Cat Not Eating Much But Acting Normal? (5 Surprising Reasons)

As human beings experience loss of appetite, similar is the case with cats. Cats can also experience and avoid eating food. But have you wondered why your cat not eating much but acting normal? If your cat is experiencing anything like this, do not ignore it.

It is not normal for cats to lose appetite; there is always a reason behind it. Your cat is maybe having any issue or a specific disease. That is the reason behind this condition. The problem can be minor such as stress and can be severe such as cancer or liver disease. Therefore, you must pay attention to it.

Reading this article will help you to know why your cat is not eating much and showing normal behavior and what you need to do in this condition. Moreover, how can you prevent this situation from your cat, and what if it refuses to eat? Stick to the end of this article to get all the essential details.

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3 Major Threats If your Cat Not Eating Much But Acting Normal

There are different threats to your cat if it is not eating much food. If a cat is not eating proper meals, it will not get the desired amount of nutrients, which in turn can be problematic for your cat.

1. Inadequate Amount Of Protein:

When a cat is not eating enough amount of food, its liver will process the stored fat. Stored fat is used for the energy purpose of your cat. However, for the processing of fat, the liver needs a good supply of proteins. If it is not getting enough proteins, it will cause a problem for your cat.

2. Weight Loss of your Cat:

Not eating enough food also results in the loss of your cat’s weight. The amount of protein supply will be exhausted soon, and there will be overpowering of fat in the liver. Therefore, a cat must get the proper amount of proteins.

3. Liver Failure:

The overpowering of fats can be the reason for hepatic lipidosis, and it is dangerous for your cat. It will ultimately lead your cat to liver failure. Loss of appetite can be an indication of several different diseases; therefore, take your cat to the vet. He can suggest some changes in your cat’s eating habits that may prove fruitful.

Appetite Disorders In Cats

There are different disorders related to the appetite of your cat. Your cat can have an increased appetite, or it may suffer from the loss of appetite. A decline in a cat’s appetite can be due to several different reasons.

There are different medical problems that if your cat is suffering from any of them, it will experience the loss of appetite. Loss of appetite is not associated with a particular disease. There are different medical problems behind it, such as:

• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Increased blood pressure
• Pain in the GI tract
• Inflammation in the GI tract
• Diseases of urinary tract
• Anxiety
• Dental diseases
• Diseases of heart
• Stress

Your vet can identify the reason behind this condition of your cat based on the cat’s medical history and different tests.

5 Main Reasons Your Cat Not Eating And Acting Normal

Before finding out the solution, you need to figure out the reason why your cat is not eating much but acting normal. Some of the reasons have been explained below that can be the cause of your cat not eating much.

1. Any Vaccination Has Done Recently:

Vaccines are essential for the survival of animals, but they have a lot of adverse effects as well. Vaccines can also be the result of a loss in a cat’s appetite. However, it is normal. Also, it is mild and temporary and will not affect your cat too much.

2. Any Disease Or Illness:

Loss of appetite can also be an indication of some condition. Different disorders such as cancer, infection, or kidney failure can result in the loss of appetite. However, there is no need to worry every time because the pain in teeth can also cause decreased appetite.

3. Stress Or Anxiety:

Different psychological reasons are also responsible for your cat, not eating much food. Your cat will mostly refuse to eat anything if it is suffering from any stress or anxiety. A change in your house can also be the reason of stress for your cat.

4. Not Familiar Surroundings:

If you have made any change in your cat’s routine, it can result in the loss of appetite. It can also possibly occur if your cat has traveled recently or experiencing sickness.

5. Change In Food:

Cats need time to adjust to the new food. Therefore, if you have made any change in your cat’s diet recently, loss of appetite is normal. Your cat needs the proper time to become habitual of the new food.

7 Things To Do If Your Cat Not Eating Much But Acting Normal

It is essential to talk about the condition of your cat with the vet once you have noticed that your cat is not eating much. However, there are different things that you can do on your own or can try them if they prove helpful.

1. Check The Food You Are Feeding To Your Cat:

It is essential to have a look at the food that you are feeding your cat. You might have served your cat expired canned food, and as a result, it will not eat it. Always look for the expiry date and make sure that you do not leave the can open. Moreover, try to buy small portions of food from different brands to see if your cat likes them.

2. Changing The Food:

You can either make changes in your cat’s diet or change the food type. For example, if your cat is not eating dry food you can shift it to wet food. In this period, take a careful look at how your cat is behaving and also consult your vet. He can suggest some better changes that you can make to fulfill the amount of desired nutrients for your cat.

3. Make Your Cat Comfortable:

One of the reasons why your cat may stop eating is stress. Your cat may not feel comfortable due to different reasons. For example, if the bowl is not clean or it is not in a suitable place, it can stress your cat. Also, if it is placed somewhere near the litter box, your cat will not eat food.

4. Giving Treats Or Use Supplements:

Supplements should only be used with your vet’s recommendation. Only he can suggest when and which supplements to use. You can also give your feline fellow some treats when it is not eating anything, but it should not be done often.

5. Feed Your Cat With Your Hands:

Feeding your cat from your hand can be fruitful. Your cat may just need your attention, and when you feed it directly from your hand, it will make your cat get comfortable.

6. Playing With Your Cat:

Your cat may just demand your attention, so spend your time playing with it. It may return to eat its food after it, but if it’s still not eating much food, give her small bites while cuddling with it. 

7. Changing The Temperature Of Food:

It is essential to check if the food is warm or cold. Your cat may not eat its food if it has turned cold. It is especially crucial in case if you were feeding your cat warm wet food. Therefore, make sure that the food is not cold; otherwise, your cat will not eat it.

