Catster Tips
A black cat eating dry food from a bowl.

Cat Not Eating? 8 Things to Try When Your Cat Won’t Eat

Got a cat who won't eat on your hands? We've got a few suggestions to solve the issue of a cat not eating — and when to take a cat who’s not eating to the vet.

JaneA Kelley  |  Nov 26th 2018

My cat, Bella, has been driving me crazy. She’s decided that “I’m not gonna eat that!” is her new favorite game in the world. As food goes, Madame won’t have the chicken — that would be the super-premium raw frozen organic chicken, which she has eaten with gusto for months. Madame also won’t have the duck, because it’s too rich and makes her throw up. Instead, Madame would prefer the rabbit (which, naturally, costs about $8 more a bag than chicken or duck), or, if you please, some low-carb, grain-free pate. Ugh. Is your cat not eating? I know I’m not the only cat parent who has experienced a cat not eating, so here are some things to try when your cat won’t eat.

1. Make sure your cat not eating isn’t a sign that she’s sick

A tabby cat, lying down and sick.

Is your cat not eating? She might be sick or in pain. Photography by Eugene03/Thinkstock.

A cat not eating can be a sign that your cat is sick or pain, particularly if it continues for more than one meal. If this is the case, bring your cat to the vet.

2. If you’re committed to a specific cat food brand, try other flavors

If you have an ethical or medical reason you need to stay with a certain brand of food, see whether it comes in other flavors. Think about trying other brands that might provide the same medical or health benefit. Your cat might find the change refreshing.

3. Heat up the cat food

If you’ve kept your cat’s food in the refrigerator, five to 10 seconds in the microwave will heat it up to about body temperature, and the smell will become attractive to your cat. If you don’t have a microwave, try mixing some warm water into the food instead.

4. Add something tasty to your cat’s food

A fluffy white cat eating wet food off of a dish or bowl.

Cat won’t eat? Try adding a tempting treat to her food bowl. Photography ©RooIvan | Thinkstock.

Try sprinkling your finicky cat’s food with a tempting treat like bonito flakes or cat vitamin powder.

5. Keep your cat’s dishes and bowls clean

This is especially important if your cat eats canned or raw food because germs can start growing in scraps of leftover food and cause illness. A cat not eating might hate the smell of her dishes or food. Cats are instinctively driven to avoid consuming putrid-smelling meat. If you use plastic dishes, replace them with metal or ceramic because they’re easier to keep clean.

6. Try different cat dishes

A cat not eating might simply dislike his bowl. Some cats don’t like deep or narrow dishes because they constrict the whiskers. Flat-faced or brachycephalic cats such as Persians, Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs should not be eating from plates or shallow bowls anyway.

7. Don’t hide medications in your cat’s food

Once upon a time, I ground a pill up and put it in my cat’s food. What I didn’t know was that the medicine was really bitter. My cat refused to touch it, and she never ate that particular brand and flavor of food again. Some medications come in flavors that appeal to cats, but they’re few and far between. Ask your vet before trying the powdered-pill-in-food trick.

8. Remember — choose your battles!

Is it really that important to you that your cat eats just one flavor of just one brand? Even if you love pizza, you’d get sick of it if you had to eat it every day for the rest of your life. This is the approach I’ve taken with Bella, and frankly, it’s what I should have done from the start. Cats need and deserve some variety in their diet, just like us.

Tell us: Is your cat not eating? What did you do when your cat wouldn’t eat? Please share your stories and tips for a cat who won’t eat in the comments!

Thumbnail: Photography by aleg baranau / Shutterstock.

About JaneA Kelley: Punk-rock cat mom, science nerd, animal shelter volunteer, and all-around geek with a passion for bad puns, intelligent conversation, and role-play adventure games. She gratefully and gracefully accepts her status as chief cat slave for her family of feline bloggers, who have been writing their cat advice column, Paws and Effect, since 2003. JaneA dreams of making a great living out of her love for cats.

This piece was originally published in 2015. 

Read more about cats and food on Catster.com:

    Recommended

    Why Do Cats Like Being Up High?
    Why Do Cats Like Being Up High?

    Susan Logan McCracken  | 

    Can Cats Eat Avocado?
    Can Cats Eat Avocado?

    Sassafras Lowrey  | 

    Keep Pot Away From Your Pets
    Keep Pot Away From Your Pets

    Jackie Brown  | 

    How to Keep Cats Off Counters
    How to Keep Cats Off Counters

    Angie Bailey  | 

    Contributions

    145 comments on “Cat Not Eating? 8 Things to Try When Your Cat Won’t Eat”

    Comment navigation

    • Alicia Kelly says:

      WOW! This article really useful for me. I confused for choosing the cat foods information what would be the best for everything. But review this article my confusion has cleared. Thanks a lot for sharing such an informative article about 8 things to try when cat won’t eat and I’m sure most people can take notes from this article. One thing most people lack experience while aware of cat foods. Well, this post will give me much good ideas for cat food and Why not eat. Thanks JaneA Kelley and keep it up…….

