The cat has become less active. If the cat is lethargic and sleeps a lot and doesn’t eat and his nose is dry, what’s wrong with him? What to do if the cat doesn't eat. When is it a sign of illness?

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7. The cat is lethargic and sleeps a lot, or the cat is weak.

When your cat is lethargic, he is constantly dozing, inactive, and exhibits a slow response to external stimuli, such as auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli. There is no single cat disease whose main symptom is lethargy, and therefore this symptom is associated with a large number of possible diseases in the cat's body. The cause of a lethargic state can be either a serious illness or a temporary phenomenon. If the cat is lethargic for several days and you do not see any improvement, you should not ignore the situation and should contact a veterinarian or to identify cat disease in the early stages.

Basic cat diseases and the causes of weakness and lethargy: anemia (low red blood cell count), blood diseases, cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, chronic inflammation or infection, drug-related lethargy, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, urinary tract diseases, cancer, diseases of the immune system, skin, neurological, nutritional disorders, behavioral disorders, diseases of the skeletal system, infections, poisoning, trauma.
8. The cat has pale gums.

Pale gums on a cat or other mucous membranes signal blood loss or shock. Possible cat diseases And causes of blood loss or shock are life-threatening. Highly recommended .

9. The cat has a fever.

Fever is high body temperature. Doctors believe that high temperature is a way to fight infectious diseases diseases in cats. A separate part of the brain is responsible for the increase in temperature, which raises or lowers body temperature in response to the presence of disease in the cat’s body (viruses or infections). Normal temperature in cats is 38-39.5 °C. If your cat, cat or kitten has a fever,...
10. The cat has seizures. What to do?

Seizure or convulsions is a disease of cats associated with brain disease. Convulsions in a cat can be either in the form of twitching on the face, or when the cat falls on its side, grinds its teeth, urinates under itself, and the muscles of the front and hind legs involuntarily contract. Convulsions in a cat can last a few seconds, several minutes or hours. Seizures are considered a neurological disorder, i.e. Cramps themselves are a symptom, not a disease. Causes of disease in cats may be associated with metabolic disorders, the presence of toxins or tumors in the body, low sugar levels, liver diseases, inflammation or infections of the nervous system, head injuries, diseases of the circulatory system.

11. The cat has red eyes.

Red eyes of a cat, cat, kitten is not a specific symptom of an inflammatory process or infection in the body. The symptom of red eye is observed with several different diseases that can be in different parts of the eye. For example the following cat diseases: inflammation or infection can be in the eyelid area, third eyelid, mucous membrane of the eye, cornea, sclera (white membrane of the eye). Inflammation of the eye can also be inside the eye itself (for example: glaucoma (high pressure inside the eye)) or the eye socket. Also, a cat’s eyes can be both red or separately. It all depends cat diseases. Red eyes can either be a sign of a serious illness or require minimal veterinary intervention.

12. Cough. Cat, the cat is coughing.

Cough in a cat happens very rarely. It is believed that a cat's cough is a protective reflex that helps clear the throat, larynx, and airways of mucus or other foreign bodies, and protects the lungs from aspiration (the penetration of foreign bodies into the airways as a result of their absorption by the flow of inhaled air). Coughing makes it difficult for the animal to breathe. Causes of cough and possible cat diseases: airway obstruction, bronchitis, pneumonia, heart disease, lung cancer, heart disease. All of the above causes and diseases of cats dangerous to the life of the animal. If your cat has a cough, he needs it.

The reasons why an animal feels unwell can be very different, here are a few of them:

2. Worms.

At the very beginning of the disease, the cat behaves actively, eats well, but despite this, it loses weight. Therefore, at the initial stage, it is possible to assume infection with worms only by reducing the pet’s body weight. Subsequently, the animal begins to lose appetite and problems with feces appear. Treatment is carried out with special anthelmintic drugs.

3. Poisoning.

In its mild form, it responds well to treatment - the cat should be given plenty of water. Another thing is severe poisoning. It is manifested by difficulty breathing, diarrhea and vomiting, a dry nose and elevated body temperature, the animal sleeps all the time. In this case, self-medication is dangerous; you should immediately consult a doctor.

Severe poisoning can be caused by:

• poisonous plants;
• household chemicals;
• foreign bodies swallowed by the cat;
• poisoned mice and rats.

Signs of this disease include difficulty breathing, hoarseness, and cough. The cat is lethargic. It is impossible to cure this disease on your own; the help of a veterinarian is required. Antibiotics are most often prescribed to treat asthma.

5. Poor intestinal permeability.

Cats older than 10-12 years with long hair suffer most often from this disease. Poor permeability is due to a large amount of wool and hair that has accumulated in the animal’s intestines. Cats lick themselves with their tongue, causing the fur to enter the animal's body. Indicators of this disease are absent or difficult stools and a noticeable enlargement of the abdomen. The cat also eats poorly and sleeps constantly.

To treat poor intestinal obstruction, the veterinarian will prescribe laxative medications, which may be supplemented with an IV. In severe cases, operations are performed to remove the foreign body from the animal’s body.

6. Kidney diseases.

If the pet rarely urinates and the process is accompanied by pain, we can assume that the cat has urolithiasis. The animal begins to meow loudly at the moment of emptying its bladder, indicating that it is in pain. The main causes of such diseases are infections, kidney stones and hypothermia.

