Has your cat stopped eating? Veterinarian explains feline anorexia

Do you know when your cat gets all sulky and doesn't eat anything? This lack of appetite, also called feline anorexia, is a very common clinical symptom and is usually the first one noticed by the owner when there is something wrong with their cat.

“Anorexia in felines is a nonspecific symptom. It can have behavioral causes, related to stress, but it can also be a sign of kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, pancreatitis, cancer, among other pathologies,” explains Alexandre Gonçalves Teixeira Daniel, veterinarian at the Gattos clinic, in Campo Belo, in the south of São Paulo.

When a cat stops eating, the amount of time that passes before it receives medical attention is a key factor that can save the feline's life.

“If the cat has not eaten for 24 hours, it should be taken to the vet,” emphasizes Alexandre.

“Cats are very sensitive to prolonged fasting. If the animal goes 72 hours without eating, it is already predisposed to developing a series of metabolic changes that can trigger the famous and feared hepatic lipidosis, which is the typical disease of cats that are not eating,” he says.

Feline hepatic lipidosis is a serious disease characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, caused mainly by lack of nutrition. When compromised, the organ stops functioning properly and can cause the death of the animal.

“When a cat arrives at the clinic with hepatic lipidosis, we have two problems to resolve: the primary disease that caused the lack of appetite and, now, the lipidosis resulting from the lack of food,” says Alexandre.

That's why it's important to take your cat to the vet as soon as possible. There, the professional will ask the owner a series of questions to find out if there has been any change in the cat's routine, as well as perform clinical exams to detect pain, fever or dehydration, for example. Additional blood and imaging tests may also be performed.

“Until we can find out why the cat is not eating, it is important to start with an appetite stimulant so that the situation does not get worse and end up causing hepatic lipidosis, for example,” says Alexandre.

Generally, veterinarians use mirtazapine, which is originally prescribed as an antidepressant for humans and has increased appetite as one of its side effects.

“I have been using Mirtz in my office, which is mirtazapine developed by the manufacturer Agener União specifically for cats,” he says.

However, the veterinarian reveals that if the feline has been fasting for a long time, it is necessary to insert a feeding tube.

“I usually say that it’s the three to five day rule. If the cat hasn’t eaten for up to three days, we can hold the medication and wait for his reaction. If it goes beyond five days, we need to put in a tube, otherwise his condition could get worse irreversibly.”

So, if your cat isn't eating, pay attention. One tip is to offer him a treat that he really likes, like a sachet. After all, he may just be stressed by some change in his routine, like construction work at the neighbor's house, a new person or animal that has arrived at home, or even if you moved his food bowl.

But if your cat hasn't eaten for a whole day, it's important to take him to the vet for a check-up.