      Reply
    • san isha says:

      hi
      my cat is not eating food so well, from the last three days and she also vomited 2day morning.
      she spends most time sleeping. And is not playing like b4. we live in a very remote area and we don’t have vet anywhere near, we shud travel miles to visit a vet. which is difficult for me as I am a heart patient and can’t drive a
      far distance. please suggest me some home remedies that will help my cat recover from her present situation.

      Reply
    • Chester and Bella's mom says:

      Good morning all, hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! I have two 6 month old kittens (brother & sister tabbies). When I adopted them, they were eating wet food mixed with dry kitten food, which they’ve been fine with up until now. All of a sudden they don’t want it. They act hungry, I feed them, they take a few bites & walk away. They seem fine & perfectly normal otherwise. I’ve tried cleaning the dished more frequently, separating the wet food from the dry food, so far nothing works. They went to the vet last Friday for vaccinations, it’s been since then. I read that a side effect is loss of appetite, but I wouldn’t think it would last this long. I’ve been feeding them in plastic bowls, I’m going to switch to metal because I read plastic isn’t the best. I want to do the best by these precious babies, we love them to pieces!! Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thank you!

      Reply
    • cmarouet says:

      Hi all,
      My cat doesn’ want to eat his food. I took him to the vet today and blood tests and x-rays run and everything looks fine and healthy. He has no diarrhea, and his mood overall is normal, he plays, he is not hidding anywhere, all seemingly normal. He had been taking antibiotics for a dental problem for a week and eye drops for a mild eye infection (also for a week). I was wondering if the reason of his not eating could be because of the antibiotics? (The pill is extremely bitter). He eats two o three bites and then goes away (especial kidney food). He eats treats, andsome liver and malt cream but he takes an eternity to eat his own food. I’m at a loss. Any help or tips are highly appreciated. Thx so much.

      Reply
    • Maddie says:

      Hi. My cat stopped eating, we took him to the vet, they diagnosed him with some sort of liver problem and now he’s on medication (including an appetite stimulant). He’s clearly very hungry, but refuses to touch his food, even though he keeps sniffing it. Do you have any advice on how to convince him to eat? I’ve tried hand-feeding him, switching to wet food (he’s usually on a special diet of kibble), sitting with him, cleaning his bowl, etc etc etc, but nothing works.

      He won’t stop crying and rubbing on my ankles and it’s breaking my heart to see him losing weight. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Michaela Conlon says:

        Hi there Maddie,

        Thanks for reaching out and we are sorry to hear this is happening to your cat. If your cat is still not eating after trying what was mentioned in this article, we suggest contacting your vet who gave him the medication for help. We hope your cat feels better!

        Reply
    • Saqib says:

      My cat is not eating her food since 2 daSaqibys what can i do?
      Her one leg is fractured may be this is the reason
      But what can i do ?

      Reply
    • Shannon says:

      My cat hasn’t eaten her regular cat food in 3 days, but she’ll eat treats. I have 4 flavors that she has, not just 1. She has used this bowl since she was 3 months old, and I do clean it. I thought maybe she was mad at me, or is depressed, because she hasn’t been herself in days. I’m at my wits end…

      Reply
      • Sheri says:

        Hi Shannon, I was wondering how your cat is. We are having the same problem with our cat. He is 15 and I never had a problem with his eating. I was hoping for some suggestions.

        Reply
        • Michaela Conlon says:

          Hi there Sheri,

          We are sorry to hear this is happening to your cat as well. We suggest taking your cat to the vet ASAP.

          Reply
      • Tabatha Williams says:

        Try adding a dash of bacon grease and mixing it well. It’s worked with my dogs and the cat. Sometime you just have to dark it up every now and then

        Reply
    • Pingback:Wondering, ‘Why Is My Cat Always Hungry?’ We’ve Found 5 Reasons Why – My Blog
    • Mr. T says:

      My 21 year old is hooked on Heinz beef flavor baby food diluted with water. Loves it so much that he wakes me up every morning at 0530. If I ignore him, he swats me with his left paw until I get up and feed him. One teaspoon in the morning and another at night. In between, he eats Friskies canned food.

      Reply
    • Orel says:

      Hi, I have 3 yo cat that has special food and gets a full amount in the morning and eats it very slow during the day (unless it is can food).
      Now we just got a new baby kitten that doesn’t eat all at once either… and my older cat just ate all his food.
      tried separating my old cat to eat but he just wanted to get out of the room and haven’t eatten much.
      Any suggestions?