7. Trauma.

A fracture, dislocation or bruise is one of the most common causes of lethargy in a cat. To rule out this option, it is necessary to take an x-ray.

Cats cannot complain about their health themselves, so their health is in your hands. You should closely monitor your animal, and at the first sign of illness, change in appearance or behavior, check to see if the cat is sick.

Any deviation from normal behavior is a cause for concern.

If in its normal state your cat behaves independently, but suddenly seeks your company and does not leave a single step from you or, conversely, does not leave its place all day, then try to find out what happened. Don't think that a cat's purring is a sign of health. Purring can sometimes indicate pain or illness. Unexpected aggression in an always calm and docile cat can be caused by pain, fever, concussion, infection, head injury, convulsions, or a diabetic crisis, which requires medical intervention.

Signs of a Healthy Cat

A few words about what a healthy animal looks like. A healthy cat has an excellent appetite, smooth and shiny fur, a cold and moist nose (during sleep it can be dry and warm), mucous membranes are pink and moderately moist. Signs of an animal's health are also vigor and mobility. Temperature, pulse and respiration rate are important criteria for assessing health status.

Signs of the onset of the disease

At disease The cat's behavior changes. She becomes lethargic, lies down more than usual, looks sad, tries to hide in a quiet darkened place, responds reluctantly to calls or, on the contrary, is overly excited, constantly moves around the apartment, meows pitifully or shows aggression. Movements may become awkward and coordination may be impaired. Signs of the onset of the disease also include rapid fatigue, loss of appetite, perhaps the cat does not eat anything, insomnia or, conversely, increased drowsiness.

Normal temperature is from 38 to 39 degrees (in small kittens - up to 39.6 degrees, and in sphinxes - up to 41.5).

A rise in temperature above 40 may indicate the onset of the disease. But we should also not forget that the animal’s body temperature rises during excitement and fear, after physical exertion, as well as in hot weather, during poisoning, after electric shock or due to hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

Remember, or better yet, write down your cat's normal resting body temperature.

The pulse reflects the frequency and rhythm of the heartbeat, as well as the force of the heart muscle impulses.

At rest, the heart rate of a healthy cat ranges from 110 to 150 beats per minute.

Large cats and animals that lead a quieter lifestyle have a slower heartbeat. The pulse increases when the temperature rises, during inflammatory processes, physical activity, overexcitation, fear and hot weather. In kittens and cats of small breeds, the pulse rate can reach 200 beats per minute; in cats, the pulse is lower than in cats.
Count and record your cat's resting heart rate - this will help you determine in the future whether its rate has changed in a given situation. It is enough to calculate the number of shocks in 15 seconds, and then multiply the resulting value by 4.

It is convenient to determine the cat's breathing rate by movements of the chest, abdominal wall or wings of the nose.

Normally, it ranges from 20 to 30 respiratory movements per minute.

Kittens and young animals, which have a more active metabolism than adults, breathe more quickly than adult cats, and females breathe more quickly than males. In addition, pregnant or lactating cats breathe at a higher rate than normal. Respiration rate is also influenced by size and genetic factors: small cats breathe more often than large ones, which is explained by a higher level of metabolism and, accordingly, increased heat loss. Changes in your cat's breathing rate can be caused by fear, pain, shock, or respiratory illness. It should also be taken into account that breathing becomes more frequent in hot weather, during physical activity, and when the cat is excited. The breathing of a healthy animal after exercise is restored within a few minutes. Difficulty breathing can be caused by heatstroke or, in rare cases, a lack of calcium in the blood during lactation in females. An animal can suffocate due to heart failure, inflammation of the genitourinary system, and also when swallowing a foreign object.

The coat becomes ruffled, dull, and there may be increased shedding, changes in color (yellowness) or skin elasticity.
A sick cat has discharge (purulent, mucous, etc.) from the nose, eyes, mouth and other organs. Colorless discharge may indicate anemia, yellowish discharge may indicate liver damage, bloody discharge may indicate serious infection or poisoning, and bluish discharge may indicate heart failure or disturbances in the circulatory system.

The nasal mucosa (nostril) is dry, constantly warm (a sign of elevated temperature), cracked skin, mucopurulent discharge from the nostrils, the formation of dry crusts, a whitened lobe (a sign of anemia) - sure signs of a cat’s illness.

A sick cat may experience various discharges from the eyes (transparent, purulent, mucous, etc.), squinting and lacrimation may reflect pain in the eye; in a number of diseases, yellowness of the mucous membrane and inflammation of the eyelids are observed. In case of conjunctivitis, poisoning and some other cases, the eyes are sometimes half-closed by the third eyelid.

As for the oral cavity, the disease may cause increased salivation, bad breath, and gums and tongue covered with plaque or ulcers. The mucous membranes of the mouth and eyelids are pale, bluish or icteric.

Signs of Digestive Problems

Digestion may also be affected. The activity of the gastrointestinal tract is altered: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, painful bowel movements, and accumulation of gases in the intestines are noted. Foreign objects (hair, worms, etc.) appear in the feces. Drops of blood in the stool (normally brown) also indicate serious internal pathology, usually bleeding in the large intestine. Gastric bleeding, or bleeding in the anterior intestine, is indicated by tarry stool of a dark, almost black color. Clarified feces are a sign of liver disease (lack of bile, etc.). Foamy feces are an indicator of a bacterial infection.

