The problem of cat anorexia can be caused by many factors including a cat’s own behavior and a disease. However, this worries cat owners a lot since not eating properly will result in worsening health of cats, putting their lovely pets at risk of being easily infected and getting other severe diseases in the future. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of this problem.
10 Reason why your cats become anorexia.
There are 10 possible reasons why your cats are showing a sign of losing their appetite.
1. Cats with anorexia
Some cats have a habit of getting bored with food. They eat the same food for a few days and become bored. When the owners give them new food, they will eat for a few days and get bored again. If this occurs, it means the problem is the cats themselves.
2. Errors in the digestive system
Anorexia can be caused by errors in the digestive system, be it the gastrointestinal tract, the digestive tract, or even the chewing. Also, problems with the esophagus, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the lung, the urinary system, and the cardiac system can be the causes of it.
3. Pain in the different parts of the body
Whether it is pain from wounds in different body parts, pain from wounds in the mouth, decayed teeth, gingivitis, and other internal pains. they all could be possible causes of anorexia.
4. The sudden changes
These changes could make cats feel worried or stressful. This can lead to anorexia. New surroundings or even new household items around the cats will result in unfamiliarity, which could cause stress that affects their appetite. This also includes owners going away and familiar family members going missing.
5. The period when you cats are in heat
As it is a time for reproduction, both male and female cats pay more attention to mating than eating food. If this is the cause, the cats will eat properly only after they have mated or they are seriously hungry.
6. Overfeeding
Some owners do not schedule proper meal plans. Cats should only be fed 2–3 times per day, with a 6–8–hour gap between meals. Some owners feed their cats almost every hour. Therefore, some cats are able to finish their meals, but some do not. This could result in obesity and anorexia.
7. Feeding the same food for a long time
Some owners feed their cats with the same pellet food for a long time. As a result, the cats get bored with the flavors. It is advised that owners feed them with wet food or fresh food, sometimes including giving them snacks 1–2 times a week to change the environment and lessen the chance of food boredom for their beloved cats.
8. Repositioning the food plate or placing the food plate in the wrong position
This could be the reason why cats will not eat. Cats are very cautious and private. If they see that their food plates are not placed in the proper spot or are placed too close to cats they do not like, they will not come to get the food. If other cats mess with their food plates, they could refuse to eat as well.
9. Food plates are too small.
Too small food plates can influence anorexia. If the plates are too narrow and deep to fit with the cats’ faces, they could cause problems like eating difficulties, breathing difficulties, or the cats’ whiskers smashing against the plates causing pain.
10. Feeding many cats at once
Sometimes, feeding many cats at the same time could be a problem for cats that are slow eaters. Cats which eat fast will steal food from the slow ones. This results in slow–eating cats getting bored and not wanting to get food. It is best to separate the slow ones from the fast ones.
How to solve the cat anorexia problems
Once you notice that your cats are starting to lose their appetite, try using these following solutions:
1. Change the flavor of the food for your pet
Try observing if the problem is your cat being bored easily and always getting tired of food. If so, always change the food and its flavor for your cats. The change should be made every 1–2 weeks. You could try mixing new food formulas so that your cats feel the different tastes. Serving snacks they love can help attract them.
2. Consult with a veterinarian and get them diagnosed.
If your cats are losing their appetite until their weights drop significantly in a short time and they become noticeably thin, take them to the veterinarian for diagnosis immediately. All these symptoms could mean your cats are experiencing severe diseases.
3. Examine their body thoroughly for wounds
Please observe if your cats show signs of painfulness or wounds around their body. The signs will be obvious when the pain becomes severe. You should always check where their wounds are and how critical they are to change eating behaviors. If the wound is not too big, you should treat it as soon as possible. If it is too big or you are unable to take care of it, immediately take your cats to the veterinarian.
4. Use toys or games to interact with them
If anorexia is caused by changes in their living environment or items around them, try using toys to encourage them to play or taking them to a quiet place so that they can regain calm and eat properly again.
5. Keep new and old cats apart
If the new cats in the house are the cause of anorexia, you should separate living and eating areas between the old ones and the new ones for around 1–2 weeks. Cats can get to know one another during that time. Once they get along well, the cats will be able to eat well again.
6. Get them sterilized
If being in heat is the problem, having them sterilized is the easiest way to cope with cats getting bored with food. Also, it helps lessen aggression and anxiety problems during mating time and betters both male and female cats’ health.
7. Provide the proper meal plan
Owners should set meal time properly. Cats should be fed only 2–3 times a day with the proper portion to prevent anorexia and the risk of being obese.
8. Change food on a regular basis
Switching normal food for new food is one of the best solutions. If they are only fed pellets, try giving them rice with fish or meat. You can also mix fresh food or wet food with pellets to create new feelings and smells. This can help increase cats’ appetites.
9. Clearly separate areas among the cats
If there are two cats that do not get along well in the house, you should clearly separate the feeding area. They should not be eating side by side; otherwise, they both refuse to eat. Separating will create private space, and this will help both cats feel better. Cats that eat fast should be separated into their own spaces since they tend to steal food from the slower ones. If they are put in their own places, they will clean up after the meal properly without leaving their space to snatch food from others.
10. Pick a food container that suits the cats
Big cats should have big food plates suitable for their side, the ones that are not too narrow or too deep when they dip their face down to eat. Most importantly, their whiskers need to be safe from smashing the plates.
Cat anorexia may be considered as small stuff. However, it can lead to other critical symptoms as being bored with food shows signs of your cats being at risk of health. If you are worried, please take your cat to the veterinarian for diagnosis, check–up, and accurate suggestions to follow.
Thank you to BoxMeaww for the information and the pictures.
