Will a cat starve itself rather than eat food it doesn t like

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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Will Cats Starve Themselves If They Dont Like The Food?

Is your cat refusing to eat her food? Its not that surprising. Cats are picky eaters, and they often turn their nose up at what you put in front of them in the dinner bowl.

Why do cats go off their food? There are several reasons your cat could be snubbing its meal. They could have caught a mouse earlier, or they might not like the new food you bought yesterday. Will cats starve themselves if they dont like the food you give them? Yes, they have been known to stubbornly refuse to eat if the food you give them is not to their liking.

Will a cat starve itself to death? In severe cases, cats that stop eating may develop hepatic lipidosis as quickly as within three to four days this conditions can kill them.

Why Did My Cat Stop Eating?

All cats love to eat. Some like food more than others, and they have problems with managing weight. The cat might be light on their food intake or picky with what type of food they have to eat.

Food aversions and issues are the most common cause of your cat refraining from munching down on their dinner. If your cat doesnt like the food, it lets you know by avoiding dinnertime.

Your cat might visit the dinner bowl, bend down to it, give it a sniff, and then turn away in disgust. Its a sign they dont like the food, and youll need to change it. This often occurs with kittens who are not so familiar with cat food flavors and with adult cats when you change their food for a health reason. Older cats become fussy eaters often because their sense of smell and taste deteriorate, they will turn their nose up in the same way.

Will Cats Starve Themselves If They Dont Like the Food?

The reality is yes; your kitty will rather starve themselves than eat food they dont like. Even if they dont have an underlying health disorder preventing them from eating, healthy cats may still starve themselves.

Unfortunately, this behavior is severely detrimental to your cats health. Cats dont carry much body fat and refraining from eating means your cat loses body weight fast.

Cats can become anorexic in a matter of days, refusing food to an extent where you need to start force-feeding them. Once a cat stops eating, it will dip into its body fat reserves, fat that is mobilized can clog the liver causing liver failure and death very quickly. Cats that are overweight or obese are particularly in danger from this phenomenon.

Are There Other Factors Stopping My Cat from Eating?

Why do cats stop eating suddenly? There are several reasons why your cat might refrain from visiting the dinner bowl. If you havent changed the food, then check the following in your home.

Environmental Factors

Cats find it stressful when you change the living dynamic in the home. If you recently got another pet, it could be the new addition to the family causing the problem.

Something as simple as having a houseguest for the weekend could cause a shift in your cats feeding behavior.

These temporary environmental changes typically dont have a lasting effect, and your cat overcomes them quickly.

Moving to a new apartment or home may also cause high-stress levels in cats, causing them to stop eating for a day or two. Limit stress during the move, and do everything you can to adjust your cat to the new living environment as soon as possible.

Sickness

Food aversions may also occur in your kitty due to underlying illness. If your cat is dealing with digestive problems like inflammatory bowel disease or colitis, they might lead to gas, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Dental issues and kidney problems are also common underlying health issues in cats that stop the feeding response. If your cat experiences dental issues, it might have trouble chewing on the food.

When you take your cat to the vet for an annual checkup, always ensure they conduct a dental exam on the animal. If you notice your cats favoring one side of their mouth when crunching, it may be a sign of a dental issue causing pain.

Will My Cat Eventually Eat Their Food?

Dont assume that your cat will eat when it feels hungry. Many dog owners find this to be the case if the dog stops eating or misses a meal. Eventually, fido starts eating again.

However, its not the same with cats. Cats can develop anorexia quickly, leading to a condition called hepatic lipidosis, damaging the liver.

If your cat is not eating on the second day, make an appointment with the vet, and take your cat in for a diagnosis. Only the vet can make an official diagnosis as to why your cat stopped eating.

Take the food youre feeding the cat along to the vet; theyll want to look at the ingredients listing.

How Do I Get My Cat to Eat?