Signs of problems with the genitourinary system

From the genitourinary system, the following abnormalities may be observed: increased urination, urinary incontinence, lack of urination, pain when emptying the bladder, changes in color (normal urine is yellow) and the amount of urine, unpleasant odor, mucopurulent discharge from the genitals, hunched back, stiff gait, pain in the lumbar region. A sweetish smell from the mouth may also indicate that your cat has kidney problems. Diseases that make it difficult to urinate and pass food can be a tumor, prostate hypertrophy, hemorrhoids, cystitis, and urolithiasis.

Other signs

Breathing becomes frequent or, conversely, rare and cautious (if painful), wheezing, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath appear. Shortness of breath in a cat can be caused by increased physical activity, asthma, inflammation or emphysema, which, in turn, is a consequence of poisoning. Difficulty breathing is observed with pleurisy, heart failure, anemia, and worms. In older cats, a sign of heart failure may be a cough.

Lymphatic system. Enlarged lymph nodes, as a rule, indicate the presence of an inflammatory process. Most often, the submandibular lymph nodes are involved in this process, so you should learn to find and feel them.

Increased thirst may be associated with a cold, diabetes, dropsy, renal failure, or kidney disease, and if it is accompanied by physical weakness and odor from the mouth, this most likely indicates uremia.

HOW TO DETECT A CAT'S PREGNANCY?

Vomiting develops in response to poisonous herbs entering the stomach and in general during poisoning, helminthic infestation, and travel in transport. Vomiting and increasing physical weakness in combination with constipation indicate intestinal obstruction and the presence of a foreign body in the intestine.

Yellowness of the mucous membranes can be a sign of hepatitis, poisoning, leptospirosis.

Increased salivation occurs when the tongue and oral cavity are damaged, when a foreign body enters the esophagus, during heat and sunstroke, during poisoning and some liver diseases. It can also be a symptom of such a terrible disease as rabies.

But these signs of diseases, as a rule, do not appear all at the same time: usually one sign is most pronounced, and the rest accompany it (in one combination or another). The improvement in the cat’s well-being and recovery can be judged after the disappearance of all painful manifestations characteristic of a particular disease.

The posture of a cat can tell you a lot. A healthy animal rests or sleeps in a relaxed position, with its torso straightened and limbs stretched out. A sick cat takes a forced position that helps reduce pain or any discomfort. In particular, with heart disease, a cat stands with its forelimbs spread wide apart - this makes breathing easier; The cat holds the injured limb suspended; with urolithiasis, intermittent claudication is possible on the hind legs on the left or right, according to a diseased kidney, etc.

Veterinarian on rabies prevention: how to recognize rabies, what to do and where to go

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When I moved to a new place of residence, I had a similar problem. But then I didn’t know about stress and everything else, and I was seriously scared. The cat was afraid of the new apartment and was constantly hiding from me. He didn’t go to the toilet for several days, and he barely ate at all for probably 4 days. But over time, he began to slowly crawl out, and then I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything worked out fine, but I was so scared then.

Savun Elizaveta

My cat was also stressed at one point. After communicating with the dog, or rather, after she chased it. So, no veterinary medicines or drugs helped her. The cat shut down and behaved strangely for two days. She showed her to the veterinarian, who prescribed several medications, but to no avail. And guess what? Ordinary valerian helped!! I gave the cat a few drops and she purred as if nothing had happened! So sometimes the answer is right under your nose.

My cat hasn’t eaten or drunk for 3 days, I give Rigedron 2 ml - every 10 minutes - I give activated charcoal - I give a little milk with a syringe - sweet water - glucose. The veterinarian in our city is strange - he refused to put on an IV for fear that the cat would scratch (this is not a veterinarian, I think, but an idiot). Help with advice: what should I do, the cat sleeps head down all the time! I would install the system myself, but I don’t know how.

The dog is a 4 year old girl, she stopped eating, doesn’t drink water at all, just licks and sleeps constantly, what should I do? Tell me

Hello, my cat recently disappeared and was on the street for two weeks. Previously, she didn’t leave the apartment at all. She only ate whiskey in dry and liquid form. After I found her, she was exhausted and didn’t eat at all, and today I found pieces of blade in feces. and papers, etc. and she swears and her nose is dry, what should I do?

Sergey Zhidenko

To begin with, stop feeding your cat whiskey - it’s the same as a person eating chips and crackers; such a diet does not bode well for your pet (excess weight, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, heart). Such symptoms are characteristic of an intestinal infection; take the animal to the clinic, the doctor will prescribe the necessary antibacterial and supportive treatment.

my cat is 18 years old.. he suddenly stopped eating.. now he doesn’t even drink water.. he doesn’t even reach the litter box. lies in a dark corner. I’ve already started going to the toilet under myself.. what should I do?

Kitten 3 months old. He is lethargic, does not eat or drink, his nose is dry and he often vomits (with some kind of bilge). There are no normal veterinarians nearby((. Is it possible to treat him at home?

The kitten is 1 month old. He doesn't eat or go to the toilet. He just screams.

The kitten needs help to go to the toilet, I take soft toilet paper, fold it into several layers and lightly massage its butt and make it pee. You need a lot of paper.

The cat is almost 10 years old.
For the last few days (since 12.08) he has eaten almost nothing. Sometimes he drinks. He lies on the floor, bed or windowsill all day in one position: on his side.
What to do?

