TL;DR: A cat refusing food for 24 hours is a medical concern that can lead to life-threatening liver disease. You should contact a veterinarian immediately to determine the underlying cause and prevent serious complications.
What should I know if my cat stops eating?
- Feline anorexia occurs when a cat refuses food for 24 hours or more.
- Unlike humans, cats have a unique metabolism that requires a steady intake of protein.
- When they stop eating, their bodies process fat stores too quickly, which can lead to serious internal complications.
- This behavior is often a non-specific sign of underlying pain, stress, or illness.
How urgent is it if my cat refuses food for 24 hours?
- A 24-hour refusal of food is considered a Medium Urgency situation.
- Minor stomach upsets can quickly transition into life-threatening hepatic lipidosis, also known as fatty liver disease.
- You should contact your veterinarian for advice, especially if your cat is lethargic, hiding, or has changes in litter box habits.
Why does a triage professional need a photo of my cat?
- Sharing a photo provides critical diagnostic clues about your cat's current condition.
- A clear image of the face and posture helps professionals look for signs of dehydration, like sunken eyes.
- Triage staff can identify jaundice, which appears as yellowing of the skin or ears.
- Visual cues, such as "hunched" positions, can indicate abdominal pain and help determine if emergency care is required.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Anorexia, either partial or complete, can accompany many underlying disorders, including drug reactions or environmental changes, and pain may be a significant contributor. Learned food aversions may also contribute, especially when therapeutic diets are introduced during illness. In cases of short-term food refusal, causes like dietary indiscretion or anxiety should be considered; withholding food briefly, offering an easily digested diet, and providing small amounts of water frequently may resolve the issue. Careful monitoring for persistent vomiting, depression, abdominal discomfort, or fever is critical, and reevaluation is warranted if these signs are present. Abdominal palpation should be performed to check for foreign bodies or discomfort, and oral examination in cats should rule out linear foreign bodies. Radiographs can help identify radiopaque objects or intestinal distention indicative of obstruction.
Chapter: Gastroenterology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 2381)