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4 Ways To Encourage Your Cat To Eat

If your cat is not eating the desired amount of food but still acting as normal as it was before, there are different ways in which you can encourage your cat to eat. These include:

1. Canned Liver Or Tuna:

These are one of the appetite stimulants and will help to develop your cat’s interest in food. Always give a small amount of this food because larger amounts can be dangerous for your cat.

2. Giving Commercial Canned Food To cat:

Instead of feeding your regular cat food, you can serve it with commercially canned food. Make sure that the food is warm, and you can mix it with fish oil, broth, and cooked egg. Always serve fresh food to your cat because your cat will not eat stale food or which has become hard.

3. Giving People’s Food To The Cat:

If there is some human food that is your cat’s favorite, you can mix it with regular cat food. It may excite your cat, and it will eat it. You can slowly change the ratio until it comes to the point where the significant portion of the meal depends on cat food.

4. Cat Food Brands:

Always try cat food brands that are best available in markets. Changing a cat food brand may also help your cat to eat its food correctly.

6 Methods To Prevent Loss Of Appetite In Cats

Some certain activities or reasons cause the loss of appetite in cats if there is no medical issue behind it. Therefore, you first need to stop these activities so that you can prevent your cat from eating less food. Below mentioned are some of the essential points that you need to keep in mind to prevent your cat from not eating much.

1. Change Of Food:

If you want to change your cat’s diet, always do it gradually. Do not change it suddenly because your cat needs time to get used to the new food. You can introduce it by giving a small amount of food.

2. Changing To Previous Food: 

You may have noticed any signs of illness or vomiting after you have introduced new food. It means that the new food was not good for your cat and causing problems. For this reason, immediately return to the diet that your cat was eating before.

3. Preventing Stress:

Stress is one of the reasons for appetite loss in cats; therefore, you need to stop your cat from it. If you are about to travel somewhere, or there is someone else coming at home, using pheromone plug-ins will be helpful.

4. Safe Area For Cats:

There should be an enclosed and secure area for a cat in your home. If you notice that your cat is not eating much food, you can serve its food in that area so that it feels safe. It can comfortably eat there.

5. New Kittens:

New kittens mostly face this problem of appetite loss because they are not used to their new home. They are probably under stress. It is essential for new kittens to feel safe so that they can easily adjust to a new home. Try to reduce their stress as much as you can.

6. Regular Checkups:

Regular checkups are essential for your cat. These checkups will help in identifying if there is an underlying medical reason behind appetite loss in cats. Annual vaccines are also crucial for the health of your cat.

What To Feed Your Cat When It’s Refusing To Eat?

In case if your cat is not eating typical cat food that you serve it daily, you can make different changes in it. Various food alternatives can be helpful to treat the loss of appetite for your cat. Half cooked meat or canned chicken mixed with chicken broth can be a delicious combination for your cat, and it may enjoy eating it. There are some commercial products as well that you can use to increase your cat’s appetite.

Also, these commercial products have a pleasant smell and taste that will be attractive for your cat. Purina FortiFlora probiotic and Native Pet Organic Bone Broth are the two products that you can use in different ways.

Different Appetite Stimulants To Give Your Cat

Below mentioned are some of the stimulants that you can use to increase your cat’s appetite. These include:

Use of Vetoquinol Nutricia:

This is considered among the best appetite stimulants to use for cats. It does not play the role of an appetizer but also as a nutrition enhancer. Moreover, it is suitable for all ages of cats.

Hartz Delectables Lickable Wet Cat Treats Bisque:

This stimulant is different from other appetizers because it is more like a treat for your cat. It is a chicken and tuna based recipe that is very attractive for cats, especially senior cats.

Lexelium Growth Boosting System:

This is an American product and is available in powdered form. You can simply mix it with regular cat food. It not only increases the cat’s appetite but is also helpful in developing your cat’s health.

Stimulate Appetite Of Your Cat Naturally

Suppose you want to increase your cat’s appetite naturally your first need to identify the reason behind it. As soon as you find out the cause and treat it, your cat will feel comfortable and start eating. Moreover, there are some DIY appetizers that you can use or commercial products to use one or two times.

Cat Licks Food But Doesn’t Eat

Cats stop eating if they do not like the food. But sometimes, even if you offer them their favorite food, they will still not eat it. It feels like they want to eat the food, but then they just don’t eat. They may lick it but then do not show any interest and walks away from it. It can also be a sign of discomfort. Moreover, lip licking the food is also a sign that your cat is nauseous. Therefore, take your cat to the vet so that he can identify the reason.

Cat Asking For Food But Not Eating

A cat asking for food is a sign that it is hungry, but there is a reason behind it if it doesn’t eat the food. For instance, there can be some disease behind it for which your cat is not eating. Your cat may be nauseous or in pain. Talk to your vet if you notice anything like this.

The Cat Seems Hungry But Won’t Eat

If your cat is showing interest in food means that your cat is hungry. Not eating food even when it is hungry is an indication of some disease. There may be some underlying medical issues that you need to figure out. Cats stop eating if they are suffering from any disease.

The Cat Stopped Eating Dry Food But Eats Treats

Sometimes your cat may stop eating the regular cat food. You can change the type of food, for example, shifting from dry food to wet food. If your cat only wants to treat all the time, you need to do something about it. Giving your cat treats all the time is also not healthy for it. You can talk to your vet so that he can provide some useful advice about it.

Cat Not Eating Much But Acting Normal – Final Words

Is your cat not eating much but acting normal? Well, you need to identify the reason behind this appetite loss in your cat. It can be any activity or any underlying medical disease that causes appetite loss in your cat.

There are different things that you can do if your cat has stopped eating. Moreover, encourage your cat to eat food by giving some treat or using stimulants. Take essential steps to prevent the loss of appetite in your cat.