Cats stop eating for many reasons, from stress or a change in food to dental pain, nausea or an underlying illness. Because cats can develop a serious liver problem if they go without food, contact your veterinarian today if your cat has stopped eating. Other symptoms may mean they need emergency care.
Cats are good at hiding illness, so a change in appetite is worth taking seriously. If you’re searching “why is my cat not eating?”, you’re probably trying to decide whether to wait, book a visit or head to an emergency vet. Below, we cover the common causes, what it means when a cat is not eating but drinking water, when to worry if your cat won’t eat, and what you can safely try at home.
Go to an emergency vet now if your cat:
Hometown Veterinary Partners is not an emergency hospital. For these signs, go to your nearest emergency vet. |
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Why Cats Stop Eating: Common Causes
Causes range from the relatively minor to problems that need prompt veterinary attention.
Illness
Loss of appetite can be a sign that something isn’t right elsewhere in the body, such as kidney disease, diabetes, an infection, pancreatitis or liver disease. It’s often one of the first noticeable signs that a cat isn’t feeling well. Learn more about the other signs your cat may be sick.
Mouth or Dental Pain
A cat may want to eat but find it uncomfortable if they have dental disease, gum disease or another painful mouth problem. You may notice bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, chewing differently or dropping food. Regular cat dental care helps prevent many of these problems.
Nausea and Digestive Problems
Nausea, vomiting or other digestive problems, including constipation or a swallowed object such as string, can put a cat off food. If your cat is also vomiting or has diarrhea, contact your veterinarian and see our guide to vomiting in cats. If you suspect a swallowed object, call your vet immediately for guidance. Suspected poisoning, swallowed string or signs of a blockage need emergency care. See our guide to household items toxic to pets.
Stress or Changes at Home
Cats can be sensitive to changes in their surroundings. Moving to a new home, a new pet, visitors, loud noises or a change in routine can all affect appetite. But don’t assume stress is the cause if your cat keeps refusing food or develops other symptoms.
Food Issues
Cats can develop strong preferences and may refuse a new food or lose interest in one they’ve previously enjoyed. Food that has been left out too long, a dirty bowl, or a bowl near the litter box or in a busy part of the home can also put a cat off. Even so, don’t assume a sudden refusal to eat is simply fussiness.
After Surgery, Vaccination or Illness
Some cats eat less for a short time after surgery, a vaccination or an illness. Follow your vet’s feeding and recovery advice, and call if your cat stops eating, their appetite isn’t returning as expected or they seem unwell.
Older Age
Appetite can change with age, but a senior cat not eating should never be dismissed as “just getting older.” Older cats are more prone to dental disease, kidney disease and other conditions that affect appetite, and can become unwell faster, so call your vet promptly.
Why Not Eating Is Serious for Cats
Cats shouldn’t go without food for an extended period. Even eating much less than usual can become a serious concern.
When a cat eats very little or stops eating, their body begins to break down stored fat for energy. In cats, that fat can build up in the liver and cause hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, which can be life-threatening without treatment. The risk is higher in overweight cats, but any cat that stops eating needs prompt veterinary advice.
If your cat has stopped eating, call your veterinarian the same day to discuss how soon they need to be seen. Kittens, senior cats, overweight cats and cats with an existing health condition need especially prompt advice. Don’t wait for other symptoms to appear.
Cat Not Eating but Drinking Water
It’s natural to feel reassured if your cat is still drinking, but it doesn’t rule out illness.
Most importantly, the liver risk described above comes from not getting enough food, so drinking water doesn’t remove that risk. Contact your vet the same day if your cat has stopped eating, even if they’re still drinking.
Also note how much your cat is drinking. Drinking noticeably more than usual alongside a poor appetite can point to kidney disease or diabetes, so mention it to your vet.
A cat that isn’t eating or drinking can become dehydrated and needs prompt attention. Call your vet for a same-day appointment. If your cat is very weak, collapses or shows any of the emergency signs above, go to an emergency vet.
When to Worry If Your Cat Won’t Eat
Use this guide to decide how quickly to act. If you’re unsure, call your veterinarian for advice.
| What you see | How soon | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Eating a little less than usual, but otherwise bright, drinking and using the litter box normally. | Call today for advice on how soon your cat should be seen. | Your Hometown veterinarian |
| Not eating, or eating very little. Loss of appetite with mild vomiting, diarrhea, hiding, tiredness, weight loss, changes in drinking or litter box habits, or signs of mouth pain. Not eating and not drinking. | Same day. Call for advice now. | Hometown Veterinary Partners. If unavailable or closed, contact an emergency vet. |
| Trouble breathing, collapse, straining to urinate or passing little or no urine (especially male cats), repeated vomiting, yellow gums or eyes, suspected poisoning, swallowed string or a suspected blockage. | Now. | Emergency vet. Hometown Veterinary Partners is not an emergency hospital. |
Kittens and older cats can get into trouble faster, so call your vet right away if their appetite drops. The same applies to overweight cats and cats with an existing health condition.
