You should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately when your adult cat hasn’t eaten in more than 24 hours or just 12 hours for kittens younger than 6 weeks old. Make an appointment with your vet if this occurs.
If your cat has lost weight without any recognisable reason it is advised to take your cat to the vets. Even if you have not recognised it your cat maybe eating less than before, it is hard to see if you just fill the bowl when it starts to be empty and not monitoring the amount it eats per day. Be aware that even a small weight loss can be of significance and a sign of a chronic condition.
Cats require more protein and specific amino acids— among other nutritional requirements — compared to other animals. This is because they are obligate carnivores and their whole gastrointestinal system is adapted to this.
Prolonged poor food intake in cats can lead to:
Without eating, cats can rapidly lose weight. A change in body weight of more than 0.5% to 2% in a week can be a cause for concern — even in obese cats.
That’s because unexplained weight loss may indicate an underlying disease. In fact, unexplained weight loss in cats is a known sign of conditions such as:
Compromised nutrition combined with an underlying disease create a complicated situation. It’s more difficult to help cats recover from disease when their bodies don’t have the fuel needed to properly heal. That’s why many veterinarians recommend nutritional support for feline patients who have lost weight because they refuse to eat.
There are also safe and convenient medications available which a vet can prescribe to help. Whilst getting your cat back at the food bowl is a good first step, the ultimate goal is to get them back to their ideal weight — and maintain their ideal weight in the long run. Call your veterinarian for an appointment or, if you don’t already have a veterinarian, learn more about finding a Cat Friendly Practice and making visits to the veterinarian easier. If you hesitate to take your cat to the vets because of the stress it can bring to the cat, book a video consultation as a start, many vets now offer this service.
