greatly affect its taste, or, to be more precise, how the taste will be interpreted.
The sense of smell is responsible for 80 percent of the flavor people taste. The effect of the smell may be greater for cats since they have almost 40 times the amount of odor-sensitive cells than humans. You can only imagine the drastic change in flavor that a cold will do to their once-beloved healthy pet treats.
What to Do When Your Cat Suddenly Refuses to Eat
A cat skipping a meal or two may not be a cause of concern yet. However, when you notice that they stopped taking their meals, you may want to keep an eye on them more closely.
Try to tweak your cat’s food to entice them to eat. You can heat their wet food for a few seconds in the microwave, offer them canned chicken or tuna, or serve them canned kitten food. You can also mix and match flavors and textures they enjoy to regain their appetite. If 24 to 36 hours have passed and they still have not eaten anything, it’s time to bring them to the vet.
However, in case you notice your cat heavily retching, constantly vomiting, passing watery stool, and looking fatigued, do not wait for 24 hours. Take your cat to your vet as soon as you can.
Conclusion
Cats, like people, can stop eating for several reasons. They may not like the food you served or want variety in their healthy pet food options. Perhaps their favorite food tastes different because the formulation changed. But they can also refuse to eat if they are feeling ill.
When your cat is feeling under the weather, they may stop eating for a bit. But if they continue not to eat or drink in 24 to 36 hours and show unusual behaviors, you may want to schedule a visit to your vet as soon as you can.
Wags to Wiskers is a community-based holistic pet store in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, and Ludington MI. We offer a wide array of delicious, healthy, and holistic pet food that your furry, scaly, and feathery friends will love. Order by email today!