Hello! Help me please. My cat hasn't eaten or drunk anything for three days. I've lost a lot of weight. I do not know what to do. I gave activated charcoal, analgin, diluted the antibiotic with milk, nothing helps, she doesn’t eat - I feed her through a syringe. At first glance, there are no fractures, she can jump on her own or jump off the sofa, she walks, but not much. What to do? We don't have veterinarians.

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! Age of the animal? What preceded this condition (new food, pregnancy, childbirth, absence from home)? What temperature? Analgin is contraindicated for cats. It's hard to say anything without inspection. If there is no doctor, although this is doubtful, I can advise giving the cat a course of antibiotics (Ceftriaxone (1 g), diluted with 5 ml of novocaine) 0.5 ml 2 times a day for 5 days. Vitamins (Catozal 0.7 ml subcutaneously 1 time per day for 5 days).

• Hello, the cat is 23! Doesn't eat, doesn't drink, lies with his eyes open and doesn't react to anything. What to do?

Christina

Good evening. This is the problem with a cat (approx. primary) for three days, two of which he doesn’t eat or drink anything, he vomited today’s wound, carried it away....they gave him a deworming pill, he vomited more than half of it, he slept for the whole hour. please scho robiti!!!

Specialist Ysatik

Good day! It’s possible that there might be a worm infestation if you’re out on the street. The infection requires normalization of the condition: Skin polysorb for 2 years, an antibiotic in injections (Sinulox, Ceftriaxone, Farmazin Tosto), after normalization of the condition - an antihypertensive and polysorb after 2 years.

Hello. The Scots bought a kitten for the third day. On the first day he was active and playful. Yesterday and today he sleeps almost all day and sleeps at night. I pick it up and bring it to the food, he eats a gram, literally. He'll clap a couple of times and that's it. A little can drink water or milk. Doesn't want to play. Is this an adjustment period or what?

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! If on the first day the kitten behaved actively, now it is unlikely that he will adapt; most likely he is unwell. It is necessary to measure the temperature, pay attention to urine and feces (their presence, color, consistency), and look for some other symptoms.

Please tell me, we have a cat for almost 2 months. Today recently we accidentally stepped on her paw, she behaved normally, then she became slow and somewhat sleepy, she often sleeps, eats and goes to the toilet, but what is the reason for this behavior. (They haven’t had any vaccinations or anti-worming suspensions yet)?

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! Does the animal step on its paw? If yes, then the paw is fine. Why it became sleepy is difficult to say. If it eats and recovers, then there is no reason to worry. But if I were you, I wouldn’t delay with deworming. Observe the cat’s condition for a day or two and if no obvious signs of illness appear, carry out anthelmintic treatment.

My cat is about a year old. But he doesn’t eat anything for 5 days. On the first day he vomited from eating and that was it and he fell ill. He lies there, breathing heavily, meowing and wheezing heavily. Rarely walks. Doesn't eat or drink. Basically I went once in 5 days. He lost all the weight.

My cat is 2 years old, he has bad breath, has become lethargic, sleeps almost all the time, huddled in a secluded place, eats and drinks very little for the 3rd day, the cat is a yard cat, does not ask to go outside, once a day we put him out for half an hour, he walks whether he went to the toilet - it was not possible to trace, the stomach is soft, painless, there are no bruises either, what could it be?

Anastasia Chernova

Hello! These symptoms only indicate that. that the cat is not feeling well, the cause can only be determined after an examination at the clinic.

Christina

Elena, good afternoon! My cat has the same symptoms. She is 2 years and 7 months old. How did you cure the cat? Tell me, help!

Miroslava

Hello! I have a 3 year old cat, no breed. For the second day now he barely moves, doesn’t eat, doesn’t drink, doesn’t go to the litter box. Dilated pupils and rapid breathing! How scary I am for my little bundle of joy. What to do?! There is no way to see a veterinarian at the moment!

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! Judging by the description, the cat has severe pain that needs to be treated urgently. Until you contact a veterinarian, and this needs to be done URGENTLY, subcutaneously (in the area between the shoulder blades) physical. solution and glucose 5%, 25 ml each. Intramuscularly 0.5 ml of papaverine and 0.5 ml of ceftriaxone (diluted with 5 ml of novocaine). If the animal does not urinate, it may be stones that have blocked the urethra and then no medications will help.

Your mouse, my kitten died just like that (he vomited bile and didn’t eat or drink, it was painful to swallow) it’s a shame, I hope he survived with you

Hello, my cat is 7 years old, he just came home yesterday to eat, and this afternoon a neighbor brought him immobilized and not eating anything. She gave me water, he also lost weight, he is frail and lies there all day, has difficulty breathing and does not open his eyes. At one time I tried to get up, but everything was even - I immediately fell. Tell me what to do?

Specialist Ysatik

Urgently take the cat to the clinic, he needs emergency treatment.

Hello, my cat is 1 year and 6 months old. I don’t know what to do, he has lost weight and hasn’t eaten for 3-4 days. He just drinks and sleeps. what should we do, we don’t have a veterinarian nearby, is it possible to cure a cat at home?

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! It is difficult to treat an animal without examination and some characteristic symptoms. If the situation is completely hopeless, then you can inject a broad-spectrum antibiotic.

Please help, we have no veterinarians at all! An 11 month old cat suddenly fell ill. In the morning of the 12th I began to feel sluggish, in the evening the temperature rose high, I gave half a tablet of paracetamol, as in childhood, after half an hour the cat’s pupils were dilated and drooling (that evening he peed and passed mostly normally). He didn’t vomit and it doesn’t work, he can’t take water, he doesn’t eat, when we try to give water he starts choking as if he’s suffocating, today with the same actions cramps appear, some doctor said to inject ampicillin with navocaine and vitamin B12, understand, we have no other help , and the animal suffers and wants to go outside.

