Thursday, July 25, 2019 | Nutrition
Is your cat hard to please at the food bowl? Does your feline sniff at food with disinterest, then turn his or her nose in the air and walk away? Do you grovel every night, offering up various delicacies in hopes of finally pleasing your cat’s discriminating taste buds?
You, my friend, have a finicky cat.
Cats generally can’t go too long without eating. After a few days of a hunger strike, cats can develop hepatic lipidosis, also known as fatty liver disease. This serious condition can make them even less interested in food, leading to liver dysfunction, a yellowing of the eyes, skin and tissues in the mouth, and even death.
If your cat hasn’t eaten in over 24 hours, contact your veterinarian for advice. Other medical issues such as dental or kidney disease may cause your cat to avoid the food bowl. Sometimes, treating the underlying medical disease can help your cat’s appetite return to normal. Depending on your cat’s condition, your veterinarian may recommend medications that either prevent pain, reduce nausea or stimulate the appetite to help get your cat eating again.
In some cases, the problem may be that you’re offering your cat too much of a smorgasbord: from different flavors to different types of food (dry, canned, semi-moist) or even different textures. Some cats simply become overwhelmed. The answer may be to find one food your cat likes and stick with it.
But there can be a multitude of other reasons why your cat isn’t eating, many of which may have nothing to do with the food itself.
If your cat doesn’t have an underlying medical problem, consider trying one of the following:
If your cat is gagging or appears nauseated, avoid force-feeding your feline, because that may result in a food aversion. Often, cats may continue to refuse food after the nausea has passed because they associate the food with a negative experience. In extreme cases, your veterinarian may recommend a feeding tube so your cat still receives proper nutrition without the stress.
By working with your veterinarian, you can help make sure your cat receives the nutrition he or she needs, treat underlying medical problems that may be hindering the appetite, and hopefully, help your cat fall in love with the food bowl all over again.
The information in this blog has been developed with our veterinarian and is designed to help educate pet parents. If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health or nutrition, please talk with your veterinarian.