How do you tell if your cat is unwell or just being fussy?

[Girlinblue]

My cat hasn’t really eaten much over the last day. I got home from work yesterday so see she hadn’t eaten all of her food. I threw what was left away and put fresh down but she didn’t eat for the rest of the day. So far today she also hasn’t eaten anything. However she is acting fine. She is her usual self, alert, responsive, running over to me when I call her, purring when I stroke her, she went out for a bit this morning and is now back chilling and cleaning herself. She doesn’t seem ill at all. I’ve tried her with two different types of wet food, some fresh chicken and tuna and she won’t eat any of them. She licked the wet food a couple of times and then decided she didn’t want it.

is she just being fussy? Or should I be worried? If she doesn’t eat anything at all today, I’m going to take her to the vets anyway just in case

Despite being an ex stray, a proper food thief, our boy can be a right little diva around cat food and knows he will be offered something better if he doesn't fancy what he's given. I find putting a "chicken yoghurt" (Lick-e-Lix) on wet food if he's not eaten it can tip the balance from woman-you-are-trying-to-poison-me to acceptable. If he didn't take that, or tuna out of a tin, I would be quite worried, although he will often not eat all his evening meal right away, and finish it through the night.

Is she usually a good eater. Cats are notorious for hiding illness so I would be inclined to get her checked over by a vet. Although could she have eaten elsewhere. Does she go out? Could be a case of Six Dinner Sid.

She does go out but the neighbours always say she runs away from them if they try to go near her so I don’t think she’s being fed elsewhere. She is usually so greedy, so it’s a big change. I have booked an appointment for the morning at the vets

Good luck tomorrow hope she is ok. Could be dental if she’s licking her food. Do you have any lick e Lix Cats normally go mad for that. If it’s out of character for her it’s best to get it checked out.

I always remember my vet saying that if cats stop eating they can go downhill quickly. I think you are doing the right thing having a vet check. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

She has eaten two bites of her food this morning and had a drink. So at least she is drinking. But I’m so worried at such a drastic reduction in appetite. Appointment at 10

Hope the vet goes well, OP. Our previous cat went off her food when she needed teeth out - presumably her mouth was hurting and she got to the point when that overtook her usual greediness. We got medicine for a few days until her appointment for the extractions, she had the teeth out and a scale and polish, and by that evening was 100% back to normal. Let us know how you are.

How did you get on OP?

The vet couldn’t see anything wrong. She said to see how it goes for another few days and bring her back Monday. She has eaten a little bit tonight, she had a few treats, a bit of chicken and a little bit of her own food. Not massive amounts but at least she’s eaten something