Since the food is typically the problem causing your cat to stop eating, youll need to change it. If you recently swapped out your cats food, then its definitely the problem. If your cat licks food but doesnt eat then they have the urge to eat but the flavor or texture rather than the aroma is an issue.

Cat food is available in wet and dry options, so you might have to run through a few products by vet-approved brands to find something your cat likes.

Generally speaking, wet food has more flavor and aroma and is more likely to be tempting to your cat.

If youre not sure if its the food causing the problem, theres an easy way to check if theres a more severe underlying problem.

Offer your cat one of their favorite treats and wait for their reaction, if she takes the treat, then the food is the issue. If she is hesitant to take the treat, spits it out, or doesnt pay any attention at all you have a problem.

If you feel the food might be the issue, try buying your cat another food brand with a stinky smell. Cats love the smell of fishy foods and strong scents.

Serving Food to Your Cat

Some cats wont eat cold wet food. If you put some wet food in the fridge overnight, they probably wont touch it if you serve it cold. If your cat wont eat wet food try to serve the food at room temperature or slightly warm to mimic the temperature of food in the wild.

Cats are also clean animals. They wont eat old food, so dont put it back in the bag. They also require a clean dinner bowl and a bowl where the rim doesnt touch their whiskers.

When Do I Call My Vet?

If your cat isnt eating or showing interest in treats on the second day, make an appointment with your vet. Leaving things to chance could cost your pet their life.

Your vet may require you to initiate force-feeding at home, or they might keep them overnight to rehydrate or replenish your cat.

Treatments vary depending on the extent of the problem, and your vet will let you know about what you have to do to get your cat to start eating again.

Will Cats Starve Themselves If They Dont Like The Food?

Cats are very communicative animals and do a good job telling their owners what they want, what they like, and what makes them unhappy.

A cat that refuses to eat tells its owner something is wrong with the food, and the cat doesnt want to finish the meal. A hunger strike can be frustrating and especially dangerous for a cat.

Cats will ultimately starve themselves if they do not like their food.

A cat will refuse to eat if it is not getting the right balance of flavor, vitamins, and minerals needed to provide enough energy. Cats must eat within 48 hours, or their energy reserves will be depleted.

Adding a topper, vegetable broth, or fresh vegetables to your cats food can encourage a picky cat to eat its food.

Sometimes, a cat may feel frightened or too intimidated to finish a meal. New cats or the ones living with fellow animals may be too scared to eat their food.

In this instance, it is necessary to segregate the cat, especially for mealtimes.

Further, a cat may not eat its food because it is full of treats or the food is positioned too close to the litter box.

Resolve the situation by reducing the number of treats or relocating the food bowl to an area where the cat cannot smell the contents of the litter box.

What Are Signs My Cat Doesnt Like Its Food?

Realizing your cat is not eating is not always obvious, especially in households with multiple cats or animals.

A diligent owner should pay attention to the signs that construe their cat is not eating.

A cat that isnt eating can quickly become sick and decline in health, so it is imperative to keep your cat eating.

Some signs that your cat isnt eating include:

Full Bowl The apparent signs of leftover food after feeding your cat can indicate that your cat isnt eating or simply taking a few bites before walking away. Some cats can graze throughout the day, so watching how much your cat eats throughout a 24-hour period is essential.
Low Energy If a cat doesnt get enough food, it wont have enough energy to play and exercise throughout the day. If you notice your cats energy level suddenly decreases, it may be a sign your cat isnt getting enough minerals and vitamins from its daily meals.
Treats Between mealtimes, your cat may be meowing and howling for treats. Your cat is trying to tell you it is hungry but doesnt like the type of food you are feeding it.
Weight Loss Cats do not weigh much, to begin with, so any weight loss in a cat is significant. If your cat looks drastically thinner, it may be a sign that it isnt eating enough food to keep it healthy.

What Else Can Make My Cat Not Eat?

A cat that doesnt like the type of food you are feeding will eventually starve itself unless you are quick to change your cats diet.