      Reply
    • Taylorraecox says:

      Hi. My cat is 4 years old and he’s spent 2 weeks in the animal hospital for kidney stones. He hasn’t eaten since. I have to force feed him with a sirynge and I have to pick him up to get him to move. I’m 19 weeks pregnant and it’s really draining me to force feed him cause he fights me and doesnt want to eat anything. He’s super skinny and I can feel every bone in his body. I’m really worried. Please help

      Reply
    • MARTHA A HURD-CALL says:

      I have an 18 year old kitty. He does have kidney disease, but has always been a good eater. He also has super bad teeth and can’t chew. He was failing fast and I started him on pureed food, which he ate with gusto yesterday. Today he is refusing to eat again. I realize that 18 is old and he is probably nearing the end. I do not want him to suffer. Any suggestions? I don’t want to force feed him because he is frail, does not want to be held and snaps and pops when I pick him up.

      Reply
    • Beverly. Artson says:

      I recently adopted an outside cat. I have always had dogs. She was pregnant and had four babies, one still born. The kittens are now seven weeks. She had always had a good appetite, but has stopped eating for three days. I have made a vet appointment. What do you think it is. She is still nursing the kittens.

      Reply
    • Ellen says:

      I’m a new cat owner (ten weeks) but here ‘s my experience and two things that work for me: Sometimes my cat needs to be reminded that he’s hungry. (1) I notice that if he’s not eating, I give him a few treats in the area of his food bowl, and after he eats them, he virtually always then turns to his bowl and starts eating the food. (2) Try eating with your cat. That is, when he’s not eating, I’ll sit in the same room as his bowl (kitchen) and have my breakfast or lunch, and it’s like, “Wow, I’m hungry too!” He goes over to his bowl and eats. Hope these ideas help somebody!

      Reply
    • Rebecca says:

      I have a male cat about 9 years old. For a long time he’s been on a urinary tract infection medicated dry food within the last year so he stopped eating that all together. So I tried can food. that was working for a while, certain flavors I found out right away he wasn’t eating, anything with cheese, Seafood, certain gravies. He was only eating turkey and then stops. Lately he has been eating salmon and chicken but recently stop. Today I tried ground beef with a little bit of vegetables and rice he ate that and will see how that goes. The longest he has starved himself was three days. sometimes he ends up dry heaving nothing, clear liquid. I end up finding something else that works, even starting with wetting his dry food with warm water. He is driving me crazy. He gets a yearly check up which are always good.

      Reply
    • Kaz says:

      My vet has checked my 18yr old girl and theres not a thing wrong with her… he blames me for giving in and replacing the food when she has only eaten a mouthfull or two then demands something different! She has always had a variety byt that range is still limited as she gets very sick from any seafood since a wee bubba and I was told she must never have it again – she actually wont eat it now anyways – not even when my parents tried to feed her a little fresh fish when they cat sat for me (despite me telling them not to!) The thing with the eating though is not always because something is wrong, sometimes they are just fussy! My vet said with my lil one that because she is not unwell she will not starve herself and will eat but it just had to be a battle of the wills first… I tried unsuccessfully four time (always I gave in after a day) and got in trouble so I stuck it out and it was 3 days that I thought she went then before she started eating (dry food always avail but only a spoonful of wetfood and if not eaten it was taken away and disposed of after a short while) …what wasnt obvious at first in that 3 days was that she was actually eating her bikkies (only a few and just enough to sustain her, she was drinking water too) but I didnt realise it til the vet compared the photos i had to take of the dishes at the start and the end of each day… I also now set up a ‘geriatric feeding station’ for her, its a set of metal bowls on a raised bamboo top with a metal frame under it so she doesnt have to lean down or hunch over her bowl, also keeps the ants at bay and she no longer throws up after every meal, its only when she is a piggy and eats too fast. She is better at eating now but the little bugger has developed a worse habit and now circles me in the kitchen like a shark and swipes the back of my ankles with her claws out if im not quick enough to put the food out! I just cant win LOL

      Reply
      • Carl says:

        Sounds exactly like my cat’ except no ankle swipes. She isn’the allowed in the kitchen. She learned that early on. However the finicky food habits are frustrating.

        Reply
    • Terri says:

      I recently moved my 6 yr old cat over 600 miles from the only home she has known. We moved in with my boyfriend who has a 9 yr old German shepherd. My cat and I are staying on one side of the house and him and his dog on the other. We have been here 3 days and she is not eating or drinking. She used the litter box one time. She hides under the bed constantly. She only comes out at night and for short periods of time. Please, any suggestions for my sweet baby?

      Reply
    • Jorge says:

      I adopted a cat from an Animal Care Center a month ago. I got him Friskies. He ate every flavor until I served him salmon. He hates it and tries to bury it like he does with his poop. Then, it was tuna. Now, he won’t eat the turkey either. As per the vet’s recommendations, I bought him grain-free wet food –different brands (Wellness, in paté; Soulistic, in chunks & gravy). He absolutely HATES them. HE would rather eat Friskies salmon paté. The problem is that he is retaliating by peeing out of the litter box . He is driving me crazy. On the other hand, I do not want him to starve. He was 3-5 pounds under his ideal weight. He gained one over the last 4 weeks. He is two years old. He is very active, playful and affectionate. He does #1 and #2 in the litter box the rest of the times. He has dry food at his disposal, but he has never been crazy about it. He demands wet food. He is neutered. It is only the two of us in the house. He got a clean bill of health from the vet. I have warmed up his food with hot water. I would go and buy him other brands and flavors, but I cannot afford for him to just reject them. I do not know what to do.