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! Paracetamol is toxic to cats. Inject the cat with an antibiotic (ampicillin is generally suitable), actively water it with a solution of Polysorb (a tablespoon per glass of water) - give it 5-10 ml every 2 hours. Vitamin B 12 will not make you worse. Crushed streptocide into the mouth 2 times a day, half a tablet. Novocaine is not worth it. If the temperature is high, then you can drink 1/6 of a packet of Nimesil (dilute with water) and provide the animal with peace. BUT of course, a doctor's examination is necessary!!!

Hello, the cat is approximately 8-9 months old, I don’t know more precisely, since it’s a foundling. She hasn’t drunk or eaten for two and a half days, and in the morning she was an ordinary kitten, she just tore out two leaves from a flower, and in the afternoon she vomited foam, first white, the next day yellow. But it breaks only after we give it water. Temperature 38.8. When she’s not sleeping, her nose is cold and wet, she doesn’t go to the litter box on her own, but when I take her there she urinates, but very little. For the most part he doesn’t walk. The abdomen is soft, does not react to palpation, only slightly expresses dissatisfaction with the tail, the tongue is pink. There is a very unpleasant odor from the mouth. I’m now drinking rehydron, and it doesn’t seem to make her want to vomit. Maybe this is how adolescence manifests itself? Or is it something serious?

Specialist Ysatik

Hello! This is definitely not a transitional age. Which plant did you pull out the leaves from? If there is a suspicion of poisoning, give Polysorb for 2-3 days (a tablespoon per glass of water) 3-5 ml at a time every 2-3 hours. If there is no bowel movement, then an enema or a mild laxative. Perhaps the tray is clogged with wool, then a special paste is needed to dissolve it. And of course, a visit to a veterinarian for a face-to-face consultation.

A healthy appetite is one of the main indicators of a pet’s well-being. But refusal to eat is not always a behavioral disorder or a sign of illness; in some cases it is the norm. It is important to know why the cat does not eat in order to be able to correctly assess the condition of your pet and provide her with timely help if such a need arises.

Changes

Cats are famous conservatives. Some pets hate change so much that even after rearranging the furniture. What can we say about changing your diet? There is nothing unusual in the fact that a cat refuses to eat if in front of her is not the usual food, but something unfamiliar: a different consistency, temperature, a different form of granules, a new smell and taste. For this reason, you should not switch your pet to a new food immediately, but over at least a week, gradually mixing it into the usual food.

If you are worried about your pet’s health and don’t know how long a cat can go without eating while on strike against a change in diet, proceed from the following parameters:

• a healthy young cat can fast for about five days without harm to the body;

• healthy - about three days;

• - maximum 24 hours;

• a pet suffering from any chronic disease, regardless of the stage and degree of manifestation of the disease, should not fast for more than two days.

These deadlines can only be met if the cat does not eat anything in protest, but. Clean water should always be freely available.

In addition to changing food, a pet can go on strike due to a change in feeding location or replacing old bowls with new dishes. Cats with a labile nervous system also refuse to eat for less serious reasons: they placed a tub with a plant next to the bowls, changed the rug under the bowls, washed the bowls with a cleaning agent, etc.

Fasting day

Sometimes a cat refuses to eat for about a day without any apparent reason. Some veterinarians believe that cats voluntarily arrange a fasting day for themselves, cleansing their intestines in a simple way. Their opponents argue that hunger strikes do not happen without reasons, and the following factors may be the reason for refusing to eat for a day or a little more:

• the cat had eaten too much the day before;

• the pet has eaten something difficult to digest;

• the cat actively ran and played after eating, which caused temporary digestive difficulties;

• the pet is “offended” by one of the family members, for example, for not wanting to pet or play.

Be that as it may, if a cat does not eat anything for a day or two, but at the same time feels great, the temperature and stool are normal, the behavior is normal, there is no reason to panic.

Thermoregulation

People who keep dogs on a leash or in enclosures are well aware of the following feature: in winter the dog eats greedily and a lot, in summer - less and with less appetite. Seasonal deterioration or improvement of appetite is one of the manifestations of the thermoregulation mechanism. How long can a cat go without eating if the heat has been unbearable for several weeks? Typically, the time period varies from one day to three days, and in between, the pet eats in small portions. After all, the more calories a cat receives, the more heat will be generated during digestion and the more difficult it will be to cope with the heat.

I understand about summer. Why doesn’t the cat eat in winter, because it’s cold outside? The reason may be the central heating operating at maximum. People often overlook the fact that domestic cats live in apartment microclimates. We go to work, visit, etc., but a cat, if it is not walked or allowed outside, almost does not react to the change of seasons.

Sexual instinct

Sensitive cats lose their appetite within a week. Depending on physiological characteristics, appetite may return with the onset of estrus or only at the end of this period. Some owners note that during estrus their cat does not eat for a week, spending all the time sleeping and loudly calling her partner - this is the norm if the pet is in good health and drinks enough water.

It is advisable to show cats and kittens that are experiencing intense periods of heat to a veterinarian. Perhaps the pet's hormonal levels are disturbed, then the veterinarian will most likely recommend neutering the pet.

