Loss of Appetite in Cats

Why does a cat show a sudden loss of appetite, when it was craving for food for so many days. The cat that was enjoying eating food daily, one fine morning shows little interest in having meals. This strange cat behavior, also known as anorexia in cats, can be due to a number of reasons. This can put the cat owners in a quandary. Most probably it is a symptom of a disease, that requires immediate medical attention to diagnose the condition.

Loss of Appetite in Cats: Causes
Below mentioned are the main causes of loss of appetite in cats.

Parasites: The presence of parasites such as roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms, in the intestine can weaken the cat considerably and cause serious illness. Parasites in cats absorb the nutrients from the digested food, thus damaging the overall health of the animal. Eventually, the cat loses interest in food. Read more on roundworms in cats and tapeworms in cats.

Diabetes: Feline diabetes can be one of the reasons behind loss of appetite in cats. Cats suffering from diabetes have also shown a sharp decrease in appetite. On the contrary, their water intake dramatically increases. Weight loss and increased urination are some of the other symptoms of diabetes in cats.

Leukemia: Leukemia is also considered as one of the causes of loss of appetite in cats. It is observed that cats suffering from leukemia slowly lose their desire to eat food. Changes in appetite, weakness and reduction in activity are some of the symptoms of leukemia. As intake of food decreases, it leads to progressive weight loss. Leukemia, being a life threatening disease, requires immediate treatment. Otherwise a cat that stops eating food will not survive for long.

Stomach Problems: Appetite is poor when the cat is a victim of stomach ailments. A sudden loss of appetite in cats may be due to stomach ulcers. Although this problem in cats is very rare, the possibility still exists. Lethargy and loss of appetite in cats are the common symptoms of stomach ailments. Cats that are exposed to a stomach virus also show decrease in appetite.

Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBD): Cats diagnosed with IBD also tend to eat very less food. In this condition, the cat's gastrointestinal tract is swollen, and that disrupts the body's ability to absorb and digest food. As a result, the cat does not feel like eating food. The veterinarian generally performs a intestinal biopsy to diagnose this condition.

Medicines: Cats undergoing treatment for an injury or wound are also given some oral medicines to speed up the recovery. Thus, loss of appetite may occur as a side effect of these medicines. In order to restore or stimulate the cat's appetite, consulting a veterinarian is essential. In such circumstances, reducing the medicine dosage would certainly benefit the cat.

Vomiting and Loss of Appetite in Cats
Vomiting in cats followed by loss of appetite indicates that the pet is no more healthy. A bacterial or a viral infection may force the cat to vomit. Ingestion of certain plants, substances such as lead, etc., can also cause vomiting and bring about loss of appetite in cats.

To know more about health issues associated with cats read cat health

Loss of appetite in cats is something that cannot be neglected. Cat owners should ensure that proper treatment is given whenever such a problem occurs, as there is every possibility that there is something seriously wrong with the feline.