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When a cat has a great appetite, looks healthy, constantly moves and is interested in life - it means that everything is in order. But, if the purr suddenly becomes indifferent to food and ignores the once beloved delicacies, then the owner will have to solve the riddle - what happened to the four-legged friend, why this happened and whether the animal got sick. All possible causes affecting the cat's appetite will be discussed.
Reasons why a cat has become ill
No need to panic, seeing that for two to three days the cat did not touch the food. Especially when it does not look exhausted, if there are no signs of fever and it is obvious that the animal does not have any gastric upsets or any other malfunctions in the body. Here are a few reasons that make a pet refuse to eat and affect her cat appetite badly.
A sharp switch to another food
Cats in food, like humans, have their own taste preferences - they like something very much, but something not very much. If you completely replace the animal’s diet, changing the usual product to another, then the animal can refuse food. In this case, the new feed should be mixed in small portions with the old, already familiar, gradually increasing the content of the new product.
A similar situation occurs when a cat, accustomed to dry food, suddenly begins to give food from the master's table. It is unlikely that an animal accustomed to eating artificial food will happily be content with cottage cheese or fish. Therefore, when it is obvious that the matter is only in a new unusual diet, there is no reason for concern - the cat has not yet developed a habit for new dishes. If she does not look unhealthy, does not suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, and plenty of fluid does not stand out from her eyes and nasal cavity, then there is no reason for unrest.
Stressful situations
Cats sensitively react to the environment and have the same feelings as humans - they are sad, worried, and fear some things or events. If the kitty has experienced stress, even if it is small, then it is completely normal that she refuses food for some time, will experience apathy and be depressed. In such cases, the owner should, first of all, get to the bottom of the reason that caused the darling of suffering and do everything to eliminate it. In the case when the situation is incorrigible (someone dear to the animal died, another pet appeared in the apartment or something else happened), then in this case only time and comprehensive support of the owner can cure. You will probably have to consult a veterinarian and purchase sedatives for a furry pet.
Weather
When the weather is hot outside, and the temperature column of the thermometer shows more than 30 degrees, any cat will look for a shadow on the street or lie powerless near the sofa, not thinking about food. In this situation, to force the cat to eat, while lamenting that she refuses, is not necessary. In the hot season, it is not recommended to load the cat's body with edible food. But pour into a cup pour more clean water does not hurt.
The animal's bowl is dirty
Cats are famous for their cleanliness and hate dirt, therefore, after the animal has eaten, the owner should clean the plate and cup from which the pet eats. Or perform this procedure at least once a day.
Unclean bowls with dried-on food leftovers and an unpleasant aroma from them make the cat refuse to eat. Moreover, neglect of cleanliness norms is a direct path to intestinal diseases.
Hormonal problems
When puberty occurs and the body is undergoing restructuring, the pet may refuse to eat. Also, in a cat, rejection of the usual diet can cause estrus, or when she is pregnant. And if the animals have mating spree, then they generally may not touch the edible for about a week. When feline walks come to an end, hormones will bounce back - and the problem will disappear. It is advisable to purchase feline vitamins for your pet, after consulting with your doctor.
Anorexia
A cat may refuse to eat because there has been a loss of smell or the taste buds have been disrupted, and the animal does not feel taste. Anorexia occurs, in which the pet is not interested in any food, he does not want to eat, walks sluggish, and there may be excessive salivation.
The causes of this ailment can be different: a stuffy nose, previously treated with pills or injections, the cat was poisoned by eating something stale and so on.
In some cases, veterinarians even try to feed the sufferer by feeding food through a tube. In case of anorexia, it is necessary to consult a doctor, and not to treat the pet yourself, otherwise there is a risk that the animal will die.
Cat stomach full of wool
As already mentioned, cats are very clean. The main thing she does is lick herself. In this case, woolen shreds enter the stomach and accumulate there. Especially a lot of wool is swallowed by the purr when the owner does not care about combing the pet. In these cases, the cat not only refuses to eat, but also suffers from vomiting and problems with the stool.
Serious health problems
In addition to the above reasons, a furry pet can be seriously ill. What ailments are capable of depriving a cat of appetite so that it ceases to eat?
Helminthiasis or the presence of worms
The owner should not forget that worms can cause a pet a lot of problems. The presence of these parasites in the animal's body can be suspected by the following signs: cases of diarrhea have become more frequent, the cat is tormented by vomiting and a cough is shaking.
You can check whether the pet is infected with worms yourself, without contacting the veterinarian. Each pharmacy has an anthelmintic drug, it must be bought and given to the animal. It can be mixed with water, food, and it is better to give in kind. After setting the animal on the pot, a visual inspection should be carried out. Usually in cat feces parasites are noticeable. If they are not found, it is better to show the animal to the doctor.
Parasites on the cat's body
Ticks of fleas and other bloodsuckers also do not give cats peace. Their reproduction occurs very quickly, and the poor animal does not have time to get rid of them. They drink blood, poisoning the feline organism with waste products. The animal constantly itches, saving itself from bloodsuckers. You can determine the presence of fleas visually by looking at the skin of the beast. Anti-flea shampoos are sold in pharmacies to save the animal from suffering and uninvited residents.
The cat is infected with a viral or bacterial infection.
Even domestic cats living in the apartment and not leaving the house run the risk of contracting an infectious disease. In this case, the animal completely loses its appetite. If the pet leaves vomit, severe diarrhea with blood, fever has risen, then the owner should beware and take the cat to the hospital. They will take tests, find the pathogen and prescribe treatment.
Diseases of the internal organs
Cats are affected by many diseases that kill appetite. Here are some of them: diabetes, tumors of a malignant nature, renal diseases, problems with the liver, intestines and stomach, problems with the genitourinary system and many others. A cat who refuses food and has disturbing symptoms should cause the owner to be wary.
What exactly should cause concern to the owner? Failures in the intestines, vomiting, weight loss and weight loss, mucous discharge from the nose and eyes, complete apathy or melancholy meow. The presence of such signs says that the pet is sick, you should take the animal and immediately run to the doctor. The veterinarian will take tests, scrapings, conduct an examination, determine the disease and tell you how and how to treat.
Conclusion
Cats are unable to tell that they are sick. Therefore, you need to pay attention to pets. If a pet stubbornly refuses to eat, then this is an occasion to suspect that something happened to him. But do not rush immediately to start worrying - refusing food is often a common thing for a cat. However, if 2-3 days pass and the situation is the same, then you need to beware and think about a visit to the veterinarian. Better to make a mistake than to let your pet hurt and suffer.
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