Alarm signals: why a cat does not eat or drink for several days

It’s normal to become worried when a cat refuses to eat or drink. Although cats are known to be independent animals, it can be a serious indication that something is wrong if they stop eating or drinking. Cats are good at hiding their discomfort, so it’s critical to notice any behavioral changes, particularly in relation to eating patterns.

A cat may stop eating or drinking for a variety of reasons, from stress to underlying medical conditions. Certain causes might not be harmful, but if ignored, others might be harmful. The timing of your actions can have a significant impact on your pet’s wellbeing.

Look into the matter if you see that your cat hasn’t touched its food or water in more than a day. Taking prompt action can help save more serious issues and restore your pet’s playful, normal self.

Why a cat does not eat or drink for several days

For several reasons, a pet may refuse food and water. The most frequent cause is ill health. Stress, which is linked to abrupt changes in circumstances, repairs, boisterous gatherings, etc., may cause this. d. The body may respond in this way in cats because they are highly sensitive to changes.

Sometimes the issue is brought on by bland food. In the event of an abrupt diet change, the pet might not respond well to it. particularly if the meal is inexpensive and of low quality. In this instance, the issue is easily resolved: you just need to go back to your regular diet.

When a cat is under stress, it might skip several days without eating or drinking.

Kittens with gastrointestinal issues may refuse food and drink. Due to their weakened immune systems, small pets are susceptible to digestive disorders, which can cause poor appetite and loose stools. Subcutaneous mites, fleas, and other parasitic infections are additional factors.

Take note! The fur and skin of the pet should normally be clean, so you should check those first if it refuses to eat or drink. The cat’s nose is what you then need to focus on. The temperature is within normal ranges if it is wet.

When the inflammatory process intensifies, an ill animal may refuse food and drink as their body battles the illness. Such a food fast usually lasts no more than a few days. Furthermore, the animal’s body temperature might rise. Once the fever goes down, hunger returns quickly. In this instance, it’s critical to identify the illness that triggered the onset of symptoms.

Often lethargic and refusing food and water, a sick cat

An elderly cat’s decreased appetite could be brought on by inflammatory urinary tract diseases. The animal gradually begins to accumulate salt crystals in its urine (this is linked to a high sodium content in dry food), which can lead to the formation of stones that obstruct the urinary tract. An additional factor is gum inflammation because old pets frequently have teeth that break and fall out, which can lead to periodontitis, gingivitis, and other related conditions.

Gum diseases that cause inflammation are common in older cats.

Poisoning is one of the most common causes of appetite loss and refusal to drink water. Any age can be affected by this. A cat can become poisoned by eating stale food, insects, poisonous plants, or something they lick off the floor. Frequent symptoms of intoxication include vomiting, fever, loose stools, and a refusal to eat or drink.

An object lodged in the throat of the pet could be another reason for its sudden lack of appetite. In this instance, the animal acts strangely, runs away, becomes ill, and the cat may even wheeze in an attempt to force the object out.

What diseases can cause

Cats suffering from the following illnesses may experience appetite loss and water refusal:

• malignant tumors – can be asymptomatic for a long time, most often affect old animals, which then begin to rapidly lose weight and prefer a sedentary lifestyle;
• renal failure – can occur in a pet at any age, while the cat rarely goes to the toilet, urine is excreted in small quantities;
• helminthic invasions – are a common cause of loss of appetite in an animal at any age, in addition, symptoms such as stool disorders, weight loss, hair loss, vomiting, etc. are often present. d.;
• fungal diseases – accompanied by a deterioration in appetite, refusal to drink water, hair loss, skin rashes, itching and a general unsatisfactory condition, in which the cat refrains from active games;
• intestinal obstruction – can be a consequence of hairballs getting stuck, helminthic invasion, while the pet does not go to the toilet, tries to hide.

A decline in appetite can be brought on by fungal infections in cats.

During estrus, which is linked to hormonal changes in the body, cats may refuse food and water. Usually, a few days are enough to regain appetite.

A friend"s cat suddenly lost his appetite, he drank very little. At first she thought that it was somehow connected with the intense heat. Then the cat began to hide and lost a lot of weight. When I came to visit her and called the pet, he came out of hiding. He was terribly thin, he could barely sit. Suddenly I discovered a sore on his withers and a lack of fur in that place. I advised him to immediately contact a veterinarian, as I suspected the presence of a tick. I recommend carefully examining your pets if their appetite worsens and they refuse to drink water. Provoking factors are not always as harmless as they may seem at first glance. Now the cat has almost completely recovered, but long-term therapy is still required.

Reasons for refusing food – video

When you can"t postpone a visit to the doctor

There is a serious risk of dehydration, so you should see a doctor right away if the cat’s appetite does not return in three days and it refuses to drink. It’s also critical that the animal see a specialist if it exhibits any of the following signs:

• vomiting;
• hair loss;
• rash;
• loose stools;
• high temperature;
• weakness.

Take note! Pet owners should be concerned if their animal constantly hides and shies away from people. This could point to a serious pathological condition within the body.

If your cat hasn’t eaten or had any liquids in several days, there may be a serious problem. Since cats are typically adept at concealing sickness, this behavior could indicate anything from digestive problems or tooth pain to stress or even a more serious underlying illness. It’s critical to take immediate action because dehydration and other health issues can result from going too long without food or water. The best way to find out what’s going on and make sure your cat gets the care it needs is to speak with a veterinarian as soon as possible.

