If you have recently discovered your cat not eating, there are potential reasons why. However, there are also ways to help – and Pawt4Paws is here to tell you how via this blog fittingly titled: ‘Cat Not Eating? Potential Reasons Why & How to Help’!
Is It Common for a Cat to Not Eat?
It can be common for a cat to not eat due to becoming bored with certain foods. But sometimes the reason a cat stops eating can be for more serious reasons. Some of the reasons why your cat might not be eating can extend past boredom and include such things as:
- A short-term viral illness
- Intestinal issues
- A disease-causing pain and loss of appetite
- Oral health concerns
Getting to the root cause can be tricky, so being aware of health issues is important too.
Health Issues that Can Cause a Cat to Stop Eating
Not only can health issues cause a cat to stop eating, but your cat can also develop serious health issues from going without food for multiple days. One of which includes developing hepatic lipidosis. This is also considered a ‘fatty liver disease’, and can lead to death without treatment.
Which is a major reason to stay alert when a cat is not eating, and should not be thought of as a minor concern.
When a cat fails to eat, its body tries to convert fat into energy, and excess fat stored around the liver can be a cause for alarm. Because it is a vital organ, if it is not functioning properly, your cat can be in a lot of discomforts and require veterinarian treatment.
These are all contributing factors to your cat’s loss of appetite and shift in mood.
Additional Health Risks Leading to Loss of Appetite in Cats
Additional health risks that can lead to your cat losing its appetite include:
Respiratory Illness – affecting your cat’s breathing, smell and sight, leading to a loss of appetite. Such difficulty breathing can be managed with antibiotics and should be addressed in a timely manner.
Digestive Tract Concerns – can include such things as complications within their intestines, pancreas, digestive system and stomach. Usually, a decrease in appetite is the first sign of a digestive illness. It can also lead to acid reflux, intestinal bacteria, IBS, parasites and tumours.
Ingesting Foreign Foods – due to eating things not intended for consumption. From hairballs and human food that has fallen on the floor, these types of things can lead to obstructions, illness and loss of appetite.
Poor Dental Health – This is also a painful reality for cats and can lead to your cat not eating. Whether enduring an abscess or other such painful oral health issues, your cat may grow resistant to eating as its mouth grows increasingly uncomfortable. This is something your vet will need to address to find relief for your cat.
Food Issues Leading to a Finicky Feline
On a lesser scale, your cat may have stopped eating due to simply being a finicky eater. Perhaps they don’t like the flavour of the food or have grown tired of it. Or perhaps the food shape or texture isn’t appealing to them. Cats can be finicky eaters as well as highly aware of spoiled food they know will make them ill, so being aware of these reasons why your cat may have stopped eating is well-worth noting.
How to Help a Cat That is Not Eating
Arriving at ways to get your feline to start eating again is paramount to their health. Here are some suggestions in order to do so…If a respiratory viral infection is an issue, take your cat into a steamy bathroom or see if you’re able to put saline drops in their nose. This will help them breathe and allow them to eat more comfortably.
If your cat is simply a picky eater, try giving them a different brand of food. Heat up their food or offer them canned tuna or chicken to entice them to eat. Experiment with flavours and textures, and if you’re feeling adventurous – make your own cat food. Introduce CBD cat treats or oils into your cat’s diet. This can also help to stimulate their appetite and is something Pawt4Paws can help with.
Find out more about our CBD cat treats HERE!
How CBD Can Help Stimulate Your Cat’s Appetite
In our blog post – ‘CBD Oil for Cats: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know ‘– we recently wrote about our wild salmon cat treats. These treats are sourced from 100% organic Canadian hemp, offering 1 mg of CBD per treat (approximate), and is a delicious way to medicate your cat in a safe and healthy way.
While the reasons behind why your cat may not be eating will vary, CBD can help regardless by stimulating your cat’s appetite.
CBD alleviates many of the issues that can stem from the symptoms of a malnourished cat including relief of…
- Mood swings
- Hormonal concerns
- Inflamed bowels (IBS)
- Stress
- Depression
- …and more
With many cat owners seeking natural remedies to relieve their pet’s health concerns, CBD has become a popular option. Introducing it into their diet can deliver both enhanced quality of life, as well as a tasty way to keep a cat healthy.
Questions? We would be happy to answer them via email, info@pawt4paws.com, phone 1-888-898-9080, Facebook or Instagram or our contact us page!
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