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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Cat off his food (usually very greedy)

16 replies

Ski37 · 05/01/2019 16:07

My usually very greedy cat is off his food at the moment. He eats Thrive chicken dry and usually gobbles it up so quickly that I started hiding half of it in treat balls so it would slow him down. For the past 5 days he’s just not been that interested and is eating only the equivalent of one meal a day. This started after I had relatives over for Christmas (they’ve all stayed before and he knows them) and then I went away for 3 nights over New Year when his usual cat sitter came in to feed him.
He seems perfectly well in himself, has his usual energy, is playing as normal and drinking well. He even wakes me up each morning to be fed but then stops after a few mouthfuls.
My thoughts were either he’s a bit unsettled after Christmas/New Year or that the cold weather means he’s not going out as much so isn’t as hungry (he usually comes and goes through the cat flap all night but he’s been sleeping on my bed most of the night since I got back).
I’m usually the first person to say “take to the vets for a check up” but he’s just so well, hasn’t lost any weight and is still drinking as normal.
There is always the chance that he is finding food elsewhere but he is generally timid of strangers and the last mouse he caught was deposited alive in my bed ( that was fun 😡)
Has anyone else had cats that have temporarily gone off their food for no reason?

OP posts:
Ski37 · 05/01/2019 16:15

Obviously if this continues for much longer he will be going to the vet but as he hates the cat carrier so much it seems unfair to stress him unnecessarily if it’s just something that cats do occasionally.

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mimibunz · 05/01/2019 16:19

I would just keep an eye on him. He’s drinking water. Is he grooming himself? Would you try tempting him with a bit of tuna or chicken? Human food, I mean.

Ski37 · 05/01/2019 16:39

@mimibunz he’s grooming himself as normal but now you mention it his fur isn’t as ‘shiny’ as it usually is ( when he had his annual check up 4 weeks ago the vet actually commented on how good his fur was).
He’s never been one for human food as treats but loves dreamies and is still coming running for them when I shake the box ( and eating them). I’d like to think he is just being a contrary cat ....

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mimibunz · 05/01/2019 16:51

He’s probably just a bit out of sorts from the holidays and having his routine disrupted. See how he is this weekend and make your decision about the vet on Monday morning? Contrary?? A cat?? Grin

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/01/2019 17:12

Teeth? You’ve got to get him checked regardless. No one just stops eating.

Ski37 · 05/01/2019 17:36

@Fluffycloundland77 good point - I hadn’t thought of teeth but he’s only just over 3 years old and 4 weeks ago at his check up his teeth were fine. He’s not showing any signs of discomfort in his mouth and will still snaffle dreamies if rattled.

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Ski37 · 05/01/2019 17:38

If he’s still the same on Monday I’ll get him checked.

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RandomMess · 05/01/2019 17:41

It could be anything we've had a blade of grass stuck up nose (went down when vomiting up fur ball apparently) and a different one with a blade of grass stuck in throat!

It's takes a lot for them to go off their food Sad

Ski37 · 05/01/2019 18:03

@RandomMess- blade of grass up the nose sounds like something he could definitely do..... he’s been out digging in the garden today and bringing in sticks as if he’s a dog . The food aversion happened before this though. Maybe he’s got a fur ball. The last one had no warning!

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RandomMess · 05/01/2019 18:09

Dread to think how long it had been up there... thought she was sulking because I'd gone from SAHM to working full time and I was (still bloody an) "hers" Blush

The blade got stuck on its way out of her stomach, as a semi long hair that refuses brushing with a knotty coat fur balls are fairly common here!

mimibunz · 05/01/2019 18:34

Please keep us updated, Ski37

Ski37 · 08/01/2019 11:53

Well he seems to be back to his normal self other than the fact it’s still taking him most of the day to eat his breakfast. I’m putting his dinner down before I go to bed in the evening and it’s all gone by the morning so maybe he’s just finally learning some self restraint 😂 On the other hand there was a dead mouse in the kitchen this morning so he’s obviously hunting - maybe I’m just seeing the ones he doesn’t eat and he’s been filling up on his self caught ‘snacks’ over night. Either way he’s still fine in himself and his fur is back to its normally shiny state so I’ll just continue to keep an eye on him. I never thought I’d worry so much about a cat 😍

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DonDrapersOldFashioned · 08/01/2019 11:59

it takes a lot for them to go off their food

Not all of them! Mine goes ‘off his food’ regularly. Little Lord Fauntleroy, that he is.

A couple of days before a fur ball? Check
If he’s bored of the brand/flavour? Check
If the weather is too warm? Check
If we’ve been away?
Check
Changes to his routine (Christmas/NY/bonfire night etc) ?
Check

Hmm

Glad yours is feeling better now, OP.

mimibunz · 08/01/2019 12:11

So glad he’s feeling better! They do creep into our hearts, don’t they? Smile

Ski37 · 08/01/2019 13:39

They definitely do😻 although I’m feeling slightly less love for mine at the moment after going out to bring the bins back in- he obviously decided it was play time and that I was his ‘prey’ to catch- lots of hiding behind plants, stalking me and then attacking my ankles 😂😂😂 At least I know he is back to his normal self!!!

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WindyWednesday · 08/01/2019 18:34

Cats do go off their food sometimes. My mum says it’s due to eating “a salty mouse” no idea what it means!

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