      Reply
    • Elaine says:

      Hi I have a beautiful black cat named Georgie he came down with a eye problem last weekend, my neighbours cat also had a poorly eye. I took Georgie to vet and he has a serious eye infection he has lost his fur, eye closed and mucky. Hadn’t eaten in days, George’s is 4 yrs. I noticed my 8 month old kitten isn’t eating either. Took Georgie back to vets for follow up investigation and it looks like he has blisters in his eye and all in his mouth, 2nd visit was to a different vet as I wasn’t happy with first vets prognosis. It’s nearly a week and his eye looks bad but I’m seeing inmrovement and today he has eaten, yippee!! I been so worried. But my kitten isn’t, both my boy cats hang out together, I have a female cat too who went off her food for a few days but she is picking up now, but my kitten isn’t. I’ve tried every cat food human food I.e chicken, ham all tasty stuff even down to cream, I just don’t know what’s going on. I haven’t seen my neighbours cat for days and I’m now seriously worried xx any ideas please x

      Reply
      • Sheila says:

        Try feeding your kitten some shredded chicken or offering some canned kitten formula to stimulate his appetite. It’s not ideal, but it will get some vitamins and minerals into his system.

        Reply
    • Tracy says:

      My friend rescued a cat which we think he was outside for a while, he’s all matted up. Now he’s not doing anything…. not eating, drinking or going the washroom. He’s just hiding behind the TV. We’ve tried soft food and treats and has hard food too. Not sure what to do…. trying to find his owners. Any suggestions??

      Reply
      • Sophie says:

        get him to a groomers – matts in fur get twisted up near the skin on cats and cause them pain and discomfort that can put them off their food! It’s like when a human is depressed: they can’t be bothered to wash their hair, get out of bed, cook food etc.
        The groomer will clip the matts out, give the cat a brush over and if they’re really good at what they do offer advice on nutrition for coat health etc.

        I suspect once Kittycat is back up to his fabulous looking self he’ll perk up.

        Reply
    • Jen says:

      I have take. in a stray cat that I cared for a year outside first. Can’t afford vet but I felt a life off the streeta with no vet care is better than tuffing it outside. He constantly hungry. Always begging. He recently had some raw spots because I changed.his dry food. Went back to feeding nutro and there almost gone. Now he threw up a huge amount last night and tjis morning he wouldnt eat. He has never refused.food !!!! Help

      Reply
      • Sheila says:

        It’s possible that the extreme change in his environment is causing him stress. Perhaps letting him be an indoor/outdoor cat for now and transition to full indoors over time.

        Reply
    • Mayra says:

      I keep reading on different sites relating to cats not eating or drinking water and none of sounds good with my male cat’s symptoms. My cat was in the animal hospital for 3 days with IV’s to hydrate him and a catheter to help him urinate. Vet said he was blocked which happens more to male cats, than females. He had crystals, beginning of kidney stones. Vet treated him for 3 days and sent him home with us with pills for 2 weeks and antibiotics for 10 days. This has stressed out our cat beyond belief. He is going on 4 days now without drinking water, straining to urinate (tries 10 times a day, barely a trickle comes out) and is not eating. We’ve called the vet several times. They tell us he’s stressed, still has an infection or is hurting from the catheter. To just keep an eye on him.

      Although he is purring when we pet him, we have seen no improvement whatsoever. We have made an appointment with the vet tomorrow to see what our options are. My husband and I are just so depressed. We’ve tried giving him water with a syringe and putting ice cubes in his water. He wants no part of it. He is not eating. Not to mention the stress on our baby of giving him medication twice a day. I will try the bonito flakes and changing his bowl, but unfortunately, I think we’re beyond this.

      Reply
      • Cat lover says:

        Try giving your cat natural spring water (from bottle) my cat likes evian water brand and i just pour some in the cap and give it to her. She didn’t drink water for 2 days and as soon as i bought the natural spring water she has been drinking water again! Anyone that has a cat that wont drink water. PLEASE TRY NATURAL SPRING WATER

        Reply
    • Lori W says:

      I had a cat who was sick from day one when we brought him home from the ASPCA. Horrible issues with Feline HIV. Leaky butt all over the place, sinus infections, biting his fur out, not eating, allergies and we tried everything. Numerous trips to the vet and many many medications later and nothing worked. He was losing weight, sick all the time and I was very frustrated. I started researching and saw great reviews on Rad Cat and raw diets in general. At this point I had spent thousands of dollar and he was still sick and everything in our house was pretty much ruined from him. So I ordered some Rad Cat and I am AMAZED at the difference its made. No more allergies, no more meds, no more leaky butt, the cat has gained a good amount of healthy weight and is happy and playing like he should be. This stuff was the miracle that saved his life. He only likes the chicken but he begs for it and I am so excited that we don’t have to torture him with more vet appointments. Raw food is the miracle. My other cat won’t touch it but Finny is doing amazing!

