What to do if your cat is losing appetite and not eating

Cat appetite loss is a serious matter that requires immediate attention. It's essential to identify the cause of the loss and address it accordingly. Long-term loss of appetite can cause significant harm to your cat, leading to lethargy, weight loss, fatty liver, and even threaten its life. If your cat has other abnormal symptoms besides loss of appetite, it's recommended to take it to a pet hospital for testing and treatment. Missing the best treatment time can be detrimental.

There are three main causes of cat appetite loss: physiological, disease-related, and food-related. Here are the corresponding treatments:

Physiological loss of appetite

Cats often experience physiological loss of appetite during puberty, teething, and pregnancy. If this is the case, there's no need for excessive worry. Simply increase your cat's nutrition, feed it regularly and consistently, switch to cat food with better palatability, and add probiotics to improve digestion. With proper care, your cat's loss of appetite will disappear over time.

Disease-related loss of appetite

If your cat refuses to eat due to a health condition, seek medical attention promptly. For instance, severe tooth tartar can cause picky eating. Mild cases can be prevented with regular mouthwash and dental gel, while severe cases may require dental cleaning and extraction surgery. Other conditions like intestinal parasite infections, gut dysbiosis, and gastrointestinal ulcers also require diagnosis and targeted treatment.

Food-related loss of appetite

Feeding your cat a single type of food for an extended period can lead to picky eating or even appetite loss. To address this, try offering your cat favorite foods like chicken breast or cat treats, and observe whether it shows an interest in eating.

By addressing the underlying causes promptly and providing appropriate care, you can help your cat regain its appetite and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.