Cats are less likely to deny themselves gastronomic pleasures. But if a cat who is in heat lives next door, even the most restrained pet may lose its appetite.

Stress factor

If, after rearranging furniture, renovations, the arrival of a new pet in the house, during the absence of the owner, or after sterilization, the cat does not eat, it is possible. From a person’s point of view, the reasons may be less significant, for example, the arrival of guests or a small quarrel between family members.

Active games, affectionate communication, new toys - any positive emotions - help cope with stress. In severe cases, the doctor will recommend a mild sedative. Be careful: stress can signal the onset of an illness or an exacerbation of a chronic illness.

Malaise

Postpartum period

If the cat does not eat after giving birth for a maximum of 24 hours, but both she and the kittens feel satisfactory, there is no need to try to force feed your pet. There may be several reasons for a hunger strike:

• mother is afraid to leave the kittens;

• the cat ate more than one placenta during childbirth;

• an inexperienced cat experiences postpartum stress;

• the birth was difficult, and the pet just needed more time to recover.

If your cat doesn't eat for more than a day, be sure to contact your veterinarian, even if everything seems fine. Urgent consultation is necessary if the following symptoms are added to the refusal to feed: lethargy, high or low temperature, heavy discharge from the vulva, vomiting and/or diarrhea, painful tight abdomen. If a nursing cat does not eat, you should also consult a doctor as soon as possible: milk production takes a lot of strength and nutrients from the mother’s body, and therefore lactation is normally accompanied by an increase, and not a loss of appetite.

Consequences of anesthesia

As a rule, a cat does not eat for up to two days after surgery - this is the norm unless there are other reasons for concern. Drugs used to induce narcotic sleep inhibit all body functions to one degree or another. This effect is especially noticeable when assessing motor and digestive function - the muscles are relaxed, coordination of movements is impaired, and appetite is reduced. It is difficult for the pet to walk, it is difficult even to keep its head in a natural position. In addition, the swallowing reflex is impaired, so it is even good that the cat does not eat for some time after sterilization - it will not choke.

Appetite should return five to eight hours after complete recovery from anesthesia. Complete recovery is when there are no signs of the drug’s action, coordination of movements is restored, the cat does not stagger, the temperature is stable, etc. It is a mistake to count eight hours from the moment the cat opened its eyes - this is only the regaining of consciousness; the drug will be eliminated from the body for several more hours.

If you don't want it, we'll force you

If you're wondering how to get your cat to eat, think twice about whether it's worth it. Of course, there are situations when this is necessary. For example, a pet is sick, the appetite is reduced - the veterinarian recommends feeding from a syringe or from a spoon, as long as it eats something. But you should not try to force feed your cat without consulting a doctor! It is important to find out the reason for refusing food and return your pet to a normal appetite.

If everything is in order with health, the pet is not stressed, the food is familiar, but for inexplicable reasons it remains untouched, arrange an interrogation at home with passion. Perhaps someone is feeding your pet something tasty in your absence.

What to do if the cat does not eat and behaves actively is up to the owner to decide; here you need to focus on the educational aspect. And if a cat refuses to eat and looks lethargic, unhealthy, or behaves inappropriately, this is already a sign of illness.

For gourmet cats, refusal to eat must have very, very good reasons: either the food is stale, or the food is not what the animal is used to, or the animal is stressed. In any case, these reasons must be clarified so that further actions do not harm the cat. An animal’s refusal to eat has two shades: safe (when the cat is simply capricious or requires a change in food) and threatening the health of the animal.

A cat and its bowl – habit and love

Sometimes the cause of a cat’s “hunger strike” is things that are unremarkable for a person, but shocking for an animal:

• buying a new bowl;
• moving the usual utensils for eating to another place;
• moving to a new place of residence;
• dirty bowl;
• a bowl washed with a chemical.

We propose to consider and analyze each problem in more detail.

1. The owner decided to pamper his pet with a new bright bowl, bought the most beautiful one, poured a heaping amount of food, but the cat doesn’t eat anything, what to do?

Perhaps the dishes have an unpleasant, pungent odor (low-quality plastic emits a very strong aroma that clogs even a person’s breath, let alone a cat with a more developed sense of smell!).

Solution: buy another dish from a different material and wait until the animal gets used to it.

1. We moved the cat's bowl to a place that is more convenient from a human point of view, but the cat does not find it convenient and refuses to eat. What to do if your cat does not eat from its usual dishes in an unusual environment?

Solution: just return everything the way it was.

1. When moving to a new home or even after renovating a home, an animal may experience stress when it discovers that everything has changed radically. Typically, a stressed state in animals is manifested by loss of appetite.

Solution: pay more attention to the animal, wait patiently until the cat gets used to the new place.

1. Every cat owner should understand that for a noble and clean animal, clean dishes are no less important than for the owner himself. And if you can’t understand why the cat stopped eating and what to do, check the bowl: perhaps you didn’t wash it well and the spoiled food remains disgust the animal. Perhaps you offered your pet food that is not the first freshness - in this case, you can’t count on his good appetite: the cat eats only high-quality products.
2. Cleaning your cat's bowl with dish soap is not a good idea. The bowl will shine and smell, but the cat will refuse to eat from it precisely because it smells. Cats do not like a strong aroma; animals consider the mixture of the smell of food and a chemical substance very unpleasant and try to avoid it.

Has she overeated or is being capricious?

