My cat doesn't eat – what to do?

If the cat does not eat, it can have various reasons. To treat loss of appetite, it is important to first find and fix its cause.

My cat doesn't eat – what to do?

If cats no longer eat properly, there can be many different reasons – starting with spoiled Fodder, stress or unfamiliar environment, up to illness, pain or anxiety. Too Poisoning or an infestation with worms are possible causes. Of course, several different factors can also play a role at the same time. In order to find out the exact cause of the loss of appetite in a cat, the accompanying circumstances, such as the life situation or the occurrence of other symptoms, must therefore also be considered. Some common reasons for loss of appetite and ways to stimulate the cat's appetite again, we present below.

The most common mistakes in feeding

The cat no longer eats or only badly – this can have various causes. Most often these are errors in feeding. The following reasons are conceivable:

1. bad, spoiled or too long stored feed 
2. bad taste of the food
3. incorrect ingredients or composition of the feed
4. new or unfamiliar food 
5. Food bowl is not easily accessible
6. lack of water absorption (for example, there is not enough water available or the bowl is not accessible)

Problems caused by spoiled feed

Spoiled cat food is often found to contain fungi or bacteria that can produce toxins. Therefore, after eating contaminated food, in addition to loss of appetite, other disorders, such as great thirst, Vomit, Diarrhoea, fatigue or Constipation possible.

Selection and composition of feed

The composition of the food is also crucial: cats need more protein than dogs. If there is too little protein in the food, it can happen that the cat does not like it and no longer eats it properly.

Cats are pure carnivores. Vegetables, fruits, lactose and carbohydrates are poorly tolerated because they lack the necessary enzymes to digest these foods. A cat must therefore never be fed vegetarian or dog food. This can lead to malnutrition, but also trigger diarrhea and vomiting.

Cats usually don't eat the whole food bowl empty at once. They depend on many small portions of food that are offered continuously. There is no need to worry if the cat does not immediately eat the bowl empty, this behavior is completely normal.

However, if you observe that the cat really does not eat at all instead of small portions and may also be losing weight, you should visit the veterinarian. Everyone, cats – whether thick or thin – must be fed continuously, otherwise it can lead to severe liver damage.

Refusal of food after feed changeover

Cats are characterized by a very strong "imprint" on a certain food. It is practically impossible to accustom an adult cat to wet food if it was raised with dry food. Such a cat eats only dry food.

Even if new food is offered, for example a different brand or variety, a cat often no longer eats.

Access to food bowl and water

Care should always be taken to ensure that the cats can easily reach the food bowl – an old cat with joint pain, for example, will be reluctant to jump high if the bowl is on the windowsill.

Without water intake, cats do not eat food – it should always be ensured that the food itself contains enough water. Cats originally come from very dry regions, which is why they hardly absorb water separately from the food. Nevertheless, a filled, clean bowl with clear, fresh water should always be offered.

Loss of appetite due to illness

Cats can also refuse food due to various diseases. Possible causes are, for example:

1. Toothache or inflammation in the mouth
2. Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract
3. Tumors in the mouth, throat, gastrointestinal tract or liver
4. Poisoning (for example, with lead or zinc)
5. Worms or parasites

Especially apartment cats tend to play with household items when bored. In the process, they can accidentally swallow foreign bodies that get stuck in the mouth, throat or gastrointestinal tract and lead to constipation. Toothache, inflammation or injuries in the mouth can also affect eating.

False feeling of satiety

Tumors of the liver or surrounding organs press on the stomach, feigning a feeling of satiety. As a result, the cat has no appetite and does not eat or does not eat properly. By the way, a similar effect can also be achieved by a Pregnancy have. If the enlarged uterus presses on the stomach, it can prevent the cat from feeling hungry.

With strong Worm infestation entire sections of the cat's intestine can be completely clogged with worms. Similar to a liver tumor, a strong filling of the digestive tract and satiety are faked. Furthermore, the worms deprive the cat of nutrients, which can lead to weight loss even with normal appetite.

Signs of poisoning

Cats can accidentally poison themselves while hunting outdoors, playing games or out of boredom in pure housing, for example when eating houseplants or various heavy metals. Classic signs of poisoning in the cat are:

1. the cat does not eat (it may drink a lot)
2. the cat is weak and hardly reacts
3. strong salivation
4. Gastrointestinal pain
5. Vomiting or diarrhea
6. dull fur, cloudy eyes

If the owner has the impression that his cat may have poisoned himself, a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible.

Other reasons for loss of appetite

Cats are very conservative and stress-prone animals. The smallest disturbances or innovations in their environment can quickly bring them out of balance and, among other things, cause them to eat poorly and have no appetite.

