Cat Not Eating? Common Reasons and When to Worry

When a cat stops eating, it is more urgent than when a dog skips a meal. Cats that go without food can develop hepatic lipidosis, also called fatty liver disease, where fat floods the liver and stops it working properly. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, this condition is likely to be fatal without prompt treatment.

So the rule is simple: a cat that eats nothing for about a day needs a vet, and some cats need one sooner.

How urgent is it? A quick guide

Overweight cats, seniors, and cats with known health problems should be seen sooner rather than later.

Common reasons a cat stops eating

Mouth and dental pain

Dental disease, broken teeth, and sores in the mouth are very common in cats. A cat with mouth pain may approach the bowl, sniff, maybe take a bite, then walk away. You might also see drooling, pawing at the mouth, or chewing on one side.

Nausea and stomach problems

Hairballs, gut inflammation, eating something it should not have, or a blockage can all cause nausea. Lip licking and drooling near the bowl are clues. Cornell notes that a cat refusing food for more than a day or two, along with repeated retching, can mean a hairball blockage that needs a vet.

Kidney disease and other illnesses

Kidney disease is common in older cats and often reduces appetite. Diabetes, thyroid disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, infections, and cancer can all show up first as eating less.

Stress and change

Cats are sensitive to change. A move, new pet, new baby, visitors, loud work in the house, or even a moved food bowl can put a cat off food for a short time.

Food changes

Many cats refuse a new food, especially if the switch is sudden. Food that is stale, cold from the fridge, or served in a dirty bowl can also be refused.

After vaccines or a vet visit

Some cats eat less for a day after vaccines or travel. If appetite does not come back within a day, call your vet.

What you can try at home (while you arrange a vet visit)

These steps are for a cat that is otherwise acting normal. They do not replace a vet check if your cat has gone a day without food.

1. Warm wet food to about body temperature. Warmth makes food smell stronger, which can tempt a cat.
2. Offer a favorite food your cat already knows and likes.
3. Use a wide, shallow dish. Some cats dislike their whiskers touching the sides of a deep bowl.
4. Move the bowl to a quiet spot away from the litter box, loud appliances, and other pets.
5. Clean the bowl and use fresh food.
6. Sit with your cat. Some cats eat better with gentle company.

Do not give human medicines. Many are toxic to cats, including common pain relievers.

What to watch and tell your vet

Keep simple notes. They help your vet a lot:

• When your cat last ate a normal meal, and how much since
• Whether your cat is drinking, and if it is more or less than usual
• Litter box changes: less urine, more urine, diarrhea, or no stool
• Vomiting, drooling, or coughing
• Hiding, weakness, or changes in breathing
• Any changes at home, new foods, or plants and chemicals your cat could reach

What the vet may do

Depending on the cause, your vet might:

• Do a full exam, including the mouth and belly
• Run blood and urine tests
• Take X rays or an ultrasound
• Give fluids for dehydration
• Prescribe anti nausea medicine or an appetite stimulant
• Treat dental disease or other underlying problems
• Place a feeding tube if your cat has hepatic lipidosis or will not eat for a long time

A feeding tube sounds scary, but it is often what saves a cat's liver. Cornell notes that cats with early hepatic lipidosis are often tube fed at home for about a month, and that cats who recover rarely relapse.

How to prevent appetite problems

• Keep your cat at a healthy weight. Overweight cats are at higher risk of fatty liver disease.
• Change foods slowly, mixing the new food into the old over 7 to 10 days.
• Schedule yearly checkups, and twice a year for seniors.
• Brush your cat to reduce hairballs. Our guide on how to brush a cat can help.
• Keep routines steady when you can.

The bottom line

Never "wait and see" for days with a cat that is not eating. Offer tempting food for a few hours if your cat is otherwise normal, but call your vet if a full day passes, or right away if there are other signs of illness. Fast care protects your cat's liver and gets to the real cause sooner.

Thinking about feeding your cat whatever is in the house? Read can cats eat dog food first.