      Reply
    • Danny Brigman says:

      My cat jingles has been missing for 3 day’s. But she finally came home yesterday, and is acting very weird, shes not eating, is really weak and is thirsty all the time.. I don’t know what to do… I don’t have the money to see a veterinarian… I am currently out of a job…. can anyone help me figure out what’s wrong with her!!!!!

      Reply
    • Gail T Kubik says:

      My 7 year old Merlin stopped eating and drinking the last week of January 2018. We are for reasons at my son’s 167 Miles from our vet. We packed up drove to daughters take Merlin to his vet. One week later, exploratory surgery, lab work up, imaging. He is home but still doesn’t want to eat much. He is drinking water. Vet didn’t find any reason. He is eating but not like he use too.

      Reply
    • Katelyn Lounsbury says:

      I have a cat named missy boo and she is not eating at all and I am kinda worried about her. I am trying to figure out what to do to help her but I can not figure anything put I tried everything

      Reply
    • abinico warez says:

      Cats decide on what to eat by smell. If for some reason they can’t smell, they will not eat. This might happen with an old cat or a sick cat. If that’s the case get a small animal feeding syringe and use that. Start with very small amount of food in mouth, and increase slowly to mouth size amount.

      Reply
    • Kay Caviglia says:

      I started reading an article Cat Not Eating? 8 Things to Try When Your Cat Won’t Eat recently found a cat on Gumtree for free it just so happens to be a ragdoll is 4 years old his coat looks really good usi he seems to be happy in himself and around me he’s very close to me I’m at home all day pretty much everyday so I can monitor him although he’s extremely fussy at eating I’ve had him for around 2 months now unfortunately before I bought him home the previous owner mistreated him and didn’t feed him properly I’ve put on Hills science diet which is a really good biscuit or kibble if you like he does tend to eat it and I’ve also tried the royal Kane for Ragdolls he sat as well but not enough to feel him up I’ve tried so many different Wetsuits different brands obviously he tends to just lick the juice from them I am quite concerned because he’s not eating properly while my other cat she’s out Persian she eats quite good considering she has cats aids both my cats are very well looked after I’m struggling to find out what I should do I’ve tried warming the food up in the microwave that doesn’t help cuz he doesn’t like it if I warm it up even if it’s just for 5 seconds or 3 seconds would appreciate anyone’s input on what type of vitamin or supplement would be good for him I know there’s a tablet you can get from the chemist they called Periactin it actually stimulates the animals appetite

      Reply
    • Katie Guilliat says:

      I would like to comment on cats throwing up their meals and on warming food in the microwave.
      1. When warming food in the microwave you need to do it slowly by choosing a time between 1 and 3 minutes and using POWER 1. This warms the food slowly and does not cause any bone fragments to get sharp.
      2. I bought raised bowls because I read that it may help with a cat that throws up their food right after eating. THIS WORKED!!

      Reply
    • Shaman says:

      I “inherited” a beautiful little brindle tortoise-shell from my significant other, who had spoiled Cinci on expensive stuff. And while I still give her the expensive stuff, I always have a couple different cans open, and give her different food for every meal, every day (she’s a finicky little, lovable twerp, and only eats certain types of food, and it takes 4 or 5 days to finish a 2.5 oz can). I give her about 1/5 – 1/6 of a can in the early morn (~5:40), but have to mix a little hot water in, to make a stew-like “broth” for her.

      Then, about noon, I get out the thin-sliced turkey (sandwich meat), and tear off small, finger-nail sized chunks, and feed them by finger to her. She’ll eat 5 or 6 pieces, and then wonder off, or if she’s been sleeping, and working up a real hunger/appetite, she may have 8 or 9 pieces.

      About supper, it’s time for thin-sliced ham, fed to her the same way, with the same results. Then, about 10:15 in the evening, she gets her pre-bed “treats” (Little Friskies Kahuna Crunches – ok, those are not very expensive), about 2, 3-finger pinches of them. Throughout the day, she nibbles here and there on some other “treats” she gets out of Kong “wobblies”, and the little Temptations mice (not with Temptations treats, she won’t touch them, only Little Friskies Treasure Island Crunches).

