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Your cat does not want to eat? Neither do you seem to want to drink water? Sometimes we see that our cats are inapetent and although it may be nothing, sometimes it means that something is not right. The causes that can lead to this change in the behavior of our feline are diverse and we find very simple reasons up to serious complications, which must be treated by the emergency veterinarian.
Some cat breeds will visibly express their needs, as Siamese do, for example. Or else they will “suffer in silence,” as the ragdoll cats do, which barely wail given their shyness. In this article we will explain why your cat does not want to eat and / or drink and what can you do to help him?
Before starting, it is important to highlight that anorexia in cats is one of the first clinical signs of several diseases. Below we will explain the causes why a cat does not want to eat more usual. Remember that to help you, you must be able to identify what happens to you and what is the reason for this sudden behavior:
Baby cats or puppies need a special attentionYour immune system is much weaker and you tend to dehydrate more easily if you stop drinking fluids. In addition, they are also usually more sensitive to changes in diet, so it is important to monitor that they eat whenever we change their diet.
Before a puppy cat that does not want to eat, it is always advisable to stimulate it with moist food, even mixing it with warm water to offer an extra hydration. This type of food is much more palatable and has a better acceptance than dry feed.
If a puppy cat has not ingested absolutely anything in 24 hours is a cause for concern and requires a emergency veterinary visit. Also, remember that baby cats need to feed between 4 and 8 times a day, so if in 12 hours a newborn cat has not received food, you should also go to the vet.
Discover more about feeding newborn cats, the stimulation they need to urinate and defecate or the environment in which they should stay.
In view of this situation, it will also be essential to assess the vital signs of the cat and the symptoms of disease, by means of a general physical examination. Here’s how to do it:
Cats do not usually show signs of disease as evident as other animals, so, we leave you some common symptoms of disease:
If any of the vital signs of the cat are altered and you also observe symptoms of disease, do not think about it and go to the emergency vet as soon as possible, calling you previously to ensure that they can assist you and receive instructions if necessary.
The first thing to do if a cat does not want to eat and / or drink after many hours will try to stimulate it with very tasty food, such as cans or homemade food. You will probably know some food that your cat can not resist, try to offer it and see if he eats or not.
Some extra tricks can be heating up the food or replace the water with chicken or fish broth (without salt or onion), to nourish it while we hydrate. If your cat seems to feed on your favorite food and accept the water, you may find yourself facing a depressed or overheated cat.
In order to solve this problem, know the cause that is causing anorexia It’s fundamental. If our cat has stopped eating due to a change of feed, we must value modifying its food again, but if on the contrary it is about depression we must act improving its welfare and offering environmental enrichment.
In any case, if you have not been able to identify the reason that causes your cat not to eat, call your veterinarian to explain the situation, he will tell you how to proceed and, according to his assessment, what procedure to follow.
If you suspect that your cat is dehydrated it may be necessary to use a syringe (without a needle) and try to offer some water directly to the mouth. You can also assess the option of making serum at home. If after an attempt to hydrate your cat vomits or spits water, you should worry and go to the emergency vet.
If you want to read more articles similar to Why does not my cat want to eat?, we recommend that you enter in our section of Feeding problems.
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