Loss of appetite in cats is often observed in the following situations:

1. after surgery
2. after a move
3. after a worm cure
4. after treatment (for example, with painkillers or antiparasitics)

Cats often react with vomiting and gastrointestinal disorders to various medications, such as certain painkillers or ingredients of anti-parasite remedies. Often, however, the reason for the loss of appetite is not the treatment itself, but rather the associated stress for the cat. The fact that the cat no longer eats can therefore also be possible after treatment with antibiotics or after a Vaccination appear.

To a certain extent, food refusal is normal in such stressful situations. However, it should not last longer than one day. If the cat's loss of appetite lasts longer, a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible.

The cat does not eat and decreases

If the cat does not eat for a long time, weight loss inevitably occurs. According to studies, many pure apartment cats are too thick and should lose weight.

However, a cat's loss of appetite should not be a welcome cause for dieting: prolonged starvation is dangerous in cats, as they quickly develop liver damage due to their special metabolism. Instead, they should be given special food with a lot of fiber. Enough water must always be available.

In particular, pregnant cats, cats with cubs, kittens and sick cats should not lose weight in any case – they need all body reserves to feed their young, to grow or to become healthy. Therefore, in such cases, it is essential to consult a veterinarian if the cat does not eat.

Even in healthy adult cats, however, it is important to avoid losing weight as a result of loss of appetite. Because too lean cats suffer from hunger, have a weak circulation and are more susceptible to diseases.

The cat eats little and drinks a lot

If cats eat little and drink a lot at the same time, caution is advised. Because the increased water intake in connection with loss of appetite is a classic sign of Renal failure. The cats then have to drink more because they lose more water and electrolytes.

Frequent urinary disposal or unusually large amounts of urine can also be signs of inflammation of the uterus, bladder or poisoning with table salt.If the cat does not eat and vomitIn dogs and cats, vomiting is normal to a certain extent – for example, during the lactation period or when weaning the young. However, if there are other signs of a disease in connection with loss of appetite, the following causes may be possible:

1. sudden change of feed, feed allergy or intolerance
2. too cold food
3. Poisoning (e.g. heavy metals)
4. Disorders or blockage of the esophagus or gastrointestinal tract
5. tumors of the liver or pancreas pressing on the stomach

The cat eats badly and only sleeps

The fact that cats eat poorly and at the same time tend to sleep a lot is not uncommon, especially for young cats in a new environment or for adult cats in summer. Similar to humans, cats have less appetite in high heat and prefer to lie in the sun.

However, loss of appetite in combination with increased fatigue and tiredness can also be symptoms of a tumor in the gastrointestinal tract or liver.

Tumor cells often divide and therefore consume a lot of energy, which is withdrawn from the cat's body and thus causes fatigue. Since the tumor presses on the stomach and intestines at the same time, a feeling of satiety is faked – the cat has no appetite.

How can I stimulate my cat's appetite?

In order to prevent food refusal or even weight loss in the cat, the owner can mainly influence the feeding and offer, for example, the following:

1. only tasty, hygienically flawless food
2. particularly high-fat feed with a high energy content
3. boiled, fried or warmed food
4. Mix new feed with the usual feed for feed changeover
5. continuously offer small portions
6. Mix in unseamented roast fat or lard
7. feed briefly fried in unfeasy oil or fat
8. unseaned bacon
9. fried poultry with skin or subcutaneous fat
10. fried fish or fried liver

Under no circumstances may these feeds be fed exclusively – they only serve as a supplement, so to speak, as a treat. Especially with too much liver, serious health problems can occur in cats.

These measures have also proven successful in special stressful situations (for example, after surgery or after a move) in order to increase the appetite of a cat again.

Stimulate appetite through homeopathy

Also with homeopathic Means can stimulate the appetite of the cat and treat the accompanying symptoms. For weight loss, the following globules are recommended:

1. Abrotanum
2. Mercurius solubilis
3. Calcium fluoratum

For the treatment of loss of appetite, the:

1. Acidum nitricum (if thirst has been maintained)
2. Calcium phosphoricum
3. Avena sativa (with simultaneous fatigue)

Vomiting in cats can be treated with the following means:

1. Chamomilla
2. Ipecacuanha
3. Conium maculatum

If thirst is maintained at the same time during vomiting, the:

1. Ferrum phosphoricum
2. Veratrum album
3. Cuprum metallicum

Against fatigue helps:

1. Echinacea

Bach flower therapy for loss of appetite

Also from the series of Bach flowers various preparations are suitable for the treatment of the complaints:

1. Loss of appetite: Chicory (mental disorder), Olive, Sweet Chestnut, Walnut
2. Vomiting: Aspen
3. Fatigue: Elm & Mustard, Hornbeam & Olive

If the loss of appetite and any accompanying symptoms last longer than three days, you should definitely visit a veterinarian with the cat and have the causes clarified.

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