Your cat isn't eating? No need to worry!
You serve your cat the best food and yet she turns up her nose at what's in her bowl? Whether your feline friend is especially picky or eats everything, a lack of interest in food often worries caring owners.
But no need to panic: If your cat is healthy, you can wait to see if the situation improves on its own over the next 24 hours and calmly read our tips and reasons for food refusal.
What to do if your cat stops eating?
Stay relaxed: Many cats, for example, instinctively decide to ignore their food for a day and eat →stomach upsets instinctively, and even the next day eat less. This way, they can naturally relieve their digestive system before returning to a regular diet.
Reasons why your cat stops eating
Since the causes of food refusal can be varied and you can often make meals appealing again for your cat in many situations, it helps to know the reasons.
These include:
Diet
Changes and stress
A change in health condition
Before seeking veterinary advice, you can often easily find out why your cat isn't eating with our tips and make mealtimes exciting again.
Is your cat not eating and being fussy? We have something for that!
How to stimulate your cat's appetite again
1. Switch food properly
Cats are creatures of habit and may react to changes in food and feeding times with a loss of appetite. That's why you should always ensure a →proper food transition, when changing your cat's food.
Whether you're switching from one brand to another or, for example, from dry to wet food: even a different texture can confuse your feline friend. So proceed slowly and mix a small amount of the new food with the old, gradually increasing the proportion.
2. Check how the food is stored
Especially wet and fresh food must be stored properly to maintain quality.Refrigerator and freezer are best suited for storage depending on the type of food. If wet food sits in the bowl for 2-4 hours, your cat may not touch it afterward. This is how our feline friends protect themselves naturally from spoiled food.
But dry food should also be stored dry, dark, and cool.Lack of freshness due to improper storage not only changes the smell and taste, but also makes the food spoil faster. This can cause your cat to stop eating.
3. Add variety to your cat's food bowl
Cats are generally considered very finicky and picky eaters. If your house cat refuses her favorite food, you can try to add variety to the food bowl. Different types of fish and meat, oils, and supplements can help and make a meal tasty again.
4. Test your cat for food intolerances
A →food allergy can also be the reason your cat refuses food. Often, very commonly fed meats like chicken, turkey, and beef are affected and can no longer be digested by your feline friend. Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea may occur.
You can detect a food intolerance by offering your cat less common, hypoallergenic meats and →sensitive food offer.
If you suspect an allergy based on the test, it's best to visit a vet to confirm your suspicion.
5. Identify stress factors and changes
If your cat isn't eating, consider whether your feline friend needs to get used to changes. Have you recently moved to a new home or changed your daily routine? Has a new two- or →four-legged family member joined you? Are you using a new cleaning product with a strong lemon scent?
All these changes can cause stress for your feline friend. In such situations, give your cat closeness, favorite toys and a safe retreat to help her settle in. You might also offer your cat especially tasty food or enhance familiar meals.
6. Choose the right bowl and feeding spot
Food acceptance can be linked to the bowl and its location. It's best to choose a shallow and wide bowl that your cat can easily eat from.
Many cats also dislike it when the litter box is too close to the feeding area or when they are disturbed while eating. So place your cat's food bowl in a quiet spot, at an appropriate distance from the litter box and make sure it can't slip while eating. Cats also don't like to eat where they drink. It's best to place water and food bowls in different rooms.
7. Check teeth and mouth
Dental problems can sometimes cause your cat to lose interest in food. Offer older cats with missing teeth and kittens who are between the fourth and sixth month of life and going through teething,softer and easy-to-chew food and no dry food.
Always pay attention to →good oral hygiene and healthy teeth. Tartar and →gum inflammation can be painful for your feline friend. Consult a vet in such cases.
Your cat won't eat and is fussy? We have something for that!
8. Your cat's health condition
→Heat cycle and extreme heat can reduce your cat's appetite. During the summer months pay attention to the feeding times and serve meals when it's still not too hot. During the heat cycle, you can also make meals more interesting with oils and supplements more interesting.
If your cat isn't eating and also shows other symptoms, such as apathy, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss, an illness may be present.See a vet promptly to have your pet checked. Especially kittens and young cats should be seen by a doctor early.
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My kitten isn't eating, what can I do?
If your kitten refuses her food, you should see a vet right away. Kittens are much more sensitive and dehydrate faster than adult cats. They need their daily kitten food for mental and physical development. If your kitten suddenly stops eating, you should have this checked by a vet.
Kitten doesn't want to eat?
This is how to feed kittens properly and healthily
