Cats only drink water but don’t eat. How to help cats regain their appetite?

Oct 31,2023
5Min

Cats drinking water without eating can be a dangerous situation because cats need adequate nutrition to stay healthy. If your cat consistently refuses to eat, you need to take action as soon as possible to identify the cause of the problem and resolve it. Here are some possible reasons why your cat won’t eat and some suggestions on how to fix them.

 1. Disease or illness

Cats may refuse food due to certain diseases or conditions. These conditions may include infections, gastroenteritis, digestive problems, oral problems, dental problems, and more. If your cat is not eating and has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lack of energy, and physical weakness, you need to take it to the veterinarian for examination and treatment as soon as possible.

 2. Dietary preferences or taste issues

Some cats have their own food preferences or tastes, and if they are not satisfied with a certain food or brand of food, they may not want to eat it. If your cat is dissatisfied with a certain food, you can try a different flavor or brand of food, or give her a few different food options.

 3. Tension or pressure

Cats may refuse food due to nervousness or stress. This may occur in situations such as a move, the departure of a family member, or the arrival of a new family member. If this happens to your cat, you can give it some time to adjust to its new surroundings or new family members while creating a quiet and comfortable environment for it. You can also try to distract it by providing it with toys and games that are suitable for it.

4. Issues such as food basins and drinking water basins

If your cat’s food bowl, drinking bowl and other containers are unclean or inappropriately located, it may affect its appetite. Therefore, you need to clean food bowls, drinking bowls and other containers regularly and place them where cats can easily access them.

 5. Other questions

In addition to the above problems, there may be other reasons why cats do not eat, such as dental problems, liver or kidney disease, drug side effects, etc. So if you've tried the above tips and it still doesn't work, or your cat is exhibiting other unusual symptoms, you should take her to the vet as soon as possible for a checkup and help. ​​​​​​

In addition to taking corresponding measures against the above possible causes, there are also some methods that can help cats restore their appetite:

1. Provide clean and fresh water

Keeping your cat drinking enough water can help keep her healthy and help her resume eating.want. Ensure clean, fresh water is available and water bowls are cleaned regularly.

2. Try feeding by hand

Some cats may prefer to be fed by hand. You can put some food in your cat's mouth with your hands and help it gradually get used to the feeling of eating food.

3. Provide high-protein, high-nutrition food

High-protein, high-nutrient food can help cats absorb nutrients more easily and restore their appetite. You can try giving it some high-protein foods, such as chicken, fish, liver, etc.

4. Provide wet cat food

Wet cat food is easier to digest than dry cat food and provides cats with more moisture. You can try giving your cat some wet cat food and see if it accepts it.

5. Give nutritional supplements

If your cat needs additional nutritional support, you may consider giving it some nutritional supplements, such as vitamins or minerals.

In short, if your cat only drinks water but does not eat, you need to take prompt measures and find out the cause of the problem. If you've tried the above suggestions and it still doesn't work, or your cat shows other unusual symptoms, you should take her to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a checkup and help.

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