      I am a diabetic, and have 3 snacks, and 2 smaller meals a day, and I think she thinks that’s what she’s supposed to do, also, as she never eats very much for any 1 sitting, but nibbles throughout the day. Plus, she runs around a lot, all day, every day, as she runs from window to window, chasing the sounds of the squirrels running on the roof, and she loves to run back and forth throughout the house, especially after eating. Oh… she’s only going on 4 years old, so not as old as most of the cats of concern on here.

      But when she did quit eating “breakfast” for a while, I decided to try having 2 or 3 different varieties of soft foods (she only eats flaked), opened at once, and rotating those, never getting the same food 2 days in a row, and she started eating again. I’ve learned that like us humans, “variety is the spice of life” for her, and when the sandwich meat gets too “old” for her, and she doesn’t want it anymore, it’s still good enough for daddy to finish off in a sandwich, or 2. Oh…, and her sandwich meat can’t have any preservatives, nitrates, or anything “un-natural” (it can have up to 24% natural flavoring) added, though…, lol.

      Finally, I do have hard food out for her, also, but it sometimes takes her a week, or two, to finish a dish of that.

      I hope this helps someone, if their little furry child is not eating like they’re supposed to….

      p.s. – she was very sickly, almost dead when found/rescued, and never gets above 7.4 pounds.

      Reply
    • Deborah Diane Stephenson says:

      I am responding to the article on cat that were eating but stopped. I had this problem in 2016 with my female cat Stoli. I did take her to the vet when I saw her fur had lost its luster and she also stopped grooming herself. Turns out she had a an aggressive type of cancer that older cats get(she was 13). I choose not to treat it because it would have been painful for her and expensive for me and I did have our vet come to the house to put her down.

      I want all cat owners to know to take their furry fiends to a good vet if and when they stop eating when you can’t explain the cause rather than trying new foods. I really miss my Stoli…..

      Reply
    • bettylouise31 says:

      Our Bengal cat was fuzzy about food. He stopped eating chicken at one time. Also, he decided he didn’t like a brand he had been eating for several years once. I finally realized he didn’t like soy and refused and food that contain it. Manufacturers often change the ingredients of their food. It didn’t fool Kato at all.

      Reply
    • Gina says:

      My Shiloh stopped eating after throwing up two meals of his wet food. Then I saw that he had diarrhea as well. I got him to the vet right away and they gave him cerenia and metronidazole, for appetite and diarrhea. Luckily I was able to scoop up some of the soft stool into a ziplock – it came back positive for roundworms. No wonder he felt like crap! Please bring in a stool sample just to make sure!

      Reply
    • Ellen Pilch says:

      I agree with seeing the vet. Sometimes though a cat has a chronic condition condition the vet is aware of like kidney disease. You can discuss anti nausea meds and zantac ( always check with your vet for dosages and before using OTC meds). There are also some meds that stimulate appetite. And good old meat baby food ( be sure it has no onion or garlic)) will usually stimulate an appetite.

      Reply
    • Diane Giova says:

      Hi, I have a thirteen (and 3/4’s) year old cat who will be fourteen in April.

      I am concerned about his eating habits and want to take him to the vet. But he will NOT go into his carrier and I live alone. It is very difficult to get him to the vet whose office has a special cat-friendly night on the third Wednesday of the month. I have called the vet and asked them if he/she could provide a mild calming pill that I could give him before taking him in but they cannot unless they see him first, so I feel like it’s a no-win situation. He is a very picky eater (he eats mostly wet food and rarely picks on the dry). He will eat dry treats but I think he has gained too much weight. I’m not sure what to do next. I most likely will move in about two months’ time from a ranch house to an apartment and am afraid this will be very traumatizing and make things worse. I live very close (less than 5 minutes) away from the vet, but I just have no way of getting him there.

      Reply
    • Diane Heath says:

      Hi there!

      I noticed that the cute black cat looking up with his bowl of “poison” sitting there. I wish that cat and dog owners would research into what goes into low grade cheap pet foods like Purina and Pedigree. These companies lace the pellets with sugar, salt and the poisonous coloring’s that cat’s and dog’s cannot process in their bodies. This is the reason that our treasured pets are dying young with kidney failure. This so called food has just a sniff of meat flavorings and actually zero meat of fish in the food. We all want our pets to live to a ripe old age. Good food is the answer.

      Yours sincerely
      Diane Heath

      Reply
    • Betty Jo Davis says:

      Three of my feral cats are now gone. The last one only a month ago. I brought the last one, Binky, inside to stay. He grieved over his only brother and refused to eat. I finally got him to eat a couple of treats and that increased over several days. Then he began eating a little dry food. Finally he would eat some wet food. Then he was hung up on the treats and was gaining weight. I began withdrawing them from him gradually. Now he eats more dry and wet food and has more energy. Am I on the right track? BTW training him to the litter box was easy and he doesn’t seem to be grieving anymore. I have spoiled him and he doesn’t want me to leave him. I’ve created a monster. But he is precious.

      Reply
    • Anna says:

      Try meat-only baby food (gerbers), if you need your cat to eat in an emergency!