How and what to help the animal

The first thing to do is take the cat to the veterinarian if it refuses food or water. You must either take your pet to the clinic or make a house call to a doctor because it is not possible to diagnose your pet at home.

It is imperative to give the cat peace of mind if visiting the vet within the next 24 hours is not feasible. To accomplish this, make sure your bedding is clean and neither too soft nor too hard. You shouldn’t force an animal out of its shelter if it is hiding. Simply place a bowl of food and clean water close by.

The animal should always have access to bowls of food and water.

Never attempt to give your pet medication without first obtaining medical advice. If not, all you can do is cause harm and potentially fatal outcomes.

Once the etiologist has established the cause, you should heed the expert’s advice and administer medication in accordance with the prescribed dosages. You cannot hurt the animal, so you should do this quietly. The cat should be stroked and a calm voice should be used before administering the medication. In this manner, the pet will heal more quickly, resist less, and be able to handle the treatment better.

1. If stress is the cause, then the cat should be left alone for a while. It is advisable to call her to eat in an affectionate tone. A calm and quiet environment, the absence of extraneous noise and periodic stroking will help to recover from stress.
2. If the pet does not like food, then you need to replace it as soon as possible. It is recommended to give preference to balanced food, and not cheap options containing a lot of harmful additives.
3. With the disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and poisoning, you can give the animal activated carbon (500 mg per 1 kg of weight). In this case, the tablet must be crushed and dissolved in 1 hour. l. water. Giving the medicine is most convenient with a syringe without a needle. It is enough to do this procedure once before going to the doctor.
4. Ticks and fleas are eliminated using special antiparasitic medicines. You should not use them yourself, first you need to consult a doctor. However, if in the near future there is no such possibility, and the animal has fleas or a tick has been found, you can buy a barce shampoo or celandine.
5. If the cause is helminthic invasions, then treatment is carried out with the help of anthelmintic drugs. The medication should be given only according to the scheme recommended by the doctor. Otherwise, larvae may remain, which will provoke a relapse.
6. To alleviate the condition of the animal with gum inflammation, you can use a solution of Miramistin or potassium permanganate. It is necessary to treat the gums with a cotton pad and the selected product. This should be done 2 times a day. You cannot press on problem areas.

Using a weak potassium permanganate solution, inflamed gums can be treated

What to do if the pet does not eat, does not drink and constantly sleeps

An alarming sign of major health issues is when an animal refuses to eat or drink and sleeps all the time. In incredibly rare instances, stress is linked to this, though. In this situation, the animal needs to be left alone and permitted to lie down. After a stressful event, inactivity poses no threat. It is risky to put off taking the animal to the doctor if it is lethargic or refuses to eat or drink for any other reason. If the condition is severe, the cat might not survive.

Here are some suggestions to keep you going until the doctor gets there:

1. Make sure there is fresh air in the room.
2. Do not disturb the pet. If there are other animals in the house, it is better to isolate them from contact with the sick cat for safety reasons.
3. Make sure that the water in the bowl is always clean.
4. If there is a special medicinal herb for cats in the house, which breeders often grow in pots, you can pick a little and put it next to the pet. If desired, the animal can be treated with such a safe remedy.

Take note! If the cat goes more than a day without drinking, this could have deadly consequences. Under these circumstances, water must be forced into the mouth gradually using a thin, needle-free syringe.

How to help a kitten

In the event that the kitten refuses to eat or drink, you must first consider the type of food being given. Special soft food is required for small pets. Food meant for adult animals cannot be given to kittens because their gastrointestinal systems are still very weak. If your pet consistently refuses to drink, it could be dangerous, so use a pipette to give them water. Water must be forced into your mouth once every hour. Small amounts of liquid should be given; one pipette at a time is sufficient.

Using a pipette to water the kitten can help avoid dehydration.

The kitten should also have a thorough examination performed to check for fleas, sores, and rashes. Special consideration needs to be given to the ears and withers. If everything is clean, the issue is probably with the internal organs’ ability to function, which can only be ascertained in a clinical setting.

Take note! In no circumstances should a sore discovered in the kitten’s withers area be cauterized using brilliant green or iodine. This could mean that lichen or ticks are nearby. In this situation, you must get the required testing done and keep kids and other animals away from the kitten until it fully recovers.

It’s obvious that something is wrong if your cat hasn’t eaten or drunk anything in several days. Since cats can usually hide their discomfort, if they refuse food or water, there may be a serious health problem. It’s crucial to keep an eye out for any additional changes in your pet’s routine or appearance and to not disregard this behavior.

If your cat exhibits a persistent lack of interest in eating or drinking, you should always see a veterinarian. Small problems can be diagnosed early on to avoid developing into more serious health issues. The veterinarian can assist in determining the cause and suggest the best course of action, whether it be stress, a disease, or something more serious.

Try to make your cat feel comfortable while it waits, and always encourage it to eat or drink. Little gestures like providing a favorite dish or making sure there’s a quiet area could be helpful. In the end, your cat’s health ultimately depends on prompt action and expert guidance when required.

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