Why do cats suddenly stop eating wet food

Cat Suddenly Stopped Eating? 10 Vet Reviewed Reasons & Solutions

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

When your cat suddenly stops eating, it can be a worrying time, and its clear you need to take action. Figuring out which steps to take very much depends on why your cat has stopped eating.

Reasons can vary from the simple, where you can do something by yourself to help your cat regain its appetite, to the very serious, where veterinary intervention is necessary. Read on to discover the possible reasons behind your cats sudden inappetence.

The 10 Reasons Why Your Cat Suddenly Stopped Eating

1. A Change to Your Cats Food

Cats arent big on change, so you might find that if youve made an unexpected change, your cat will go on hunger strike as a form of protest. To determine if this is bothering your cat, offer them a bit of their old food.

If they start eating again, youll know what the problem is. It could be that they dislike the new food, or it was changed, in which case youll need to take a more staggered approach by mixing the old food in with the new over a couple of weeks to get them used to the change. You might also find your cat rejects their current food if a manufacturer changes ingredients without any warning.

2. A Bad Experience

A cat may develop a food aversion if they associate the food with a time they had an upsetting experience or felt unwell. If your cat has been sick or recently came from the hospital or cattery, this may be whats bothering them.

Encourage them by adding something particularly tasty or strong smelling to their food. You might have to try a different food if this is unsuccessful.

3. Household Changes

Changing a cats routine or environment can cause them to become stressed. Changes can range from having builders remodel, having a new baby, or welcoming in a new pet. Of course, changing your routine (and, in turn, their routine) isnt always avoidable.

You can counteract this disruption by making your cat a safe space. Set up an area with everything they need as far away from whats stressing them out as possible. You could also invest in a pheromone diffuser, which can help your cat relax in stressful situations.

4. Dining Out

If your cat is not eating but not losing weight (or even gaining weight), then it could be possible that theyre eating elsewhere. Some cats are good at self-regulation, while others will eat if offered food. Some even go so far as to keep eating even when theyre full.

If this sounds like your outdoor kitty, you could attach a note to their collar to ask people not to feed them or keep them indoors for a few days to see if they regain their appetite.

5. Vomiting or Diarrhea

An upset stomach is a common cause of inappetence in most animals, including cats. If there havent been any obvious signs, check your cats litter box for evidence of diarrhea, or be sneaky and watch them when they go outside.

There are also a range of digestive problems that could be the cause, like acid reflux, parasites, tumors, irritable bowel disease, and an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. Its a good idea to contact your vet if your cat has an upset stomach. They might ask you to monitor your cat at home, start a probiotic, or bring them in for a check-up.

6. Foreign Bodies

Cats are more cautious when eating things they shouldnt in comparison to dogs, but curiosity can still get the better of them. If they eat something that then becomes stuck in the stomach or intestines, referred to as a gastrointestinal obstruction or GI obstruction.

This GI obstruction stops food from passing through the digestive tract and could cause vomiting or inappetence. Some foreign bodies will pass on their own, while others will require surgery.

7. Dental Disease

Cats can suffer from inflammation of their gums, fractured teeth, resorptive lesions on their teeth, and dental abscesses. Painful or diseased teeth will stop your cat from eating.

Dental issues are difficult to diagnose yourself in a cat, and it isnt always safe to check your cats mouth and come away without any injury. However, your vet can sedate your cat to check, if necessary.

8. Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases can affect your cats ability to breathe or smell, which leads to a loss of appetite. An upper respiratory disease might clog your cats nose and eyes with discharge, resulting in a restriction or complete loss of smell and sight.

Lower respiratory tract diseases affect their lungs, which results in difficulty breathing. These issues might be caused by viral or bacterial infections that require basic care but could also be much more serious, like cancer. Contact your vet if you are concerned about a respiratory issue affecting your cat.

9. Lethargic or Grumpy Cat?

If youve noticed a change in your cats behavior, it could signify that something more serious is going on. Cats that are ill will generally hide and become aggressive if you attempt to move or disturb them.

This could be a sign of infection, pain, or fever. Combined with a lack of appetite or sleeping more, they are worrying signs. So, if this sounds like your cat, take them to the vet.

10. Diabetes and Hyperthyroidism

These endocrine diseases can both cause extreme hunger at first in cats, youll find your cat doesnt put on any weight and will tend to lose its appetite as the disease progresses.

If your cat has previously always had a good relationship with food and is middle-aged or older, its worth considering that diabetes or hyperthyroidism is to blame for their lack of appetite. If this sounds like your cat, contact your vet, and they can suggest the best diagnostic and treatment plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Do if Your Cats Not Eating?

