Cat Not Eating But Still Purring? Possible Reasons & What to Do

January 31, 2024

The publish Cat Not Eating But Still Purring? Possible Reasons & What to Do by Misty Layne appeared first on Catster. Copying over total articles infringes on copyright legal guidelines. You might not be conscious of it, however all of those articles had been assigned, contracted and paid for, so they don’t seem to be thought-about public area. However, we recognize that you simply just like the article and would find it irresistible if you happen to continued sharing simply the primary paragraph of an article, then linking out to the remainder of the piece on Catster.com.

When cats aren’t feeling effectively, they will exhibit a variety of behaviors, together with hiding away from the remainder of the household and avoiding meals. What in case your cat is just not consuming however nonetheless behaving usually, resembling purring? Does that imply your pet is ailing, or is one thing else happening?

There are a number of causes your cat could possibly be not consuming however nonetheless purring, starting from having a difficulty with their meals to a medical drawback. What are these causes? Here are 11 attainable causes your cat isn’t consuming however continues to be purring and what to do when this occurs!

The 7 Possible Reasons Why Your Cat Is Not Eating But Still Purring

1. Problem With Their Food

One of the extra frequent causes for a cat to begin avoiding their meals whereas nonetheless purring and performing usually is as a result of there’s one thing in regards to the meals the cat doesn’t like. You may need not too long ago modified meals manufacturers or flavors, however the brand new one merely doesn’t do it on your pet. Your cat may also have simply determined to all of the sudden be choosy about what they’re consuming, or your cat’s meals may need gone stale. Felines have sharp senses of scent in order that they will choose up on small adjustments of their meals, like staleness.

This is a straightforward drawback to resolve, although. If meals is stale, you may strive retaining meals in an hermetic container or buying small luggage of meals as a substitute of huge luggage. If you switched meals not too long ago, change again to what your pet appreciated beforehand, or if you happen to can’t return for some motive, strive including a small little bit of rooster broth (the low-sodium form) or a type of cat gravy toppers to the meals. The addition of broth or gravy might assist in case your pet has all of the sudden develop into choosy, too.

Bengal cat beside food Image Credit: Svetlana Rey, Shutterstock

2. Food Aversion

Have you ever been in a scenario you didn’t get pleasure from that ended up with you ceaselessly associating a track, scent, or meals with it and desirous to by no means hear, scent, or eat that factor once more? The similar factor can occur together with your cat. If your pet has not too long ago had a keep on the hospital or boarding facility, they might find yourself with meals aversion as a result of they affiliate this meals with a adverse expertise. The easiest resolution is to strive providing quite a lot of flavors and textures, if you happen to suspect this can be the case.

3. Had a Recent Vaccination

You understand how typically, while you get vaccinated for one thing, you find yourself feeling sort of awful the following day or two? Well, that may occur to your cat, as effectively, and one of many extra frequent vaccination uncomfortable side effects for felines is nausea, which may trigger your pet to not eat however nonetheless purr like regular. The excellent news is that any nausea attributable to vaccination ought to vanish in 48 hours or much less.

However, in case your cat nonetheless avoids meals after that interval, contact your pet’s vet, as it might be an indication of an hostile response to the vaccination (although this occurs not often).

cat-vet-vaccine Image Credit: Tyler Olson, Shutterstock

4. Is Too Hot

You most likely eat lighter when temperatures are extraordinarily excessive, so wouldn’t it make sense on your cat to do the identical? When it’s too sizzling, chances are high good your cat will eat a lot lower than regular. In truth, one examine discovered that felines eat as a lot as 15% fewer energy throughout the hotter months. Most possible, cats eat much less when it’s sizzling as a result of they’re expending much less vitality, in order that they require fewer energy.

There’s not a lot you are able to do to persuade your cat to eat when it’s sizzling out, particularly if their physique doesn’t actually need the additional energy. But you may guarantee your pet stays hydrated by retaining contemporary, clear water out there always.

5. Minor Gastrointestinal Issue

If your cat is affected by a minor gastrointestinal difficulty, they could cease consuming however proceed to behave usually. Of course, if the issue is a significant one, your cat will most likely not be purring and as a substitute will exhibit signs apart from merely skipping a meal or two. But in case your cat continues to be purring and never having points like vomiting, diarrhea, or weight reduction, it’s most likely simply delicate abdomen upset or irritation.

