Warning: Undefined variable $href_target in /usr/home/drmarie/public_html/askavetquestion.com/phpGiggle/phpgiggle-config.inc.php on line 44
Cat only eating half the normal amount of food. | Ask A Vet
 

 


Dog ate chocolate?

ask a vet

Cat not eating much.

Species: Cat
Breed: Non especific
Age: 1-2 years
Hi. My cat as some allergy problems since he is allergic to turkey and corn. For the past 3 months i have been feeding him with a pet food named Orijen 6 fish because it doesn't have any of the components he is allergic to. For the past 2 days,chocolate as decreased drastically the amount of food per day he eats to about half of the quantity he used to. I'm worried that this might be another allergic reaction to some coponent of this food. He doesn't have any other symptoms. If i offer him some wet food he eat it. Sould i worry? Thanks. Sorry for my bad english. I'm portuguese.
Ana Vilela


Warning: Undefined variable $related_questions in /usr/home/drmarie/public_html/askavetquestion.com/related1.php on line 75

Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /usr/home/drmarie/public_html/askavetquestion.com/related1.php on line 75

Warning: Undefined variable $related_articles in /usr/home/drmarie/public_html/askavetquestion.com/related1.php on line 75

Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /usr/home/drmarie/public_html/askavetquestion.com/related1.php on line 75

Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi Ana,

There's no need to worry about your English at all. I can understand you perfectly!

It is always hard to know what is going on when a cat loses his appetite. When a cat doesn't want to eat his normal amount there is almost always a medical reason for it. In other words, cats rarely just decide that they don't want to eat.

What I can't tell you though is whether or not this is due to his food allergy. I find that most cats with food allergies will have diarrhea and sometimes itchy skin. If he is not having those symptoms then there is likely to be another reason for the lack of appetite.

Here are some things to consider:

1. Have you recently bought a new bag of food? Sometimes a new bag can be "off" and a cat can refuse to eat it because of this. If this is the case, then trying a new food is a good idea. If he will eat a new food then I would take back your bag of Orijen and get a new one.

2. Are you near the end of the bag of food? If so, sometimes a food can go stale or mouldy if you have had it for more than 3-4 weeks. Again, try a new food and if that works it is time to buy a new bag of his regular food.

3. Does Chocolate go outside? The most common reason for an outdoor kitty to go off of his food is if he has been bitten or scratched by another cat and has an infection. Often, we can't see the actual bite or scratch. If he does go outside then I'd recommend a vet checkup for him as he may need some antibiotics.

There are other possible reasons for him to go off of his food such as a condition called pancreatitis, or a foreign object in his stomach or a number of other reasons.

I think it is a great idea to try him with some new food. Wet food is not a bad idea, just to see if he will eat. If he eats that but then after a day or two starts to refuse it, or if he refuses it altogether then this tells me that he should see the doctor.

I hope this helps, but let me know if you have more questions.

Dr. Marie.



Warning: Undefined variable $displayed in /usr/home/drmarie/public_html/askavetquestion.com/answer_np.php on line 253
Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?


Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.

Want to receive pet coupons, vet advice and info on new pet products in your inbox?

* indicates required

We'll only send you great stuff, never spam. Unsubscribe any time.

Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

Customer reply:

Thanks a lot for your response. He doesn't go outside. And the bag of food he is been eating now is the same one he was eating 2 days ago. Thats why i was worried. The thing is he doesn't search for the food but sometimes if i put the food in front of him he eats some. I'mworried. I will wait for 2 days or so, but if this behaviour continues i will take him to the vet. My concern is that the last time he lost is apetite i had to feed him with a syringe for almost 3 months. Thanks for you time.
Ana Vilela


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

I think that is a good plan. If he completely loses his appetite or if he continues like this for another 24-48 hours then I think it's best to have the vet take a look at him.

If a cat goes off of his food for too long he is at risk for a serious condition called fatty liver.

I hope he feels better soon!

Dr. Marie.



Customer reply:

Thanks a lot for your response. He doesn't go outside. And the bag of food he is been eating now is the same one he was eating 2 days ago. Thats why i was worried. The thing is he doesn't search for the food but sometimes if i put the food in front of him he eats some. I'mworried. I will wait for 2 days or so, but if this behaviour continues i will take him to the vet. My concern is that the last time he lost is apetite i had to feed him with a syringe for almost 3 months. Thanks for you time.
Ana Vilela


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Ooops...somehow your reply got added twice. You can see my reply above.



Customer reply:

If he doesn't get better, according to you, what should i ask the vet for? Some x-ray or blood analysis? Or something else? Thanks!


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Really, it will depend on the vet's exam and they will advise you on what tests are best.

They likely will want to do some blood work as this can tell us a lot. If on the physical exam it feels like there is pain or a foreign object in his abdomen then they will probably want to do some xrays.

If he has a fever, then they probably will want to do blood tests but may decide to just put him on antibiotics.





Search for similar questions:

ask a vet

Popular questions...

Can I give hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting? I gave my puppy a tablespoon and a half of hydrogen peroxide to help him throw up... (29118 views)

Dog with swollen shoulder. There is something wrong with one side of my dogs shoulder. It looks swollen but if... (22495 views)

Dog with allergies. Dr, I'm afraid Max's allergies are getting the better of him. Symptom... (9670 views)

Rapid weight loss. Hello Dr. Marie, First I have to sadly say that I can not afford a vet visit for... (9833 views)

Do cats get leptospirosis? Hi... My Name is Dasha.. i'm from Jakarta, Indonesia. I had a kitten, named Lilo,... (14774 views)

Dog licking anus after vaccines. The day after a routine vax appt with a new vet, our dog suddenly began licking her... (16272 views)

Pregnant cat in heat? I thought Clhoe was pregnant , she went into (Heat)a month ago and was seen being...... (18076 views)

Cat with bump on skin. My 5 year old cat has a small bump on the back of his neck. It moves with the skin... (15398 views)

Can puppy go outside? I was just wondering when it is okay to take Marley for walkes? He only has his... (13170 views)

Shedding calicivirus. Hi can I breed from a cat shedding FCV? She has no symptoms but doen't seem to be... (10386 views)

See all questions...

Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.