      Also if your cat is throwing up, the throwing up makes them nauseous and unable to eat. Even if they have recovered from the initial reason for throwing up, the throwing up in and of itself makes them feel bad. You need to get them to a vet so they can administer anti-nausea medication.

      Reply
    • Faith says:

      I also mixed tuna and egg or chicken with his salmon primavera, which is all he seems to like. My snowshoe is 7 and sometimes will not eat for a day and a half or so. A cat or other animal will not allow himself to starve so just leave it out and he’ll eventually eat it.

      Reply
    • Alexandra says:

      My 18 year old cat Blue would not eat for 3 days. He has kidney disease and was hospitalized at the vet to receive fluids while he was sick. When he started eating again and came home, I gave him lickable puree treats. They are made by the brands Inaba Churu and Applaws. This allowed him to get some nutrients while he wasn’t eating cat food. He and my other cat Isaac LOVE them as a regular treat also. Highly recommend!

      Reply
    • Carol says:

      My cat has always been a picky eater. He only wants to eat dry food, not tuna or any of the meat we eat. We made the mistake of giving him a lot of treats for a few days and he hasn’t really touched his food since. He will eat treats. He just ate a little bit but he lost some weight which makes me concerned.
      He doesn’t have signs of being sick, he plays, wants attention and acts completely normal besides the food issue.

      Reply
    • sandra says:

      our male cat, Ricky, is on CD food (he had 2 surgeries in 2 days to remove crystals and had to stay in hospital for 3 days). The wet food is Science Diet and he doesn’t like the wet so much (he does like the dry). However, I’ve found that if I mix the pate fish stew CD food w/ water and add just a bit of Pro-Plan shredded food that he’ll gobble it up. of course, that lasts about 2-3 days and then I have to come up w/ another variety. crock pot chicken or salmon w/ the pate works, too. he’s never been a fussy eater – I think he just likes variety as we all do.

      Reply
    • Rosbest says:

      My cat is driving me crazy. She’s always been a picky eater. Now she will have literally a mouthful of food and then start bugging me for something else. I’ve tried dry, canned, sauces, jelly, roast meat, cat treats. Every time it’s a mouthful and then she wants something else. I’ve made sure her bowls are clean. She won’t even eat tinned tuna or roast cut of lamb from our table. She looks healthy and isn’t losing weight that I can see so I think it’s psychological. I just wish i knew what she was trying to say!

      Reply
      • ZombieMom says:

        I”m right there with you! My old lady (13) has been doing this for about three months now, and I’m almost always on the verge of tears because of it. I’ve gone through 12 different bags of dry food, and she’s never liked wet of any kind (that doesn’t stop me from trying though!) and she hates the fresh stuff in the fridge. She is losing weight like crazy because she won’t eat, so it’s off to the vet AGAIN tomorrow. I hope you find something that your kitty will finally eat. (sorry for the rant).

        Reply
        • Kathi says:

          I understand what you’re going through my 11-year-old cat has a chronic sinus infection 24/7 365 it never stops so his appetite was never the best. I went away for two weeks and came home to find that he lost so much weight it was heartbreaking. Just to maintain his weight these days I do force-feed him which may seem cruel, I also use high calorie paste and also cat sure milk.
          I’ve tried people food, different can food different dry food, baby food…there’s nothing that is appealing to him it seems anymore. I am literally at the end of my rope. :-(

          Reply
          • tambolin says:

            My cat had chronic sinus infections. Turned out she had a polyp in her sinus cavity that did not allow her sinus to drain consequently becoming infected. She always had green stuff coming out of her nose, and sometimes her eyes. Know it’s been several months since you posted your message, however I just came across this site and found this. Hoping things have cleared up for your baby, but if not, mention this to your vet. After the polyp was removed, which was 3 years ago, she has not had any sinus infections.

            Reply
        • Angie says:

          Hi,… I hope your kitty does better than mine, but when mine stopped eating we did ALL the test we could… Thousands of $$$ worth. They never found anything wrong. It became apparent eventually that he had some sort of cancer in his abdomen and the vet that came to our home to put him down verified our suspicion. When he was sick, he typically liked only Sheba brand chicken pate food rotated with Luv Sum flaked tuna. Prayers for your baby’s health!

          Reply
    • Jenny says:

      My cat is refusing his regular soft food that I’ve been giving him. He used to go crazy for it and preferred it over the dry food. Now he is only willing to eat dry food. What should I do?

      Reply
      • Paul Yacobellis says:

        My cat Tommy is doing the same thing. He used to gobble up the wet food. Now, he only seems to want to eat the dry food. I’ve always fed him(he’s 5) wet food once a day….along with the dry food. But I’m getting tired of throwing the leftover wet food away…..so I’m just going to stick with the dry for awhile. I’ve read that if your cat drinks plenty of water….and Tommy does….that a dry food diet is ok….:~)

        Reply
    • Dilhani Perera says:

      I have a white colour beautiful 7-month old that has not eaten his meals including (Fish, milk). He has an appetite to eat his favourite food, Fish. But, in every time he is eating head part of the fish. I love him very much. What should I do this situation?

