What to do if your cat stops eating and drinking

Your cat stopping eating and drinking could be due to various reasons such as picky eating, illness, dental issues, hairballs, feline distemper, stress, etc. If your cat newly arrived at your home refuses to eat or drink, don't worry too much. This is because cats tend to be scared and cautious in new environments, not daring to eat or drink. Generally, after a period of adaptation, they will resume normal eating habits. If your cat suddenly stops eating and drinking, it could be due to picky eating, illness, dental issues, hairballs, feline distemper, or other factors. In this case, it's best to take your cat to the vet for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

Picky Eating

If the cat's usual diet is not properly managed or the cat doesn't like the taste of the food, it may develop picky eating and refuse to eat or drink. Therefore, cat owners should help their pets develop good eating habits. It is recommended to feed the cat mainly with cat food. You can also feed them with some chicken liver, cat cans, etc., but avoid overfeeding. You can also use treats as rewards, which is a good choice.

Illness

In addition to picky eating, illness can also cause a cat to stop eating and drinking. When a cat is ill, it becomes very lethargic and may even hide to avoid eating and drinking. This is a natural response of cats. So, when this happens, the owner should carefully check the cat's mouth for wounds. If there are any, it's best to take the cat to the vet for treatment.

Dental Issues

If a cat has stomatitis or oral inflammation, eating will be painful, leading to a refusal to eat or drink. If you notice that your cat's mouth smells bad and saliva is flowing out, you should take it to the vet to check if it has stomatitis.

Hairballs

Hairballs can also cause a cat to lose its appetite and stop eating and drinking. In severe cases, they can even cause digestive blockage, requiring surgery. Therefore, owners should treat hairballs in cats early on before they become severe. You can feed your cat hairball gel to help it pass the hairballs.

Feline Distemper

Feline distemper can also cause cats to stop eating and drinking. In addition to refusing to eat or drink, it can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Because cats are highly contagious and have a high mortality rate, it's best to take your cat to the vet for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible to avoid potential life-threatening risks.

Stress

Cats may experience stress when they arrive in a new environment or suddenly encounter a scare, which can lead to a decrease in appetite. In this case, you don't need to worry too much. Just place the food and water in a more concealed location and avoid disturbing the cat. Once the cat feels safe, it will come out to eat on its own. You can also spend more time with your cat to help it adapt to the new environment.

Note: Due to the physiological structure of cats, if they don't eat any food for more than three days, their internal organs may be damaged, leading to severe internal diseases such as acute hepatitis. Therefore, it's essential to feed your cat regularly and proportionally in daily life to reduce the risk of disease.