Reasons for Your Cat Not Eating That Keep You from Running to the Vet
Most felines are notoriously pegged as picky eaters, but your cat not eating much can be the result of many other things than a food snob. For new cat owners in particular, this occurrence can be very scary and intimidating. Yet, the first thing you have to realize is that the majority of cats do not automatically race to their food bowl once it is filled like a dog might do. It may take some time for your cat to decide that he or she is hungry and then even more time to peck at the food bits to look like they have eaten a sufficient amount to your eyes. New cat additions to your home and family actually
have quite a bit of stress put on them. They are nervous and a bit scared while they are still seeking their comfort levels in their new house, meaning that they lose their appetite just like their human counterparts when a bit emotionally overwhelmed.
If your established cat not eating much has you worried, there are other possible causes.
If you know the reasons for cats not eating much in your home does not involve the stress of being a new cat in a new environment, there are still plenty of other explanations that do not require a need to fret about your fuzzy companion. Stress can still be a leading factor of your kitty’s loss of appetite though. If you have recently had many uncommon visitors going in and out of your house, if you have made many changes around your house like new furniture or completely relocating your existing furniture, or if you are extremely stressed yourself to the point where your feline best friend can sense your discomfort to the point of smelling you release more stress hormones than normal, your cat can feel comfortable or personally stressed out enough to not eat much or not eat at all. Perhaps your cat not eating enough is simply a matter of their actual food sources and feelings toward what they are getting for nibbles.
For those who can rule out stress if they have a cat not eating, looking into what your elegant best friend has for food is easily the next best place to search for reasons. Many people have habits of turning their noses up at perfectly healthy and suitable plates of food, and cats are no different—even if they have been frequently eating the current food you picked out for them without question. Humans call this a “taste change” when it happens out of the blue, but your cat not eating might be resulting from this issue too. You might want to try offering a new snack or special treat to goad your kitty into returning to their regular food source. If you have recently switched to a new type of food, your cat might also be experiencing a loss of appetite from indignation that you would make them eat something different. The main tip for your cat not eating due to a food change is to include roughly 80% of their original food with 20% of the new flavor, brand, or overall food type (dry to wet and vice versa) then slowly over the span of a week or two reduce the percentage of the old food while you increase the portion of new food. This action will keep your cat eating the food with frequency instead of startling your cat into a not eating phase.
Outdoor felines have their own special reasons for cats not eating.
An outside cat not eating the food you supply might have more reasons than an indoor cat that does not eat. Being consistently outside during the day or night allows for a different lifestyle that can lead you to think that your cat is experiencing a loss of appetite. Outdoor cats frequently encounter other outdoor cats in their roaming travels, and occasionally these meeting can take a turn for the worse. If your cat was injured during a small argument, he or she might not want to eat for a day or so until the wound is healed or the pain becomes less. Also, if your cat lives outside during a good portion of the day, they might be getting access to other food sources from animal prey or maybe some thrown out human food which makes them not want to eat what you are offering at home. Either way, your cat not eating if he or she is outside a lot does not mean that you have to freak out.
Still, seeing a full bowl of food after it has been sitting there untouched for hours can be rather scary for any pet owner, whether you love cats or not. If the problem persists and you have crossed off all other possible explanations, you really might benefit from taking your snuggle buddy to the veterinarian for a quick check to see if your cat not eating is related to a health problem.