Why Is My Cat Not Eating? 15 Possible Reasons

When your cat carries a runny nose, it's harder for them to smell their food, and they may not eat as a result. If this happens, you should rely more on wet foods, especially those with strong aromas. Also, the loss of appetite is one of the key signs that depicts something is wrong. 

If your cat doesn't eat their usual wet food, try switching the flavor or texture to see if that helps. Heating canned food can also make it tastier for a cat which might not be the best. Symptoms seen when they are ill include lots of sneezing, runny eyes and nose. Other nasal diseases can also impact your cat's sense of smell and appetite, leading to severe conditions. 

Dental problems like a broken tooth or inflamed gums can lead to a cat refusing food consistently. This doesn't depend on age and can occur in cats as young as one year. They can develop tartar, gingivitis, and inflammation in other tissues in the mouth, which can be painful. Signs of dental problems include bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, and decreased appetite.

You can take your feline friend to the nearest vet if they show pain while eating or suddenly prefer wet food to dry food. Additionally, its treatment depends on the underlying cause and severity. It also involves simply cleaning your cat's teeth at home, scaling inflammation-causing plaque from teeth, or antibiotics. Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining your cat's oral health.

Cats are creatures of habit, and any alteration can cause them to lose interest in food. A sudden change in your cat's diet or environment can be a significant stressor. Introducing a new food or moving to a new home can disrupt their eating habits.

If your cat prefers their special chosen food, it can take a while to adapt to another type of diet being new to the taste and smell. If you are planning to introduce new foods to your pet, they should be made exactly like the older ones. It will help your cat adapt more easily, as they develop a preference for appearance or food texture. 

Changes in your cat's routine or environment and introducing new pets can cause them stress and anxiety, which might lead to loss of appetite. You should focus on potentially distressing events if your feline friend stops eating. If you are introducing a new pet to your house, you should give your existing cat a safe area that new ones can't have access to until they adapt properly. 

Also, environmental changes occur, while traveling to unfamiliar surroundings. Like many people, cats are also creatures of habit. So when they travel to unknown places with their owner, changes in their habitat and routine can cause them to stop eating. Also, some animals can get motion sickness when traveling by car or plane, leading to nausea and refusal to eat. 

Sometimes, you can notice your cat's loss of interest in food shortly after you take them to the vet for their routine vaccinations. Vaccines introduce weakened or killed forms of viruses or bacteria into the body to stimulate the immune system. Although it has been a lifesaver for millions of animals, they do cause side effects in some where the loss of appetite is among the common ones.

This process can cause mild discomfort and a general feeling of malaise in some cats. Symptoms like lethargy, mild fever, and decreased appetite are often temporary and should subside within a day or two. To encourage your cat to eat after a vaccination, offer small, frequent meals of their favorite food. 

Hairballs are packed masses of fur that form in a cat’s digestive system. While it seems normal for many cats, especially long-haired breeds, excessive hairball production can sometimes lead to discomfort and decreased appetite.

As the cats groom themselves, they ingest loose hair unknowingly and most of these hairs pass through the digestive system without issue creating a ball-shaped structure. When this mass becomes too large, it can cause nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If your cat is experiencing frequent hairballs or shows signs of discomfort, there are various grooming tools available, from simple brushes to specialized de-shedding tools.

When a new cat enters the home, the established cat's routine is disrupted. Their usual feeding, sleeping, and grooming areas might be violated, leading to feelings of insecurity and territorial anxiety. This stress can manifest physically as decreased appetite, as the body prioritizes coping mechanisms over basic needs.

Every cat is unique, and their response to a new feline housemate will vary. Some cats may adapt quickly, while others may take longer. If the resident cat is dominant, they might feel threatened by the newcomer and show aggressive behavior. Conversely, a submissive cat might withdraw and become less interested in their surroundings, including food.

Problems with the stomach, intestines, pancreas, or other parts of the digestive system may cause a cat to stop eating. Your cat may vomit or have gas, diarrhea, or abdominal pain alongside digestive issues. A decrease in appetite will be one of the first signs of a digestive system problem. 

Also, gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatitis can be the reason for a cat's loss of interest in food. Additionally, swallowing hairballs and unnecessary items can sometimes block their intestinal tract, causing pain and appetite loss. If your cat is experiencing digestive upset, provide them with bland food, such as boiled chicken and rice. Also, it can be caused by factors like dietary indiscretion or intestinal parasites, leading to decreased appetite.

Like humans, stress and anxiety can cause your cat to lose their appetite. Cats are sensitive creatures, and their emotional state can significantly impact their physical well-being. When a cat is feeling stressed or anxious, their body undergoes physiological changes that prioritize survival over digestion.

The "fight or flight" response, an instinct for self-preservation, is activated. This response diverts energy away from non-essential functions like eating towards preparing the body for a potential threat. As a result, the cat's appetite is suppressed. Also, the changes in their routine or the household can be disturbing to sensitive cats, and sometimes seeing new people can affect their emotional well-being. 

