Cat Not Eating

by Paul
(Wiltshire)

photography by AskTheCatDoctor

Paul wrote to me about his cat not eating. He writes, " Charlie, one of my three cats, is two years old and has been doctored. He is usually the first at feeding time.

He still turns up at feeding time asking for food, but this last week he won't touch his food.

He doesn't seem to have lost any weight. He seems happy as usual. His mouth inside looks fine - no abscess or swelling.

His stomach, kidneys,etc. feel ok with no swelling.

I'm baffled. I have looked after cats for many years & have never come across this."

Paul


Hi, Paul,

Your letter confuses me a bit. You write about examining his mouth and stomach and kidneys as though you are trained to know how to do that, but do not mention if you are a vet or vet technician. It is unusual for a cat owner to be able to thoroughly assess a cat from head to tail even if they have had cats all their life.

Many cats have come to me with no apparent outward abnormalities, but they are not eating. Sometimes upon physical exam, I find something wrong in the mouth, which requires a very thorough examination. Other times, they may be constipated or have eaten a foreign object or have a virus. There are so many things it can be.

Sometimes, absolutely no abnormalities are found upon physical exam, but when blood work is done, they turn out to have diabetes or kidney disease or leukemia or FIV infection or......so many possibilities.

Other times, nothing is found on physical exam. The blood work is normal. However, x-rays or ultrasound may reveal the cause.

Sometimes, all of the above is evaluated and nothing shows up as being abnormal. However, if the cat is not eating, there is something wrong. Also, cats that don't eat for even a couple of days are at risk of developing fatty liver syndrome which can be deadly.

Most of the time, something abnormal is found through these various diagnostic methods and treated. At the very least, fluids are given and appetite stimulant medication is administered.

I have to advise you to see a vet and pursue these diagnostic steps without waiting any longer. Charlie could already be dehydrated or could be developing fatty liver or could have something wrong, but treatable which just cannot be diagnosed without further diagnostic tools. I urge you to have him examined right away.

Good luck. Thank you for writing,
Dr. Neely