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Why Is My Cat Eating Less?

Why Is My Cat Eating Less?

Published: June 15, 2016

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When Cats Stop Eating | Diseases | Inaccessible Food Bowls | Dental Problems | Pregnant Cat | Food Adversion | Changed Their Mind

Eating Cat

There’s a commercial for one of the store-brand cat foods that shows a cat delicately snacking from a crystal goblet. That image rings true with cat owners, because cats can be divas about eating, and can suddenly stop eating a food that they’ve seemingly enjoyed for years.

But beware the stereotype – there are a lot of reasons why a cat’s appetite decreases, and most of them are not because they disapprove of the job the new butler is doing. It’s critical to make sure that your cat’s appetite changes aren’t due to a medical problem.

When Cats Stop Eating

Sorry, this one seems obvious. We’ll talk about some of the problems that can cause a decrease in your cat’s appetite. But first, let’s examine the behavior of the family dog, for comparison’s sake.

Many dogs will eat regardless of the way they feel. When faced with a terminal diagnosis, an owner will often declare that they’ll know “it’s time” when their dog stops eating. This is not a reliable indicator of quality of life, because dogs seem to ignore immense pain and discomfort in favor of eating.

Because cats don’t give us a lot of obvious signals that something is wrong with them, it’s critical to be aware of changes in what’s being left behind in the food bowl. You’ll notice this long before you notice that your cat has lost weight, and by that time his disease could be quite advanced.

Diseases That Can Impact Appetite

Gastrointestional diseases are obviously first on the list, and the association there is pretty obvious. Primary problems that involve the stomach and/or intestines produce nausea, which reduces or completely extinguishes appetite.

Diseases that affect the kidneys, liver, and pancreas can also produce nausea and an appetite decrease. Cats that are in pain (from a variety of sources) will often eat less. Generally speaking, any disease that makes a cat feel unwell can cause an appetite decrease. When you notice that your cat is eating less, the first step is to have a complete physical examination performed, and then diagnostic testing to identify the source of the problem.

Inaccessible Food Bowls

Many people, especially those with dogs, feed their cats on an elevated surface, such as on top of the kitchen counters. We’re just starting to understand that many older cats have some degree of arthritis, and this can often compromise their ability to reach a food bowl that was at one time readily accessible to them.

Watch your cat to try to determine if he may be having difficulty jumping. You might notice that he takes a running start, or kind of revs himself up for the jump. Have him examined by your vet for potential sources of pain, and consult with your vet about how to improve mobility with supplements and pain medications.

Dental Problems in Cats

It’s not often that we get a good look in our cats’ mouths, so it’s difficult to know when there could be a problem in there. Serious dental disease often lurks below the gum line where you can’t see it. In addition, cats aren’t very cooperative about opening wide and saying, “Ah.”

Any lesion that’s causing oral discomfort is potentially a deterrent to appetite. Vets are trained to thoroughly examine the mouth of your cat – even under the tongue and on the roof – in order to determine whether there is dental disease or possibly a cancerous mass that may be making picking up and chewing food difficult.

Pregnant Cats

Cats that are about to give birth in the next 24 – 48 hours will stop eating completely. If your cat is pregnant and parturition (that’s the veterinary word for “labor”) is beginning, disinterest in food is a sign that you should play close attention to, as it means that the kittens are coming.

Food aversion

If your cat isn’t eating, it’s not a great idea to try to force food into him. Not only can he aspirate (breathe in) food particles, you’ll quickly create an aversion to that particular food, which will make it even harder to get your cat to eat it (or likely anything else) anytime soon.

When cats are recovering from an illness that has diminished their appetite, it’s often helpful to use drugs to stimulate their appetite. Probably the best selection is a drug called mirtazapine, which is typically used as an anti-depressant in people, which is where the appetite-stimulating side effect was discovered. Cats seem to respond well to this drug, and there are new formulations that can even be rubbed into the skin.

He changed his mind about the food you’re feeding

If you’ve checked out all of the above thoroughly and your cat still seems disinterested in the food you’re feeding, then it might be time to try something different. One successful strategy is to create a “kitty cafeteria”, where you lay out several different selections of both wet and dry foods. Choose foods purchased at pet specialty stores or from your vet for the highest quality ingredients. You can even put the offerings on paper plates, and use a pen or marker to draw a circle around the portion, so that you can reliably judge how much was consumed. Learn what to do if you think you need to switch your cat to a new food entirely.

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