      Thank You

      Reply
    • Becky Moore says:

      I have a beautiful 10 month old long hair that has not eaten her last two meals. nor even her favorite treats. Tried cooked chicken . . . nothing. Her nose is damp and cool. She does not want to play. It has been like this all day. She threw up three times. Not to much but enough to give me concern. My mom says kitties get tummy aches like humans and it will pass. So should I make an appointment for her anyway? I love her dearly. What should I do?
      Becky Moore

      Reply
      • Alicia says:

        That happened with my cat two different times earlier this year. It turns out he has irritable bowel disease, which he is now taking medication for but the second time he had a bladder infection that required antibiotics. Always see your vet if your cat stops eating or drinking, it could be something really serious!

        Reply
    • Girish Marley says:

      Its been like 4 days I adopted a kitten from street because it was so lean. I offered roasted chicken but it refuses to eat. It eats nothing even milk doesn’t go its way. I’m kind of worried about her pls sort out my problem…

      Reply
      • belvoir admin says:

        Hi Girish — We would recommend seeing a vet ASAP. Good luck and hope your kitty finds something she likes to eat.

        Reply
    • Cher V Mulvey says:

      My cat, Tilly, is three years old. She just had her annual physical and all of her labs and stool sample came back excellent. The vet said her teeth also looked great. However, she hasn’t eaten for several days at all, she won’t even accept a treat from me. She has thrown up,a,few times, a small frothy white substance. She is 1.5 lbs overweight so I initially wasn’t concerned. But now now I am frantic, any ideas.

      Reply
      • JP says:

        If your cat hasn’t eaten for several days at all, she is at a very high risk of developing hepatic lipidosis, a life threatening liver disease. You should take her to the vet immediately as this is considered an emergency.

        Reply
    • Jimmy says:

      I have a 10 year old Manx who recently was dx’d with feline HyperThyroidism. She has been happily chowing down FancyFeast grilled anything for years, with a serving of raw chicken once a day.(frozen to remove bacteria, then thawed)
      She suddenly lost all appetite, and some weight, and since she’s normally a little over 6lbs, this was a big problem.
      Expensive labs later, she’s getting methizole twice daily, but is now defines “Cat Food” as raw ground beef, freshly raw chicken, or ground lamb. (I am eating the Lions Share, but she gets her share, too.
      Ok, that’s nice , for her, but even with Mirtazipine dosing every 2nd day, she’s not eating enough to regain the weight she’s lost.
      She’ll be getting the radioactive iodine thyroid treatment in about a month, but I need to fatten her up somehow, before she goes in for the 4 day treatment and quarantine (radioactive cats).
      Ive tried giving her butter, chicken fat and even those dreadful Temptations treats, but it’s difficult to get her to maintain a good appetite despite my efforts.
      I know she will likely go back to her regular diet and tastes once her thyroid is sorted out, so giving her food that may not be ideal, but that she’ll eat is no problem.
      Oh, and of course she’ll eat fresh raw halibut, swordfish, or salmon, but she’s like some gourmand now!

      Reply
      • Scarrzz says:

        I’ve been told that ground beef is far too fatty to be healthy. Your cat, your rules, but you may want to research this a bit. Good luck.

        Reply
    • Anna says:

      Hi I need advice. My cat eats only friskies pellets and friskies roasts now they discontinued the roast range.
      She refuses to eat the beef and chicken flavour where she had lamb salm beef and chicken.
      Now we,could only get chicken and beef. Some days she eats it other days she refuse to eat.
      We,tryed whiskers but she refuse to eat it.
      She eat some pellets but she is losing weight and im concerned about her.
      Please could you give me advice pls.

      annapretorius4@gmail.com

      Reply
      • Faith says:

        Did you follow some of the advice in this article? Do you feed your cat wet food? My cat is having a problem now because she’s had surgery and she was diagnosed with cancer. She’s not been eating much for the last few days… So I added bonito flakes to some fish type wet food, which I had warmed up in the microwave a tiny bit. She ate that!
        I’ve left out two with three different types of foods ( wet and dry) in shallow
        bowls, And during the night she see in a bit of that.
        I hope some of this helps you and your cat!

        Reply
        • Vanessa says:

          Faith,

          Thank you for sharing I am having the same issue my girl (15 yrs) she had her teeth cleaned, a tooth extracted and part of an ulcer found underneath her tongue cut to send for a biopsy and she has not been eating much at all since this past Saturday. I only imagine that she is still in pain but i am going to look into adding the Bonito Flakes into her food to see if that will help get her eating.

          Thank you!

          Reply

    Comment navigation

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Get Catster in Your Inbox!

Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.