Is My Cat Anorexic? - Anorexia in Cats

To know if your cat is anorexic, we need to understand the condition itself. Anorexia is the term for the condition when an organism doesn't eat. It can be synonymous with a lack of appetite since the cat will not eat. There are multiple reasons why a cat will not eat, ranging from physiological pathologies to psychological stress.

Generally, anorexia in cats occurs as an acute phase response arising from internal physiological changes. These can include infections, diseases, trauma, organ damage, tumors, and others. We should differentiate anorexia, the symptom, from anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa occurs as a psychological condition associated with mental health. Cats do not suffer anorexia nervosa in the same way as human beings.

It's important to recognize that while cats may not experience anorexia nervosa, their refusal to eat can still have severe impacts on their health. Loss of appetite in cats is often a sign of an underlying issue that must be addressed promptly to prevent further complications.

Anorexia in cats can occur due to many different medical conditions. Although it can happen at any stage of a cat's life, it is more common in older cats. This is due to age-related diseases which can have anorexia as a symptom. The most common causes of feline anorexia include:

• Oral diseases: Painful diseases of the gums, teeth, or soft tissues of the mouth can be due to infections, fractures, dental resorption, tumors, or chronic gingivostomatitis. The resulting pain can make eating very difficult, and the cat often chooses not to eat rather than endure the discomfort. This can be exacerbated if they only have dry feed, which can be too hard to chew comfortably.
• Food rejection: If you have abruptly changed the cat's food, it is possible they will reject the new one. If this happens, the cat will lose weight over time. It may not be that the cat won't like the new feed, but that the sudden change has caused them to reject it.
• Heat: A cat in heat will be very anxious and nervous. The heat period can make the cat very frustrated, so much so their only objective is to mate, eschewing even eating. Sterilization is recommended in cats for many reasons, and preventing this situation is one of them.
• Stress or anxiety: Cats are very sensitive to stress, so even minimally stressful situations can lead to various consequences, including anorexia. Take a look at the reasons why cats are stressed to know more.
• Poisoning: If your feline ingests a toxic substance, such as certain types of plants or unsuitable human food, they can suffer internal damage. The cat will be so ill that they will not want to eat. In fact, in some cases, we will detect other clinical signs which require urgent treatment.
• Environmental Changes: Cats are creatures of habit, and changes in their environment, such as moving to a new home or the arrival of a new pet, can lead to stress-induced anorexia. Creating a calm and stable environment can help mitigate this.

• Problems with smell: Cats use their noses to breathe and to smell food. Any blockage can cause a loss of appetite, in addition to causing stress and discomfort.
• Infectious or parasitic disease: Diseases weaken cats and have various symptoms. For example, feline rhinotracheitis causes rhinitis and nasal discharge that make them lose their sense of smell, eventually causing them to stop eating.
• Esophageal disease: Esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux, or foreign bodies in the esophagus can be extremely annoying and painful for our cats. They will also affect the ingestion of food, as these increase friction with the esophageal mucosa and can be very painful. Inflammation of the stomach or gastritis can also lead to anorexia.
• Pancreatic disease: Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas is a cause of abdominal pain in cats, although this discomfort is sometimes difficult to notice. Anorexia is one of the symptoms of this disease.
• Liver or biliary disease: Diseases of the liver parenchyma or biliary tract can cause anorexia in cats, in addition to other signs associated with the process.
• Intestinal disease: Intestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, enteritis, foreign bodies, or tumors can cause the cat to be unwell, listless, and stop eating.
• Renal failure: The kidneys are involved in filtering the blood, so if they do not work properly, toxins accumulate, and cats do not feel well, causing anorexia among other symptoms.
• Metabolic Disorders: Conditions like diabetes or hyperthyroidism can lead to changes in appetite. While some cats may eat more, others may lose their appetite entirely.

As we have said, anorexia is not a disease but a clinical sign resulting from multiple possible causes. If the underlying cause is not treated quickly, the anorexia can progress. When this occurs, the cat is not getting the nutrients they need to survive, which causes various secondary symptoms. These can include poor coat appearance, dehydration, malnutrition, lethargy, weakness, muscle atrophy, and more.

If we want to know if our cat is anorexic, we need to determine if they have something causing anorexia. For this reason, we present some other specific symptoms of feline diseases that lead to anorexia:

• Kidney disease: Polyuria-polydipsia syndrome can be observed, i.e., the cat urinates and drinks more than normal.
• Hepatobiliary disease: It is possible to see jaundice, which is the yellowing of the mucous membranes, lethargy, or swelling of the abdomen due to the abnormal accumulation of fluids.
• Pancreatitis: Abdominal pain, dehydration, and weakness are common with pancreatic inflammation.
• Inflammatory bowel disease: As with other bowel disorders, you can see digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, malabsorption, or electrolyte imbalances.
• Esophageal and gastric disorders: These can cause vomiting, regurgitation, hypersalivation, coughing, fever, and extended head and neck posture when swallowing. This last symptom is due to odynophagia, which is pain when swallowing.
• Behavioral Changes: Besides physical symptoms, behavioral changes like increased hiding, reduced social interaction, or irritability can also indicate an underlying issue leading to anorexia.

Anorexia in cats is relatively easy for caregivers to diagnose. In principle, we can see it when the cat eats very little or no food at all. However, the underlying cause, which has anorexia as a symptom, is much more difficult to discern. This is partly because there are so many possible reasons for their appetite loss.

For diagnosis of the underlying cause, we must take the cat to a veterinarian. Only they can accurately diagnose the condition. They will do so by performing some combination of the following tests:

• Physical examination
• Anamnesis (medical history)
• Blood tests
• X-ray
• Ultrasound
• Cytology
• Biopsy

Each test helps pinpoint the specific cause of the anorexia, allowing for targeted treatment. It should be noted that the sooner the cause is identified, the better the prognosis for recovery.

Anorexia doesn't always mean a cat will not eat at all. Take a look at our article on why my cat only eats a little at a time to know more.

Once anorexia is diagnosed, treatment must begin immediately to avoid the advance of negative effects. Haste is especially important in young kittens due to their vulnerability. They have low energy reserves but a high energy demand, and their immune system is still developing.

Overweight and obese cats are also at higher risk, as they have a higher risk of developing liver lipidosis. Hepatic lipidosis is a liver disorder that involves the accumulation of fat vacuoles in liver cells. It is also known as fatty liver disease in cats and can have serious consequences, even death.

Due to dehydration, anorexic cats may need to be hydrated as soon as possible through fluid therapy. It may be necessary to force-feed the cat through feeding tubes to prevent complications. Once these immediate problems are addressed, the underlying cause will need to be treated.

Furthermore, maintaining a stress-free environment and adhering to a consistent feeding schedule can aid recovery. Offering a variety of food textures and flavors may also encourage the cat to start eating again. Always consult with the veterinarian for the most appropriate dietary adjustments.

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