It’s common for cat parents (especially those of us with multiple cats) to put down their food and walk away, not really paying attention to whether they eat or not. But if we do pay attention to their eating habits, it can really help us to know if something is off and catch what could turn into a major issue early on.

We say this all the time because it matters: Cats are not small dogs. Many dog parents will regularly fast their dogs to help with digestion issues. Short 8–12-hour fasts can also be helpful for some cats with digestive issues, but if your cat doesn’t eat for 24 to 48 hours, their body can start to use fat that is stored for energy, and this can result in liver malfunction – or hepatic lipidosis. Cats are also known to starve themselves if they don’t like the food or aren’t feeling well.

So, by monitoring when they eat and how much, we can get them the help they need before it becomes dangerous.

 

Reasons cats may stop eating

 

There are several reasons a cat may stop eating. A few are:

• Sickness: If a cat isn’t feeling well, they may refuse to eat, just like when we feel bad
• Food: Cats can be extremely picky with textures and flavors. We always want to feed the healthiest diets, but we also need to make sure they aren’t skipping too many meals.
• Scent: If your cat has a respiratory illness or something causing them to be unable to smell, they often will walk away from their meals – because they can’t smell the food.
• Stress: Cats will instinctively stop eating sometimes if they are feeling anxiety. This is because mealtimes are a vulnerable time for them.
• Dental Issues: When our teeth hurt, we prefer to skip a meal than deal with the pain. Our cats will do this as well.

If we monitor their eating habits, we can try to figure out what is bothering them if they stop eating.

 

Ways to monitor your cat’s eating habits

 

We talk all the time about feeding a moisture-rich, complete and balanced diet. Fresh foods, raw and gently cooked, are very important for our little tigers. However, when switching the diet, it’s very important to make sure they are eating something at at mealtime.

Patience is key with this transition. You can find a guide here on how to make this switch safely.

Cats thrive on schedules. Creating a mealtime routine is very important for keeping them happy.

Work it around your schedule. If that means feeding at 4 a.m. and using a timed feeder for late morning and afternoon meals, then a meal before bed that’s awesome! Just find a meal schedule that works with your schedule!

Poor eating can be a sign of dental issues, disease, illness, stress, or they just might need different food. By monitoring your cat’s eating habits, we can catch these problems early on and find a solution. Sometimes the smallest changes tell us the biggest things!

 

 

 

Recommended Appetite Stimulant for Cats