How do I get my Sick Cat to eat?

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Dr. Linda Simon is a veterinary surgeon working with seven years of experience. She is a fellow of the British Veterinary Association and specializing in animal medicine. Also, she has been the Woman magazine resident vet for the past two years and writes a regular column for them, focusing on pets and their health.

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Updated on: 06/30/2023

Like any other animal, cats will only truly stop eating when there is a problem. While it is true that cats are often fussy with their food and may stick their noses up at a specific flavor or texture of cat food, a genuine lack of appetite which persists for more than several meal times, indicates a medical issue.

Owners can sometimes worry about their pets leaving food behind occasionally, but if they maintain their weight and act otherwise normal, there may not be a cause for concern. Getting older, exercising less, and having hot weather can all reduce appetite. Similarly, being fed lots of treats and human foods can also lead to a cat who won’t chow down on their regular dinner.

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It is usually quite obvious when a pet is unwell and has left their food. They will typically have accompanying signs such as lethargy, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss.

How long can a Sick cat go without eating?

How long cats can go without eating depends on several factors, including their age, general health status, and whether or not they are well-hydrated.

For example, kittens should eat at most a few hours without eating as they can quickly become dehydrated and develop low blood sugar.

On the other hand, healthy adults can go a day without food and not bat an eyelid.

Red flags are when pets are not able to hold down food or when they are clinically dehydrated. Dehydrated cats will have wet/tacky gums and will, have low energy levels and sleep more.

How do I get my Sick Cat to eat?

The key to getting your cat’s appetite to pick back up is to figure out why they have stopped eating in the first place. No amount of warm chicken and yummy broth will tempt a pet who has a raging tooth abscess and is in a lot of pain. An abrupt loss of appetite warrants a vet check-up. The cat should be checked from nose to tail, checking for more obvious causes of anorexia (the clinical term for not eating in veterinary medicine) such as dental, pancreatitis, an intestinal mass or liver disease.

A cat not eating due to pain will commonly become ravenous once the source of pain has been identified and dealt with. Similarly, those with nausea will usually respond very positively to anti-nausea medications. In some cases, such as when pets are generally feeling a bit rubbish and off their food, the vet can give an appetite stimulant. This is especially useful when cats have chronic diseases such as kidney failure and often don’t feel like eating much.

Image by Daga_Roszkowska from Pixabay

Natural Ways to Stimulate my Cat’s Appetite:

As discussed above, there will be a reason why your cat isn’t emptying their bowl, and identifying the cause is the key to success. When trying to get your pet interested in their meal, here are a few tips:

Offer their absolute favorite foods, usually meat or fish such as chicken or pilchards.
Warm up the food first, which will help release its natural aromas and flavors.
Add some water or a salt-free broth to their meal, which will increase palatability.
Consider offering a high calorie, extra tasty tinned food such as Hills A/D. This food is also calorific, making it an excellent option for unwell kitties who could do with packing on the pounds.
Consider mashing the food up, especially if the cat has any trouble chewing or swallowing. It could even be liquidized for those with a sore mouth or oral masses.
Some pets will eat more if they are spoon-fed or fed from your hands (not something we should allow them to get in the habit of, but certainly fine to try for short periods!).