There are other reasons why a cat may not eat, which are easily remedied. Your cat may not want to eat because:

Your cat is afraid. A cat in a new environment or has new animal family members too frightened to eat. Loud noises, different smells, and a new company can quickly scare a cat and force it to leave its food and refuse to eat.
Your cat may be full of treats. Too many daily treats could spoil your cats appetite for healthy and nutritious food. Please limit the daily treats until your cat eats its entire dinner portion.
Your cats litter is too close. Cats with litter trays too close to their food usually turn their noses up at dinner. Smelly litter or dirty litter can be problematic. Try to keep your cats food bowl away from the litter box, or, at a minimum, keep your cats little clean and odor-free.
Your cat may feel competition from other animals. Your cat may refuse to eat because it is uncomfortable with other animals in your house. Although cats are highly social by nature, they can feel intimidated when eating. If your cat is too anxious to eat its food around other cats in the house, try to segregate your cat and its food until it can eat a complete meal alone safely.

How Can I Get My Cat to Eat?

It can be frustrating if you have a cat refusing to eat. Food strikes can happen with New cats or cats who no longer like your dinner options.

If you notice your cat is suddenly turning up its nose at dinner, you can try to:

Vet Ask your vet for help. Vets are well-versed in cat behaviors and can often diagnose why your cat isnt eating. They may also be able to diagnose an underlying medical condition preventing your cat from eating.
No Treats Your cat may not be eating because it is full from eating too many treats. If you notice your cat refuses to eat dinner but is happy to take a treat, try to decrease the number of treats you give, especially before dinner.
Routine Cats love to have a routine and a schedule to follow. Your cat might not be eating because you feed it at different times daily. Set a specific breakfast and dinner time to improve your cats eating habits.
Switch Foods It may just be that your cat doesnt like the type of food you are offering. If your cat refuses to eat, try offering a different brand or a different kind of food. You can provide your cat with kibble, canned, raw, wet, or freeze-dried food.
Toppers Several toppers are available for cats that add flavor to an otherwise dull kibble meal. You can try to add a topper to your cats food to encourage it to eat. Toppers are packed with healthy protein, so they are usually a safe and healthy addition to your cats meal.
Praise Watch your cat eat its meal, and the moment your cat finishes, be sure to offer plenty of praise. You may reward your cat with a treat once the dinner bowl is cleaned. Praising your cat enforces good behavior and encourages it to finish its food every night.

What Can I Give My Cat in an Emergency?

If your cat has not been eating for days, you may have to resort to emergency tactics to get your cat to eat. A cat will starve itself if it is unhappy with its meal options.

Ensuring your cat eats is particularly important for senior cats or cats with underlying medical conditions.

Some tricks to get a picky cat to eat include:

Broth Try to soak your cats kibble food with either no-salt-added chicken or vegetable broth. The broth will help soften the food but give the kibble a better flavor, which most cats have difficulty resisting.
Vegetables Try to add vegetables to your cats kibble mixture. You can use either fresh or frozen vegetables that are water-based. Acceptable vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, or lettuce.
Eggs Making your cat scrambled eggs for dinner is a great way to get your cat to eat. Be sure to make dry eggs without adding milk or butter. The eggs are high in protein, so even one egg will provide plenty of calories to sustain a picky cat refusing to eat.

What Is a Good Diet For a Cat?

Your cat may be turning its nose up at the food you offer because it is not the right blend to keep your cat healthy.

Cats understand their bodies need balanced nutrition with the right minerals and vitamins. They seek out foods and treats that supplement these daily needs.

A cat needs a healthy diet that is packed full of protein. The food should be high in moisture to prevent digestive and urinary issues and below in carbohydrates.

A balanced diet will have about 52% protein, 36% fat, and only 12% carbohydrates.

Although adopting a vegetarian diet for your cat may be popular, this is highly unhealthy and detrimental to these carnivores who need plenty of protein to keep their bodies fueled.

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