The cat refuses to eat, what should I do? The answer to the question can be found without the intervention of a veterinarian, if you yourself have spoiled the animal, indulging its every whim. Cats are not stupid creatures; from the first time they understand where their owner’s weakness is and use it to their advantage.

One of the cat's interests is to receive some delicacies every day instead of buckwheat and soup. If you notice that the cat does not touch food for one or two days, do not sound the alarm - she is not sick.

Important! It is even useful for cats to have a fasting period, giving rest to the digestive system, and they do this periodically.

But these animals are also great masters of manipulation, so along the way they beg their owners for something tasty.

Knowing that the “big man” has several circles of sausage in the refrigerator, the cat will not touch the porridge, but will wait until it is treated to something more interesting.

The solution to the problem (what a problem it is!) is for the owner to show restraint. But it’s so difficult not to treat your pet if she purrs, rubs her legs and doesn’t take her eyes off you.

Another option why a cat doesn’t eat is that the owner cares so much about his pet that he offers her large, simply huge, portions. The animal eats or even overeats and lives with a feeling of constant satiety. And it is natural that at some point the cat will want to take a break from food and go hungry a little.

The cat does not eat, but is active and cheerful

What to do if the cat doesn’t want to eat, but doesn’t look hungry and leads a normal life without losing its shape or its inherent cheerfulness? Watch the animal. It does not seem that it completely refused food; most likely, the cat found an additional source of food for itself. This type of refusal is typical for cats living in the private sector and having free access to the street: they can catch mice or birds, or neighbors can feed them.

In summer, a cat may refuse to eat due to extreme heat. He replaces food with drink, loses a little weight, but remains active and playful.

Refusal to eat before and after lambing

Cats have a special attitude towards food; they become very picky and picky during pregnancy, and immediately before lambing they completely refuse to eat.

During this period, all the resources of the cat’s body are aimed at the process of giving birth to offspring - and although rumor has attributed amazing ease to cat childbirth, it is not so easy for an animal to cope. Food takes a lot of time and effort, which is necessary for a cat to successfully deliver a pregnancy, and the animal saves - it does not eat, and sometimes does not drink, until the last of the lambing cubs is born.

The situation with refusal to eat can continue even after the kittens are safely born. Cats have different personalities and each of them has a different level of responsibility. One, some time after lambing, will go to recuperate, and the other, even being very hungry, will not leave the newborn kittens. What to do if the cat does not eat, how will she feed the kittens?

Important! If your cat is the type of sacrificial mother, place a bowl of food next to the basket (box) in which she sits with the kittens so that she can both eat and keep the babies in sight.

In one of the previous sections there is a point about the stress that a cat experiences when it does not find a bowl in its usual place, but when the animal is responsible for babies, the moved bowl becomes not such a significant detail.

If a cat does not touch food for a day after giving birth, this is not a reason for concern: she needs time to recover. But if the animal does not eat for a longer period, it is necessary to call a veterinarian.

Doesn't eat and behaves inappropriately

If the cat suddenly lost interest in food (and these animals really love to eat), which in itself seemed strange to you, plus, he periodically has bouts of inappropriate running around, and he began to shit in the corners, but since childhood he has been accustomed to tray, this may be a sign of the appearance of worms in the animal.

When a cat stops eating and drinking, what should the owner do? In any case, show the animal to the doctor: if the pet has worms, then it will not refuse water, but if there is an intestinal obstruction, the animal will not be able to drink or eat.

It is not so difficult to get rid of worms - the veterinarian will prescribe the necessary medication and course of treatment, but obstruction can cause serious problems, often fatal. The cause of intestinal obstruction may be a tumor, intestinal volvulus, or the animal swallowing inedible objects (sausage skins, Christmas tree rain, licking its own fur).

Important! Even if you are sure that your pet ate something wrong, do not take any measures on your own: do not give an enema, do not give a laxative, do not give the cat water. In this case, only a qualified specialist can help the animal.

Loss of appetite due to viral infection

The disease knocks any living creature out of its normal routine - if a hyperactive cat suddenly loses interest in food and games, you need to show the animal to a veterinarian - an infection is possible.

The most common diseases are feline herpes and feline calcivirus. They do not pose a great danger to the animal, but require timely and competent treatment. Loss of appetite, nasal discharge, sneezing, red eyes and watery eyes are the main symptoms of these diseases.

Loss of appetite is a symptom of feline calcivirus

What to do if your cat does not eat during illness, you can ask your doctor directly. The answer will be clear: don’t force it, don’t force it from a syringe. These methods will give absolutely nothing. The cat will determine when it needs to eat - its appetite will return as the animal recovers.

Should I do anything if my cat won't eat? was last modified: September 12th, 2016 by Ekaterina Efimova

Sometimes a situation arises when your beloved cat does not eat anything, and you begin to painfully think: what to do in this case? If a pet has lost its appetite, there can be many reasons for this, from the most common to the very serious. Let's figure out why the cat doesn't eat anything.

Reasons why cats refuse to eat

Very often a cat loses her appetite during heat, especially for the first time. In a few days everything will be fine and such a lack of appetite should not cause cause for concern.

A cat may not eat anything if the room is very hot, and this is quite normal.

If you abruptly switch a cat to a new species, which it also does not like, then it may refuse food altogether. Therefore, the transition of an animal to a new food must be gradual.