Cats are particularly good at hiding when theyre not feeling well or in pain, and as a pet parent, you must pay attention and react to any changes in your cats behavior. Contact your vet if your kitten has not eaten for 12 days or your adult cat hasnt eaten in 2 days. Quick action is vital as adult cats, especially overweight ones, can develop a severe disease called hepatic lipidosis if they stop eating.

If you notice any of these signs, contact your vet immediately:

• Fish only: this type of aquarium only houses fish, and possibly algae and detritivores organisms (such as shrimps and snails).
• Reef: this type of aquarium can house hard corals but they require special equipment. Invertebrates with special requirements (lighting, water mixing) can also be added.
• Mixed: this last type of saltwater aquarium can accommodate soft corals and fish.

What Is Hepatic Lipidosis?

Hepatic lipidosis is also known as fatty liver syndrome and is unique to cats and one of the most common liver diseases in felines. It generally affects cats that have recently gone through a period of anorexia for 34 consecutive days.

When a cats body breaks down fat rapidly to supply nutrients and energy, it can be overwhelming for the liver to process. This fat is then stored in and around the liver cells, which further compromises liver function. If the cat develops jaundice, which will be evident from a yellow color to the whites of the eyes or skin, the disease can be fatal if not treated quickly and aggressively.

Treatment Options for Loss of Appetite

The treatment options available depend very much on the cause of your cats loss of appetite.

If theres a health issue, your cat may require:

• Antibiotics
• Diet change
• Hospitalization and fluid therapy
• Medication
• Surgery

If your cat is a picky eater, you can try:

• Feeding your cat foods with different shapes, flavors, and textures.
• Warming up food if its been stored in the refrigerator.
• Avoiding large purchases of food. Packaging thats been open for over a month can go stale and rancid.

Its important for you to watch out for unusual signs, react quickly, and know when to seek help.

Conclusion

Whatever the cause of your cats inappetence, it can be a worrying time. Our aim as pet parents is to make sure our pets are happy and healthy. Thankfully, there are solutions to this problem, whether its trying to stimulate their appetite at home, changing their diet, or taking them to see the vet. We hope this list has helped you narrow down what is ailing your feline friend, and youre one step closer to getting them back to their normal self!

Featured Image Credit: Elena Kutepova, Shutterstock

Why Has My Cat Suddenly Stopped Eating: 12 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

Learn more

Cats tend to be fond of food, so if your cat suddenly stops eating, its common to feel that something terrible is wrong with them. And there are some cases where your cat isnt eating because they arent feeling well. However, there are also cases where your cat isnt eating for other less concerning reasons.

Here are 12 possible reasons your favorite feline has suddenly stopped eating and what you should do to get them eating normally again. Some of these reasons require a trip to the vet, but others are relatively easy to fix. Keep reading and learn everything you should know about why your pet isnt eating!

The 12 Reasons Why My Cat Is Not Eating Suddenly

1. Dislike of Food

Felines can be picky eaters just like people. Plus, they are creatures of habit. So, if youve recently switched your cats brand of food or changed from wet to dry food (or vice versa) and your pet stops eating, chances are they dont like the new food. If you think this could be the reason your kitty has gone on a hunger strike, try giving them some of their old food. If your pet eats it, youll know theyre just being finicky.

Also, keep in mind that when switching cat foods, you should do a slow replacement. That means mixing in old food with the new, then slowly decreasing the amount of old food in the mix to help your cat get used to it. This also helps prevent stomach upset!

2. Spoiled Food

If your cat isnt eating, it might be because the food you gave them has gone bad or expired. Its easier to tell if this is the case when its wet cat food, as with dry cat food, it can be hard to notice that its gone stale and rancid. If you think your pets food has spoiled, check the expiration date and get a good whiff of it to see if it smells bad. Also, double-check whether anything, such as mold, is growing on it or if bugs have gotten into the food. If spoilage is the issue, replacing the food should get your pet back on track with eating.

3. Getting Food Elsewhere

This really only applies to outside kitties (unless your inside cat is a sneaky thief who gets into food when it shouldnt), but your pet may simply be getting fed somewhere other than home. If your pet likes to wander the neighborhood, you might want to check in with your neighbors to see if theyve been slipping kitty treats or food. And, if they have, asking them kindly to not feed your cat should do the trick of getting them to eat at home again.