As lengthy as the issue is delicate, it ought to clear up by itself in a day or two, but when signs worsen, you need to go to your vet.

man petting a sick siberian cat Image Credit: Olesya Alexandrova, Shutterstock

6. Mild Dental Issues

The similar holds true for delicate dental points. You most likely don’t wish to eat a lot in case you have a tooth that’s aching, and your cat doesn’t both! Mild dental issues resembling a toothache or free tooth may cause your cat to keep away from consuming (particularly in the event that they’re being given dry meals).

If the issue issues your cat’s enamel, a go to to the vet to search out and treatment the difficulty is advisable. You may wish to communicate together with your vet about common enamel cleanings on your feline to keep away from additional dental bother.

7. Cold or Allergies

Felines can undergo from colds and allergic reactions identical to us, and after they do, there’s an opportunity they might start to refuse to eat whereas persevering with to purr and act usually. In this case, meals avoidance is probably going attributable to having a stuffy nostril; if the cat is congested, they will’t scent meals, in order that they most likely received’t wish to eat it. When this occurs, you may strive warming up a little bit of moist cat meals for them (doing this makes the meals smellier). You may also try giving them some fish that’s additional smelly.

If your cat hasn’t recovered from their chilly or allergic reactions after a number of days, or in the event that they develop into torpid, develop runny eyes, or have a fever, a vet go to is so as.

orange tabby cat sneezing Image Credit: Olgaalisa, Shutterstock

cat paw divider

Side Effects of Medication

Like with vaccines, sure medicines may cause uncomfortable side effects in felines. One frequent aspect impact is nausea, which may result in the cat not consuming. Just a number of sorts of drugs that may trigger abdomen upset in cats embody antibiotics, medication for hypertension, ache medication, and anti-parasitics.

If you imagine treatment is the reason for your cat’s meals avoidance, you’ve got a few choices. If they’re solely taking the drugs short-term, it is likely to be finest to easily wait it out whereas making an attempt to encourage your pet to eat (and guarantee they’re staying hydrated). But if the drugs must be taken long-term, communicate with the kitty’s vet to find out if there are different medicines your pet may take.

1. Experiencing Stress

It isn’t unusual for cats to expertise stress and anxiousness. Felines are large followers of routine, so essentially the most minute adjustments can create loads of anxiousness for them. And if the cat is burdened, they might cease consuming or eat much less, even whereas nonetheless purring.

What are some causes of stress and anxiousness in cats? Losing a member of the family (human or animal), new furnishings in the home, a brand new house, new animals in the home, new people in the home, and a lot extra. The finest means to assist your cat right here is to attempt to assist them cope with the stress they’re experiencing.

tabby shorthair cat in a crouching position with a wide eyed expression and dilated pupils Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock

2. Mild Pain

A cat experiencing ache may undoubtedly cease consuming, and if the ache was merely delicate, it wouldn’t be extraordinary for them to proceed purring and performing usually. If your cat is experiencing ache, you’ll most likely see different indicators of it, although these indicators will differ by ailment. A cat who’s limping may have one thing caught within the paw, whereas a feline experiencing a abdomen ache may vomit in some unspecified time in the future. If you may’t work out the place your pet is experiencing ache, let their vet take a look at them.

3. Early Stage of Undiagnosed Illness

This might be the least frequent motive a cat wouldn’t be consuming however would nonetheless be purring, however there’s at all times an opportunity your pet is to start with phases of an sickness or illness. Some situations, even within the early phases, may cause a kitty to have much less urge for food. These situations embody viral and bacterial infections, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

If your cat isn’t feeling effectively, they’ll possible even be separating themselves from the remainder of the household, sleeping extra, and even changing into grumpy if disturbed. If different indicators seem, it’s time for a go to to the vet.

sad-sick-cat Image Credit: Julia-Cherk, Shutterstock

cat paw divider

Conclusion

If you’ve got a kitty who’s purring however not consuming, there are quite a few causes this could possibly be occurring. Remember, purring can be an indication of sickness, so simply because your cat continues to be purring isn’t at all times a superb factor. Sometimes purring signifies an ailing cat, and in most of the above examples, purring might not be a lot a contented purr, however one in all a cat that equally, doesn’t really feel effectively. So, if you happen to suspect any of the above, rigorously monitor your cat, and in the event that they skip greater than a meal or two, it’s time to communicate together with your vet!

Sources