As a cat owner, there would be an occasion that your furry animal may experience some issues relating to their desire of eating. It becomes more confusing since the cat initially shows a sign of longing for food. At first, she hastily approaches the food you just serve, then barely touch it or only take a small lick out of it. You may assume your cat has turned into a picky eater. Therefore, it is not safe to force the meal she has already rejected.
You should not only concern the food you give. Sometimes the problem comes from the cat’s health or its environment. Whether the medical reason that produces the loss of appetite or not, it is your duty to determine the cause of your pet’s reluctance to consume its meal. Hence, you may be able to help your hungry cat to gain her will to eat again. Here are some reasons why cats do not eat even they seem hungry. You can also jump to another article discussing the most common causes of cats who would not eat.
1. Stress
Contrary to humans’ popular belief that eating food can solve their state of depression, the stressful cats would not even perceive their meal as appealing anymore. There are many different reasons underlying this psychological issue. And the environment where the cats are in often plays a big part in developing this very issue.
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New environment and experience
Either you have just recently moved or have to bring your cat to your parents’ house, the feline may not tolerate the new surroundings before her eyes. You may find it hard for cats to adapt to new places since they are already too attached to their old territory. Added to that, cats leave their pheromones throughout the place they consider home—the areas that are safe and pose small chances of threat. Therefore, it would be normal for cats to become unsettling once they meet the new environment.
Placing a new furniture or renovating or doing other things that cause a sudden change to your house is likely to get your cat depressed. Letting cats wandering outside for the first time might also put them in a great dismay. They may encounter the neighbor’s dogs or other animals and it might become a dreadful experience.
You better do these things progressively and give your little companion a treat each time you introduce new environments and experience.
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New member in the family
Cats that are taken as pets may become stressed when your house accepts an additional member. It may be a pet, like a dog, or a newborn baby. The same can happen in the room full of people. Despite some cats are capable to deal with this situation, others may refuse and run to another room. It is okay though to leave your cat alone. You should make her accustomed to the new presence first and give the introduction afterward.
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Leaving your cat bored
Keeping cats in one limited room or cage is a common mistake done by many pet owners. It can make cats depressed since there isn’t much activity they can do. After all, cats are not sloth. Their nature to hunt means they need to be active and relieve their muscle. If you don’t have much time to play with your pet, at least give her toys to play with. Cats would enjoy their selves within a room provided with windows, climbing obstacles and scratching posts.
2. The food itself
The food you are feeding may become the source of why your seemingly hungry cat isn’t willing to eat. You may consider some of these factors if your cat starts to avoid its current meal.
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Fed up with the food
Giving the same food routinely for a long time may have put your cat into a boredom. For this reason, you are suggested to change its diet occasionally. The brand you take may supply various products with different tastes. You may also provide chicken meat or fish as an alternative. Be wary though, serving raw food is not a good thing for cats’ health.
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New food
Your cat may have a hard time when given a new food, especially after the prolonged consumption of one particular product.  Cats’ sensitive digestion may barely accept the different food and it can affect their desire to eat. If you are dealing with this issue, change the food gradually. Begin mixing it with the previous meal in a small amount and slowly gain the quantity in the next meal.
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Wrong placement of the food
Sometimes the problem of cats’ appetite loss comes from where you put the food. Many cat owners often locate the food near the litter box. This naturally hygienic creature would not stand the sight of the meal sitting in the same area with her own poop. Given the cat’s trait as a hunter, you should also consider separating your cat’s water from its food. By doing so, you have helped your cat to stimulate its sense of hunting.
You have to be careful if there are more than a cat or other different pet in your house. Cats are surprisingly a lonely hunter, which means they prefer an exclusive food bowl (water container and litter box included). Meals stored in one or very near to each other can turn into a war for food between your cats. Not to mention if one dominates others, the remaining cats may have to decline their urge to eat or only consume the remnant.
Sticking the food close to something cats dislike can also encourage them to not eat. Be aware of what they despise and put their nourishment away from anything they perceive as a threat.
3. Medical issues
If you are sure that your cat’s loss of appetite is not a result of any factor mentioned above, your pet may possibly suffer an illness. You cannot specifically determine this since there are many numbers of ailment that cause cat’s unwillingness to eat. Hence, you may need your veterinarian to take care of this problem. Recognizing some common illnesses may prove its usefulness, as you can aid your vet while diagnosing the cause.
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Issues around the chewing area
Cats may develop injury inside their mouth, lose their teeth or have a broken jaw. These may produce an unpleasant experience for cats when biting their meal. Spine problem may also leave the same effect. While cats cannot keep its position while eating, they suffer the extreme pain just by munching the food. Soon as cats cannot help the pain, they would refuse to eat even they are starving.
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Digestive disorder
Also called Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. This illness decreases the absorption of food in cats’ body. Inflammation may happen within the stomach and intestines, leaving a pain and other issues such as diarrhea and vomiting. Cats may seem nauseated and lack the will to eat once they suffer this disease.
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Kidney problem
It usually affects the older cats because their kidneys have slowly lost its function and cannot regenerate. Cats inflicted by this issue are likely to have little energy, which results in loss of appetite and body weight.