Cats would like to have their human caretakers believe they can do virtually anything. They pretend to be independent but when it comes right down to it, they need us as much as we need them. Cats are their parents’ perpetual babies and as a feline mom or dad, most people would do everything they could to keep their feline friend’s comfortable and well-fed.

Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Whether your fur baby is sick or has a psychological issue going on, sometimes they won’t eat. Of course, this freaks out cat parents and it should. After a while of not eating, you might start to wonder how long can a cat go without eating?

Cats Usually Eat Often

Cats can eat up to ten small meals per day, depending on their size and calorie requirements. Kittens tend to eat more than adult cats but elderly cats, that are seven years or older, eat the least. Nevertheless, your cat should eat at least once or twice per day. If your cat enjoys smaller meals and you like to feed them at specific times, they could eat up to five times.

Regardless of whether your cat is a grazer or a regimented meal-time cat, your feline companion loves to eat, it is likely one of the best times of their day! So, if they are not eating, for more than twelve hours, there is a problem.

Skipping Meals is Different for Cats

Skipping meals for cats is different from skipping meals for humans (or dogs). It is a lot more dangerous for cats to skip meals because their bodies are not built to store energy. Cats need a regular supply of protein to survive or their organs will start to shut down. Even a healthy cat who is hydrated can succumb to organ failure due to malnutrition in just three or four days.

In comparison, a healthy human being can live up to two months without food, as long as they are hydrated.

Reasons Why Your Cat Isn’t Eating

Of course, cats don’t mean to starve themselves. However there are many different reasons why your cat may not be eating. Some of these reasons are physical, and some of them can be psychological. However, none of these reasons are the fault or intention of you or your cat.

Here are some of the most common reasons your cat isn’t eating:

Illness:

The most common reason a cat is not eating is because they are sick. This could be anything from an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea or a disease. The scariest part about this is that cats are naturally prone to hide weakness. So, if your cat is sick, they might not act like anything is wrong until they can’t help it. One of the first signs of serious illness is not eating but even this symptom can present itself late into your cat’s sickness.

Dental Problems:

If your cat has a toothache, a chipped tooth, sore gums, or another oral issue, they won’t eat. Just like their human parents, if it hurts to eat, you will stop eating. This is not something cats want to do but when they realize the pain is less when they are not eating, they are going to keep themselves from eating as much as possible.

Depression:

Despite their internal survival differences, cats can develop psychological issues, just like humans – cats can get depressed. Sometimes, this depression is just a day where they are feeling down but sometimes the depression lasts longer. This can be brought on by major changes in the home or their environment, as well as the loss of a fellow pet or family member. If the depression is bad enough, your cat could very well lose their appetite.

Cleanliness:

Cats are generally clean creatures. If they do not think that their food or environment is clean, they will not eat, and rightfully so! After all, eating in an environment you think is dirty is likely not that appetizing to you either.

Yet, most pet parents are clean. They have a clean and sanitary house, so why would their cat think their environment is dirty? There are two major reasons:

  • Your cat’s food bowl is too close to their litter box.

  • Your cat’s food bowl is not clean. (This can be a problem especially if you feed your cat wet food.)

How to Get Your Cat to Eat

Considering there are many reasons your cat is going without eating, there are also a good number of methods that cat parents can do to entice their fur babies to eat. Here are some of the easiest methods to get your cat to eat:

Cats Like it Stinky:

Stinky is one of the last words most humans would use to describe appetizing food but that is where we differ from our four-legged companions. Since their sense of smell plays a major role in their eating habits, cats love stinky food. The smell of fish and anchovies might be the last thing you want to think about when you don’t feel well, but it is these kinds of ripe scents that will have your cat prancing to their food bowl.

Baby Food with Protein (Meat):

If your cat is dealing with a dental issue, they may not be able to chew but they could get some protein from meat. Baby food has the protein that cats need but they don’t have to chew it. While this is not a viable long-term diet option for your cat, it is much better than biding your time, trying to figure out how long your cat can go without eating.

Heated Wet Food:

Sometimes, all your cat needs is some heated wet food to get their appetite back onto gear. Wet food is much easier for your cat to eat and warming it up increases the aroma, making this a treat they may not be able to resist!

Ultimately, if your cat goes more than 24 hours without eating anything, call the veterinarian and get your furry friend looked at. Mentally and physically healthy cats are not going to starve themselves. So, if your cat is not eating for a prolonged period of time it is important to get to the root of the issue as quickly as possible.