Our teams provide urgent and same-day care for illnesses and concerns that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening emergencies. Not sure which your cat needs? Read our guides on when to take your pet to urgent care and urgent care vs emergency care.
What You Can Try at Home
If your cat is alert, comfortable and has no emergency signs, there are a few simple things you can try while you arrange veterinary advice. These steps are not a substitute for an exam and should never delay care.
- Offer fresh food at room temperature or slightly warmed (not hot), since warmth brings out the smell.
- Try a favorite wet food.
- Keep their bowl clean and in a quiet spot away from the litter box and household activity.
- Keep fresh water available.
- Reduce stress by keeping routines predictable.
- Make any food changes gradually over several days.
What not to do
- Don’t force food into your cat’s mouth. Only provide assisted feeding if your vet has specifically advised it and shown you how. Forcing food can cause choking or allow food to enter the lungs, and can make your cat more reluctant to eat.
- Don’t give human medicines, supplements or appetite stimulants unless your vet has prescribed them for your cat. Some common human pain relievers are very toxic to cats.
- Don’t wait several days for your cat’s appetite to return, even if they seem comfortable.
What Your Vet Will Do
Your veterinarian will start with a full physical exam, including your cat’s mouth, and ask about recent changes at home, your cat’s diet and when the change began. They may recommend blood tests, urine tests or imaging to look for an underlying cause.
Treatment depends on the cause, from dental disease or an infection to a longer-term condition such as kidney disease or diabetes. Your vet may also prescribe anti-nausea medicine or an appetite stimulant. Cats that are very unwell or haven’t eaten for some time may need fluids and nutritional support, with referral to a specialist or emergency hospital if needed.
Read our guides to preparing for your vet appointment and getting your cat to the vet.
How to Help Your Cat Keep Eating Well
A few habits make appetite problems easier to avoid or catch early:
- Keep up with regular wellness checkups so your vet can catch dental disease, weight changes or early illness.
- Look after your cat’s teeth with regular dental care.
- Change foods gradually, and give your cat a calm, consistent feeding spot.
- Watch appetite closely in older cats, whose eating habits can change with age.
- Get to know the other signs your cat may be sick so you notice early if something isn’t right.
Cat Care at Hometown Veterinary Partners
At Hometown Veterinary Partners, our veterinarians can examine your cat, work to find the underlying cause and recommend next steps based on their individual needs. We offer same-day and weekend appointments; contact your nearest hospital to check availability.
We are not an emergency hospital. If your cat shows any of the emergency signs above, go to an emergency vet. If they need prompt care after hours, contact an emergency veterinary hospital for advice.
Book Now to request an appointment, or call your nearest Hometown hospital to discuss your cat’s symptoms and same-day availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a cat go without eating?
There isn’t a safe number of days to wait. If your cat has stopped eating, call your veterinarian the same day for advice on an exam. Cats that eat too little can develop hepatic lipidosis, a dangerous buildup of fat in the liver. Kittens, senior cats, overweight cats and cats with existing health problems need especially prompt advice.
Is it normal for a cat to skip a meal?
A healthy adult cat may occasionally skip a meal, particularly after a change in routine. Watch closely, though: being bright and drinking doesn’t rule out illness. Contact your veterinarian if your cat keeps refusing food, eats much less than usual or develops other symptoms. Kittens and cats with existing health problems need advice sooner.
Why is my cat eating wet food but not dry food?
Often it comes down to mouth pain or preference. Dental and gum disease can make crunching dry food uncomfortable, so a cat may stick to softer food. If this is new, book a checkup so your vet can examine their mouth, and read our guide to cat dental care.
Should I force-feed my cat?
No. Forcing food into a cat’s mouth can cause choking, allow food into the lungs and make them more reluctant to eat. If your cat won’t eat, call your vet. Only provide assisted feeding if your vet has specifically recommended it and shown you how.
Can I give my cat something to boost their appetite?
Only what your vet prescribes. Never give human medicines or supplements to get your cat eating; some common human pain relievers are very toxic to cats. If an appetite stimulant or anti-nausea medicine is appropriate, your vet will prescribe it and show you how to give it.
