Causes of poor appetite in cats: why it has disappeared, how to increase it, what to do at home?

If your cat stops eating all of a sudden, that can be concerning. Though finicky eaters by nature, cats may be warning signs of a more serious issue if they consistently refuse food. The first step to making your pet feel better is to identify the potential causes of this behavior.

Cats may lose their appetite for a variety of reasons, from more serious medical conditions to dental problems and stress. Early detection of the symptoms helps avoid problems and maintain your cat’s health.

Thankfully, there are a few things you can do at home to help get your cat to start eating again. Your pet may benefit greatly from minor adjustments to their routine, diet, and surroundings in order to get back on track.

Cause	What to Do
Stress or anxiety	Provide a quiet, comfortable space and stick to a routine
Change in diet	Gradually introduce new food and mix it with familiar options
Health issues	Consult a vet to rule out any medical conditions
Dental problems	Check teeth and gums, visit a vet for treatment
Old food or dislike of taste	Try offering fresh food or different flavors
Lack of activity	Encourage play and exercise to stimulate appetite

There are a number of reasons why cats may become less hungry, from routine changes and stress to underlying medical conditions like stomach discomfort or dental problems. Restoring your cat’s appetite requires that you identify the underlying cause. Simple techniques like providing more appealing meals, making sure the dining area is peaceful, and keeping an eye out for any changes in behavior or health can all be tried at home. Seeing a veterinarian is essential to rule out serious conditions and receive professional advice if the problem continues.

What is appetite, how it is formed and what it depends on?

This phrase describes both the sensation of hunger and the physiological process that controls how much food the body takes in. The activity of the food center, which primarily consists of regions in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex, is intimately linked to appetite. The information that enters the food center about nutritional conditions, food intake and assimilation, and consumption of food reserves determines this. It also stops the body from depleting its reserves rather than allowing it to happen.

Its appearance is influenced by a variety of external stimuli that are linked to conditioned reflex activity, such as the type and smell of food, a familiar environment, and the state of fat reserves. It is also influenced by the blood’s concentration of intermediate metabolism products, the degree to which cells absorb them, the fluid content of tissues, the contractile activity of an empty stomach, and a drop in body temperature. Eating, stretching the stomach walls with it, absorbing and assimilating its splitting products, and hormonal background changes all contribute to appetite inhibition.

Why does the cat have a desire to have?

In a kitten or adult animal, a decrease in appetite is not always a sign of internal issues. A partial loss of interest in food can be caused by physiological factors that do not require medical intervention. In certain situations, this issue can be resolved quickly by simply examining the pet’s behavior; in other cases, however, the issue needs to be resolved on its own because it is brought on by a cat’s body’s natural processes.

Also see: Why do cats smell so much, and will they continue to smell that way if they are castrated?

Reaction to external conditions or stress

Both adult cats and kittens have a malleable psyche. Anything can cause them to lose their mental equilibrium, such as an automobile ride, a trip to the vet, the arrival of a new pet or child in the home, moving to a new room, family fights and screams, etc. D. Most animals experience a decrease in appetite when under stress.

Cats do not eat well in the heat, just like people do. When it’s hot outside, the owner of a pet with four legs must make sure the animal drinks enough water.

Change in nutritional conditions (place, type of feed and its consistency, etc. D.)

It is crucial for members of the feline family to maintain stability. They object to the movement of bowls containing food and water or the substitution of one type of food for another. Certain animals react to changes in such a way that it causes them to lose their appetite. The following could be the cause of your pet’s poor eating habits:

• New location of the feeder. It is important that the bowl is not in the passage where the inhabitants of the house are constantly scurrying about, preventing the cat from eating in peace. When rearranging it, you also need to make sure that it is convenient for the cat to get food from it.
• New food. This can happen if a new dish was introduced into the diet of a four-legged pet, which for some reason did not interest him, or the prepared food was replaced with another one that differs from the previous one in taste, smell, appearance or consistency.

• The smell coming from the food bowl. Cats are clean creatures, so if you rarely clean the food container, don"t be surprised that your pet is reluctant to approach it.
• Rancid, spoiled or soggy food. Pour only as much dry granules into the bowl as the cat can eat at once. Otherwise, contact with oxygen will negatively affect their taste and smell, and accidental contact with liquid from a nearby water container will affect their consistency.

Decreased need for food due to age or physiological condition

The likelihood is that the cat is pregnant if it has lost its appetite, slept longer than usual, become calmer and more affectionate, vomits in the morning, and frequently uses the restroom. The aging process that comes with being four-legged is another factor in the pet’s decline in appetite. This is a common occurrence for older animals, so there’s no need to be concerned.

The taste and aroma of food loses its appeal to cats as they get older. Moreover, the inherent body restructuring of four-legged "retirees" impedes their ability to properly digest food. As members of this family get older, they become less mobile and therefore require less energy, which comes from food. There’s no need to worry if a tail-tailed pet, who has passed the 11–12-year mark, eats little and doesn’t appear tired overall.

