My cat is healthy but won't eat for days. How can I get him to eat?

Shadow is a cutie. If he isn’t eating well for several days I strongly recommend a vet visit. Cats can stop eating whenever they don’t feel well which could be anything from a mild infection to a more serious disease. Since he has now started vomiting he may become dehydrated quickly. A veterinarian can perform a physical exam and then make recommendations on what other diagnostics or treatments they might recommend to help Shadow. I hope he’s better soon. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Sometimes a cat will hide in an unusual location simply because they are not feeling well. He may feel that getting wet is worth it if he feels safer in the bathroom. Given that he has been sick for a few days and he is not eating, I would recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Cats that don't eat for even more than a few days can become quite ill very quickly. In the meantime, I would try to keep him as dry as possible. Perhaps provide a box or bed in the bathroom to see if he would use it rather than the area that he is getting wet in

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Shadow. What a cutie! He will need to eat a kitten formula of dry or canned food. It is normally wise to do a gradual diet change. However, it does not sound like he is eating the formula you have well. In this case, it will be fine to just offer him a kitten version. You can try adding warm water to the food. It may make it more appealing to him. If his appetite stays low, he will need to see a veterinarian to ensure there is not an illness present. I hope this information helps!

I strongly recommend getting your cat seen by your vet as soon as possible. Cats can sometimes get fevers with no known origin and it makes them not want to eat. A cat cannot go more than a couple days without eating before they develop liver damage. Your cat may need fluids and supportive care in order to lower his temperature back to normal and support him until his appetite returns.

If neo is not eating I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for a good exam. Older cats can loose weight secondary to hyperthyroid disease, kidney disease and even infection. It is possible neo is eating tuna over his regular food secondary to good taste. I hope neo feels better soon.

Hi, has he had any blood tests ? If so, are these all fine ? If no suspect of pancreatitis or liver disease he could have some Hill’s recovery food, slightly warmed up and offer small amounts little and often. You could also offer a small amount of tuna in water or sardines or white fish. Try to encourage him to eat spontaneously, now that he has received some medications, his temperature might drop and he might feel more inclined to eat. If by this afternoon he stilll has not eaten, I would recommend to try with syringe feeding some recovery diluted with water. If he should not eat, I would still recommend that he is on a drip, at low fluid rate and he receives antibiotics intravenously. Hope it helps.

Try warming the food slightly or mixing in a teaspoon if plain baby food. If he doesn't begin eating in the next 24 hours, have him physically examined by your veterinarian. A cat that does not eat for 2+ days is a serious risk of developing liver disease which may complicate any underlying condition.