A cat refusing food should never be dismissed as simple fussiness. Loss of appetite can have many causes, from stress or a dislike of new food to dental pain, nausea, gastrointestinal disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis or other medical problems. Because cats can become seriously ill when they stop eating, persistent appetite loss deserves prompt veterinary attention.
Why does this matter?
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Cats are particularly vulnerable to the effects of prolonged food refusal. When a cat stops eating, especially if it is overweight, fat can accumulate in the liver and cause feline hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), which can become life-threatening without treatment.
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The reason a cat stops eating can also provide an important clue. Dental or mouth pain may make eating uncomfortable, while nausea, gastrointestinal disease, stress, changes in the home, or simply disliking a new food can reduce appetite.
What do vets generally agree on?
First, look for the reason rather than simply trying to make your cat eat. If your cat suddenly stops eating, contact your veterinarian so they can determine whether there is an underlying medical problem.
While waiting for veterinary advice, you can make eating easier by:
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Offering their usual food in a quiet, comfortable location.
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Keeping food bowls clean and away from litter boxes and noisy areas.
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Offering familiar, highly palatable food rather than suddenly changing the diet.
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Making sure fresh drinking water is available.
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Following your veterinarian's advice about nutritional support if your cat remains unwilling to eat.
If your cat normally enjoys wet or moisture-rich food, BLEP fresh cat food can be one option to offer as part of a nutritionally complete diet, particularly when maintaining adequate food and moisture intake is important. Warming up the food slightly may also help, as it will increase the natural aroma and make it more attractive.
When to be careful?
Don't wait several days hoping your cat will start eating again. Sustained appetite loss can have a severe impact on an adult cat's health in as little as 24 hours, while very young kittens are at even greater risk.
Seek veterinary attention particularly quickly if appetite loss is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, weight loss, excessive drooling, jaundice, weakness, difficulty breathing or other unusual behaviour.
And don't force-feed your cat at home unless your veterinarian has specifically instructed you how to provide nutritional support. Forced feeding can worsen food aversion, and cats that need nutritional support may require veterinary treatment or a feeding tube.
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