4. Feeling Unsafe

Where our feline friends eat can affect how much they eat. Cats are particular about where their food is. For example, it shouldnt be set too close to the litter box. Your pets food bowl also shouldnt be placed right next to a wall, as some kitties dont want to eat with their backs facing a room. Other reasons for not eating due to feeling unsafe could be that the water bowl is too close to the food bowl, or your cat is intimidated by other pets in the home at feeding time.

Luckily, these issues are easily fixed by placing your cats food and water bowls in a quieter area of the house where they can see the room while they eat and by feeding them separately from other animals if necessary.

5. Food Aversion

Before they stopped eating, had your cat gone through being boarded or had a stay at the hospital? Then the issue could be food aversion. Some cats will associate certain foods with unpleasant experiences and then refuse to eat them. If food aversion is the issue, youll have to do some trial and error to determine what your pet is now willing to eat.

6. Recent Vaccination

Although vaccines are a good thing, they can occasionally cause side effects. One of these may be a loss of appetite. So, if you take your kitty in for routine vaccinations and dont feel like eating the rest of the day, this isnt out of the norm. Rest assured, not eating, in this case, is temporary and shouldnt last long. If it does last longer than a day or so, another problem could be at play.

7. Change & Stress

As we said before, felines are creatures of habit, so they arent thrilled when changes occur. If your pet has experienced recent changes, such as a new pet or person coming into the home, work being done on your house, or a lot of visitors hanging about, they could easily become stressed. This stress can lead to a loss of appetite, as well as behaviors such as hiding, sleeping more, or aggression.

If you think your cat is stressed out, you can try to help it cope with any changes happening by making a safe space for it out of the way of everything and everybody. You might also try pheromone sprays to help keep it calmer. However, if your pet continues to be stressed out, a visit to the vet may be necessary.

8. Dental Disease

Dental disease is possibly the most common health issue cats face and could be a factor why your cat isnt eating. In fact, over half of felines aged three and up experience dental disease of some kind. This could include everything from gingivitis, periodontal disease, fractured teeth, inflammation, and more. And if dental disease is an issue, your cat might be having trouble eating because of pain or discomfort. So, if your pet has stopped eating suddenly, checking their teeth and mouth is a good place to start looking for issues. If you see something odd, get the kitty to a vet right away to have the problem fixed.

9. Foreign Objects in the Mouth or Body

Cats are notorious for eating stuff they shouldnt (string, plants, people food, etc.), and sometimes those things they arent supposed to eat end up lodged in between teeth or stuck somewhere in the gastrointestinal system. If your pet has something stuck in its teeth or mouth, it likely hurts to eat. And if they have an obstruction in the gastrointestinal system, food probably cant pass through, resulting in vomiting, dehydration, and a lack of eating.

If you know (or even suspect) that your pet has eaten something they shouldnt have, and that thing is lodged in your pets mouth or GI tract, youll want to plan a trip to the vet immediately.

10. Digestive Issues

Your favorite feline is no different than you when it comes to an upset stomach or other digestive issues. You dont want to eat when dealing with a digestive problem, and kitty is the same. Cats that are nauseous, throwing up, or suffering from diarrhea probably wont look twice at their food. Thankfully, this sort of issue should pass in a couple of days. If it does not and your cat still seems ill, they will need to see the vet, as the problem could be something more serious than an upset stomach, such as pancreatitis or inflammatory bowel disease.

11. Respiratory Issues

Upper respiratory issues arent uncommon in cats and can cause our pets to ignore food. This is because these sorts of problems tend to involve fatigue, congestion, and fevernone of which is conducive to enjoying food. So, if you see that your feline is dealing with eye discharge, sneezing, or a runny nose, visit your vet so they can treat the illness and get kitty feeling better and back on track!

12. Illness

If you dont think any of the above is why your cat has suddenly stopped eating, the cause may be another illness. There are several that can cause loss of appetite, including kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and congestive heart failure. If you see signs of illness in your cat, such as lethargy, unusual bathroom habits, increased sleep, weight loss, or hiding, on top of a loss of appetite, get your cat to the vet sooner rather than later as something serious could be going on.

Conclusion

There are several reasons your cat might stop eating all of a sudden, and these reasons can range from those that are not a huge deal to those that are extremely serious. Even if your pet isnt eating because its being picky about their food, you need to get them eating again as soon as youre able to avoid health problems.

Luckily, in most cases of your cat is not eating, there are things that can be done that will have them back on track, including changing the position of the food bowl, helping your pet destress, or a visit to the vet. Just keep an eye on your kittys eating habits so you know immediately if an issue arises!

See also:

Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock