TL;DR: A cat that stops eating and acts depressed requires a veterinary exam within 12–24 hours to prevent dangerous complications like fatty liver disease. Taking a video of your cat at home can help your vet accurately assess their pain and energy levels.
What does it mean if my cat stops eating and starts acting depressed?
- A cat refusing food and exhibiting lethargy or malaise is showing a clinical sign that something is wrong.
- Unlike other animals, cats are metabolically unique and can rapidly develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) if they stop eating.
- Loss of appetite is usually a physical response to pain, nausea, or systemic illness rather than a behavioral mood.
Is it an emergency if my cat hasn't eaten for 24 hours?
- The urgency level for a cat that has not eaten for 24 hours and is acting depressed is Medium.
- A veterinary exam is required within the next 12 to 24 hours, though an immediate ER visit is usually only necessary if the cat also has labored breathing, persistent vomiting, or an inability to urinate.
- Because cats mask illness very well, visible depression often indicates they are no longer able to hide their discomfort.
How can a photo or video of my cat help the veterinarian with triage?
- Providing your veterinarian with a photo or video is a vital diagnostic tool because cats often experience "adrenaline surges" at the clinic that mask their true symptoms.
- A video of your cat's resting posture, eye appearance, or gait at home provides an unfiltered view of their clinical state.
- Visuals help the vet assess the "feline grimace scale" to determine the severity of pain or nausea before the cat enters a stressful clinic environment.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
When a cat presents with inappetence and depression, owners should initially offer a palatable, odiferous food. If the cat salivates or objects, all food should be removed to avoid inducing a food aversion. If oral feeding is not tolerated, cautiously initiate feeding a liquid diet with supplements via a nasoesophageal tube, beginning with a small volume of tepid water to assess tolerance. Be aware that affected cats may sit for hours at their water bowl without drinking much, and physical examination may reveal profound depression, dehydration, and sometimes abdominal pain. In terminal cases, hypothermia, septic shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation may develop.
Chapter: Gastroenterology, Metabolic Disease
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 456)