See also: Prognosis, treatment options for hereditary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats, and symptoms of the condition

Pathological causes of deterioration of appetite and their symptoms

Pathological factors may arise in addition to natural causes of a decrease in the pet’s food requirement. They need to be treated right away because they could endanger the animal’s health. Ignoring them can have detrimental effects, such as causing a four-legged friend to pass away. While it is unlikely that you will be able to determine the precise cause of the cat’s declining appetite on your own, it will still be useful to know who the "suspects" are.

Infectious disease (viral, bacterial, parasitic)

A kitten or adult pet’s lack of appetite may be brought on by an infectious disease, with the following pathogens:

• Viruses (rabies, Aueesi disease, cat plague, cat immunodeficiency, calicivirus and coronavirus infection, herpes, etc.);
• bacteria (yersiniosis, pseudotuberculosis, colibacteriosis, salmonellosis, etc. D.);
• parasites (flea dermatitis, acariasis, helminthic invasion).

A decline in appetite is a common symptom of these diseases, though they present in different ways. In addition to diseased animals, carriers of pathogens that secrete them through excrement, urine, discharge from the nose, eyes, abscess contents, etc., are also a source of pathogenic agents. D. When healthy and sick pets are housed together, the virus can spread through their personal belongings, aerosols, and direct contact with an infected animal or carrier.

Animals kept in close quarters, disregard for cleanliness, pets’ propensity to roam, stress, poor diet, and hypothermia all contribute to the spread of illness. Viral diseases require labor-intensive and sometimes ineffective treatment, whereas parasitic infections can be handled rather quickly. Certain infectious diseases, like rabies, have no known cure.

Obstruction of the digestive system

An obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract may be the cause of this issue because of:

• Ingress of foreign bodies. When a four-legged pet swallows a small part of a child"s toy, Christmas tree tinsel or any other object it finds, its stomach swells and hurts, it has problems with stool, it becomes lethargic, moves little, and vomits. To ensure that a foreign body leaves the cat"s body on its own, you cannot give it Vaseline, otherwise it will injure the intestines when moving. The only reasonable solution in this situation is to show the cat to the vet.
• Obstruction of the intestinal lumen by tumors (benign or malignant).
• Obstruction of the stomach by hair that got into it while licking. There are many veterinary drugs (Malt paste, Stop problema) that will help cope with this problem. However, they can only be used after consulting a veterinarian.

See also: Cat diarrhea: causes and remedies; how can I take care of my pet at home if it has loose stools?

Internal diseases not associated with infection

Pets with the non-infectious diseases listed below may experience a decline in appetite:

• severe kidney and liver dysfunction;
• diabetes mellitus;
• inflammation of the pancreas;
• malignant neoplasms;
• diseases of the genitourinary system;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• neurological disorders;
• calculi in the urinary system.

These pathologies are too severe for you to attempt treating at home. This can only be carried out following a veterinarian’s diagnosis.

Oral diseases

The following signs point to dental conditions in cats, in addition to loss of appetite (tartar, periodontitis, stomatitis, caries):

• halitosis (bad breath);
• inflammation and redness of the gums;
• hypersalivation (increased salivation);
• mouth ulcers;
• yellowing of the teeth;
• lethargy and apathy or, on the contrary, excessive anxiety;
• plaintive meowing;
• sleep problems.

Making the switch to soft food for your four-legged friend is the first step towards improving its condition. Next, in order to determine the cause of the dental disease and create a treatment plan, you must present it to a veterinarian.

Consequences of taking medications, incl. . anesthetics and general anesthesia

When cats wake up from anesthesia, they typically won’t eat. This condition shouldn’t be cause for concern as it can last anywhere from five to six hours to two days. The pet’s appetite will naturally return after the anesthetic wears off.

Cats’ bodies respond to anesthetics similarly to a drug. The animal passes out when they are administered, sparing its brain from having to combat this alien material, which it believes to be poison. As one emerges from anesthesia, the body experiences symptoms similar to poisoning, including emesis, dyspepsia, impaired movement coordination, hypothermia, and foaming of the mouth.

It is best in this case for there to be no appetite loss because there is no risk of choking on food. All that is needed of the cat’s owner is continuous supervision to prevent the four-legged companion from choking on vomit.

Keep a close eye on your cat’s behavior if their appetite has decreased. Changes in the surroundings, stress, or even boredom can occasionally be the reason. Modest changes, such as adding fresh menu items or designing a relaxing dining area, can have a significant impact.

On the other hand, if your cat continues to show signs of illness or lack of appetite, there might be a serious health problem. To rule out any medical issues in these situations and make sure your cat is receiving the right care, it is imperative that you speak with a veterinarian.

If your cat typically eats dry kibble, try warming up some wet food for them to try when they are eating at home. To encourage the development of a routine, always have fresh water on hand and feed your pet at regular intervals.

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