Upper respiratory infections are not unusual in kittens and can cause a decreased appetite due to nasal congestion, fever, or fatigue. This happens as their noses get blocked making them unable to smell their food. 

A cat's appetite is strongly linked to this sense so when they can't smell their food as they normally can, they may not approach it with their usual relish. Upper respiratory issues can block your eyes and nose with discharge resulting in a temporary restriction of sight and smell. Also, lower respiratory problems can affect their lungs, causing them to have difficulty breathing. Regardless of the severity of the respiratory issue, if the disease keeps your cat from being able to breathe easily or smell food, your cat may decide they don't want to eat. 

Cats can be particular about their food and its flavor. They may eat one flavor of the same brand but may reject a new flavor due to their preferences. A sudden rejection of food may occur if food manufacturers change flavors and ingredients without any obvious signs on the packaging, they may notice and ignore it.

On the other hand, they may also be sensitive to certain shapes and textures when it comes to their food. Some cats like triangle shapes, others like round shapes, and some prefer to eat crunchy dry food or canned wet food. Sometimes, they may go for chunks of gravy over pate, being the picky eater about the consistency of wet food.

If you provide your cat with expired or spoiled food, they may not want to eat it or start neglecting it. The expiration date on the food package label should be checked to ensure it has been stored properly. Consuming such food can lead to various health issues, including digestive upset and food poisoning. 

Even if the food appears visually pretty, the underlying bacteria and toxins create a foul taste that prevents them from eating. Additionally, the texture of spoiled food can change, becoming slimy or mushy, ugly to a cat's preference. Beyond the immediate aversion to taste and smell, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues, quite painful for a cat, and may further reduce their appetite.

Age and its related issues such as arthritis or any discomfort seen in older dogs are very common causes of appetite reduction. In older cats, arthritis affects their ability to eat by limiting their mobility and making it difficult to reach their food bowl. They may disappear when they are depressed, stressed, or in pain, so it is crucial to pay attention to all behavioral aspects aside from not eating. 

One common reason is a decreased metabolic rate. With a decline in age, they require fewer calories, and their bodies naturally slow down. This can lead to a reduced interest in food. Additionally, age-related sensory changes, such as a decline in taste or smell, can make food less appealing. 

You may have noticed your cat not eating properly but acts normally during the summer months, which is natural. Due to the extremely hot weather conditions, your feline friend spends most of their time indoors rather than playing outside, which pushes them to have lower calorie amounts during the warmer months. 

They require less food in the summer because they spend less energy maintaining their body temperature. However, you need to keep your cat hydrated during the warmer months and keep an eye on their bowls to replace water at least twice a day with fresh water. Also, cats search cooler areas during hot weather and might spend less time near their food bowls, reducing their exposure to mealtimes.

Your feline friend quickly stops having their food when they are in some discomfort. If the pain is mild, they may not be eating in huge quantities but act normally. However, cats with lots of pain may start to withdraw interest in their usual family interactions, less engaged in their surroundings, and start hiding and rejecting meals.

Any injury, such as a sprain or fracture, can cause pain and reduce appetite. If you detect any kind of odd behavioral pattern emerging due to pain, especially if they are not getting enough food or liquids, you might be aware and should consult a vet to resolve the pain hurting the cats. Early prevention can help relieve the cat's discomfort and help restore their appetite.

Like people, cats can go longer without food than water. They can survive for about two weeks without food but only three days without drinking water. The longer your cat goes without proper nutrition and diet, the weaker they become, so it is crucial to be aware of their proper diet and feeding. 

This is not ideal, with their health deteriorating rapidly. Without protein content, their body will start breaking down muscle tissue, leading to severe complications. Even with water, a cat can become dangerously ill after just a few days without food. 

Sometimes a cat can sense something wrong with their food and ignore it completely. Store cat food indoors in a cool, dry area. Avoid extreme temperatures and humidity, which can impact food quality, safety, and nutritional value.

Because they as a species are good at hiding when they are in pain or feeling well, often neglecting the food. Many treatment options are there for the loss of appetite in cats, depending on the issues detected. If your cat is suffering from any health issues, they may need changes in diet, hospitalization, fluid therapy, and medication to treat nausea to stimulate the appetite in the digestive tract. In case of a picky eater, you can try feeding them food with different textures, flavors, and shapes 

When To Seek Veterinarian Care

Many of the potential reasons for your cat to lose their appetite are serious medical concerns. Your vet can help to identify the causes and best way to treat those issues. 

Despite the causes, it is crucial to bring your cat to your vet if it lasts more than 24 hours to monitor their health situation and the symptoms, including any behavioral changes. You should take your cat immediately to the vet if the loss of interest in food is supported by:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Difficulty breathing
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes

It’s important to know what is normal for your cat and to watch for signs that your cat is not eating, so you know when to seek help.