As the cat weakens he may have low or no control over his urinary tract and bowels so you may notice accidents around the house. When a cat stops eating it is usually sick or injured.

Cat Not Eating Causes And Treatments

When a cat no longer eats food its body processes fat reserves to stay alive.

Older cat not eating. Both of these factors make them more suited to eating smaller meals more often. If your older cat is not eating much has unusual sleeping habits or shows other behavioral changes it can be difficult to determine whether this is a normal part of the feline aging process or a sign of a more serious problem. Loss of appetite in cats also known as anorexia can be a sign of a serious underlying disease.

Some cats may not poop every day but should be having regular bowel movements. A cat might stop eating for any number of reasons varying from pain or discomfort learn. Hairballs can cause an intestinal blockage that may be hard to see on an x-ray.

This can give your cat an unkempt or scruffy appearance. It is also connected to many feline illnesses most of which list inappetence as a symptom. However older cats not eating or eating well but losing weight can be worrying.

If he has not urinated in 36 hours that is a major problem. If your cat isnt feeling well it may stop eating because theres something stuck in its stomach or intestines. Most cats are pretty good are regulating their own consumption so dont be surprised if your senior cats starts to eat a little less than he used to.

If your adult cat has had a poor appetite or simply wont eat for more than two days take your cat to your veterinarian to find out the cause. The cat may lose interest in food and water because she feels nauseated lolling of the head above the water bowl is a classic sign of kidney failure it seems that cats with the syndrome feel. The Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine surveyed 77 cats with hepatic lipidosis finding that older cats are most at risk.

If your cat eats canned food you can try a different flavor or try lightly warming the food before serving. The list of potential causes for cats not eating is long and diverse and includes kidney disease cat flu diabetes fever hyperthyroidism and pancreatitis. I want to add something else I havent noticed mentioned specifically though.

If your cat stops eating all of a sudden however it may be cause for concern. If your cat still wont eat take the food away and provide fresh food later in the day. Hello so sorry to hear about your cat.

Regardless of the reason its a major concern if your cat stops eating. Or your cat might not like the food youre offering. A cat who is no longer eating or drinking will have lower output and darker urine.

When cats get older its normal for their appetite and eating habits to change with time. If the is not eating or drinking he may also be dehydrated. Reasons Senior Cats Not Eating.

Reasons Why Your Cat Wont Eat Its important to know that your cat is not not-eating simply to be difficult or because theyre just picky. If the food is left to harden and become stale your cat may learn to avoid it in the future. Some cats lose interest in the food they once loved while others want to eat less often than when they were younger.

Keep your cats dishes and bowlsclean 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. Here are some possible reasons why your cat is not eating. Particularly in older cats this is a more common condition.

Dental problems pain and internal obstructions may also result in your cat refusing to eat. Your Cat May Be Ill As in kittens upper respiratory infections can cause loss of appetite in adult cats. Kidney diseases will usually cause your cat nausea and perhaps even vomiting.

As your cat gets older his metabolism is going to slow down and he wont need as many calories each day. 16 is elderly for a cat so as everyone else who has answered has noted this calls for a vet visit pronto. Help with gentle grooming if your cat will let you.

If you notice that your cat is eating less food than usual or not eating at all some tricks can be tried at home before scheduling a doctors appointment. Only a veterinarian can diagnose kidney disease. 5 See if the cat has an odor.

Older cats are usually less physically active which reduces their needdrive to eat large meals reduced metabolic needs and are more stiffless mobile arthritic so may choose not to get up to eat. Your cats lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem thats causing pain or discomfort. Certain kidney diseases could be the underlying cause for your cat not eating.

Your cats liver will struggle to process this fat efficiently. Unfortunately a cats body is not engineered for this purpose. Older cats may have a hard time grooming themselves and paired with a declining appetite may lose weight or become dehydrated.

Some Tricks to Get a Cat to Eat. How to tell if your cat is in pain to the type of bowl youre feeding them with or where its placed. Consider some of these common questions and concerns that come with owning and elderly cat.