In long-haired cats, along with refusal to eat, regurgitation or vomiting is often observed. This may indicate that the cat has accumulated fur in its stomach, which it swallows while licking. In this case, it is necessary to use a special paste to remove such hairballs.

However, there are many other reasons why a healthy cat does not want to eat: maybe you have moved to a new place of residence, or perhaps very noisy guests have come to you, etc. However, despite the various reasons for refusing food, if the animal If he doesn’t eat for 24 hours, this can already cause negative consequences in his body.

In addition, if the cat is lethargic, hides and does not eat anything, it has a dry nose - these are symptoms that it is sick. Severe pain itself can also cause refusal to eat. In this case, you need to immediately contact a veterinary clinic, where the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment for your pet.

With age, a cat's digestive system begins to work weaker, it develops various diseases, an old cat does not eat and sleeps a lot. In this case, the animal must be shown to a veterinarian, who will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment, if necessary, and also advise you on how to care for the old cat.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why your cat doesn’t eat, and a veterinarian will help you figure out what to do in each specific case, and you should definitely consult him.

Many owners of domestic cats are faced with an unpleasant problem - the animal stops eating and drinking, and accordingly becomes very thin and weak. It is very important to know the main reasons for what is happening in order to take emergency measures and promptly contact a veterinary clinic for advice and subsequent treatment, if necessary.

Anorexia in a cat (the cat refuses to eat)

Anorexia in a cat.

A cat's loss of appetite is called anorexia.

The desire to eat arises in an animal if it receives positive emotions, the absence of illnesses, or as a result of building an associative series, for example, packaging food will make the cat remember about food. Loss of appetite in animals is associated primarily with the appearance of a negative factor - a disease that requires immediate specialist intervention.

Important! You cannot self-medicate or test various techniques on an animal, since the lack of desire to eat can be caused by various diseases.

Why does a cat eat poorly and lose weight?

The moderately well-fed cat suddenly began to eat poorly and lose weight.

The first and main reason a cat refuses to eat is the presence of a focus of inflammation or other disease . Therefore, such a condition can be regarded as a symptom that requires special attention. The reasons for an animal’s refusal to eat food or water are divided into psychological and medical.

Psychological factor

Many diseases in a cat can appear after stress. In this case, they say that the cat was latently infected.

If the basis is a psychological factor, then appetite is completely absent. This may happen for the following reasons:

• moving to another place;
• change of owner;
• the appearance of a new person in the environment;
• change of diet.

Medical factors

Medical causes are varied and can only be identified by being examined by a specialist.

The body may experience inflammatory processes, disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, blood diseases. Painful and unpleasant sensations also affect lack of appetite and refusal to eat. Such reasons are cause for concern and immediate contact with a veterinarian.

Increased salivation may be a sign of an incipient disease.

It is important to understand that there is a difference between medical and psychological causes. So, in case of ill health, the following symptoms are added to the lack of appetite:

• lethargy;
• slow reactions;
• lack of mobility and desire to play;
• difficulty or heavy breathing;
• discharge of pus;
• nausea and;
• change in habitual behavior.

Gastrointestinal problems and other diseases

Cat's gastrointestinal tract.

Such symptoms may indicate problems with the gastrointestinal tract - indigestion, problems with internal organs.

Each of the possible diseases requires specific therapy, which can be developed solely based on the results of the tests.

What should be done if the cat is weakened?

Change the food and watch the cat.

If the cat refuses to eat for a long time, has lost weight and is weak, but has no other manifestations of the disease, then for a period of up to 12–24 hours it should be leave the cat alone and change the food– perhaps refusal to eat is only psychological in nature.

However, if at least one negative symptom is added to refusing to eat and losing weight, you should contact specialists immediately for qualified help or advice.

In the clinic, the necessary tests will be taken, an ultrasound examination will be performed - all this will help to establish the true reason that influenced such a reaction on the part of the cat.

The following will also be held:

• examination of the oral cavity;
• palpation of the abdomen;
• temperature measurement;
• weighing.

Examination of the oral cavity.

Treatment and help at home

When treating with antibiotics, it is necessary to determine the sensitivity to antibiotics in the cat’s body.

The main treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian based on the results of the diagnosis and tests, since it is specific for each disease. The chosen therapy is aimed at eliminating not only the symptoms, but also the cause that caused the malaise and, as a consequence, refusal to eat with subsequent weight loss.

Help at home should be provided after consultation with a doctor, since the owner may not recognize the true reason for refusing to eat, therefore, the animal may become worse after self-treatment. It is necessary to carefully monitor the cat's condition, as this will allow you to verify the presence or absence of symptoms. You can warm up the food (canned meat) a little, so its smell will be stronger. It is important that it is not very hot.

Complete refusal to eat

Try mixing her favorite food and medicinal food.

Sometimes lack of appetite, weakness and weight loss are due to the fact that the cat refuses new food, for example, dietary food prescribed by a specialist to treat another disease. In this case, you should gradually mix the animal’s usual food with dietary food.. Then the likelihood that the cat will not refuse food will be higher.

It is important to remember that special attention should be paid to the feeding process of kittens under six months of age. You can include cow's milk in your diet.

conclusions

Thus, if a cat refuses to eat, quickly loses weight and becomes weaker, this may indicate serious problems with his health. It is necessary to show maximum attention and determine whether there are other manifestations of the disease, since such behavior may be associated with some kind of psychological trauma that the cat received in the recent past - moving to a new place, changing its usual food, or the appearance of an unknown person.