Why is my cat suddenly refusing to eat her food but acts hungry?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Female | spayed | 1 year and 4 months old | 6 lbs
My cat has always eaten nutrish dry food by rachel ray as long as I've had her which is about a year. Suddenly she has completely snubbed her nose at it. I tried getting a different brand entirely and she now snubs her nose at that too. She cries by the full food bowl. what could cause her to suddenly dislike the food she typically loves?
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 13th, 2018
She may have a tooth ache or ulcers or other painful conditions in her mouth. Get some Fancy Feast canned food for her and feed her that until you can take her to a veterinarian (preferably today) for an exam. She is obviously hungry, so there is a chance that eating hurts her or the food is spoiled (sometimes that is not obvious) or the formulation changed significantly.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on January 22nd, 2018
Poor Denali! I think the key is to let her get a little hungry. If she likes dry food, then I would leave the dry food out all the time so that she can nibble throughout the day. I would try to not feed them the chicken and salmon daily as she is likely holding out on the cat food for the homemade food. Sometimes it come down to who is more stubborn. If you want to feed her the dry food then I would leave it down for her. If she still refuses to eat after a couple of days, then I would have your vet take a look at her. There could be something else going on causing the poor or picky appetite. I know this is tough love, but it will be worth it if you can get her to eat regular cat food. Regular cat food will be healthier for her long term as homemade diets don't have all the nutrients in them that the need to stay healthy. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on May 3rd, 2020
Cats are very difficult to make eat; if they do not feel good. So, often times they won't eat no matter what. I suggest you try giving her some canned cat food - heat it up for a few minutes first. The warmth increases the aroma of the food and gets them more interested in eating. If that doesn't help you can try canned tunafish or human baby food in jars (meat flavors only). If she won't eat on her own you will have to force feed her. Please try to get a vet to see her as soon as possible.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
-
Published on February 13th, 2017
Frequent diet changes create a finicky eater and may cause GI upset. Have Highness examined by your veterinarian to diagnose medical causes for her "issue". Choose one or two flavors and stick with them. Offer food at scheduled mealtimes. leave the food down for 20-30 minutes before picking it up. Repeat at the next mealtime. Do not offer food or treats between meals until she is eating regularly. Warm the food slightly or add a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate her appetite. Do not allow her to go more than 2 days without eating anything.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
11 year old cat recently started complaining about eating his dry food, and has began demanding and crying for more of his soft food, which has always been a once a day treat, not his main diet. He's already round, robust, and ridiculously spoiled so
My cats hasn’t been eating going on forth day. Today she started licking can food but not eating it. She is clearly hungry. She isn’t touching the hard food. She tried a treat today but broke it down into three pieces which she never does. Been sleep
I have noticed that after eating, my cat's mouth gets dirtier than usual. It looks like dark brown liquid on the side of her mouth and this morning it was on her chin. This happens with both wet and dry food. Yesterday, she left some dry food in her
My 7 year old cat recently has strange eating behavior. She eats dry normally twice daily. A week ago she decided one morning she didn’t want the dry food. So I gave her canned which she devoured. I decided to try mixing canned in her dry which worke
My cat always have food that they have always enjoyed but as they have gotten older they have just stopped really eating. They have been practically deteriorating and starving themselves. Very occasionally if there is meat being prepared they will tr
My cat is not really eating her food. I thought it was the brand but when I bought her a brand she does like, she will not eat that as well. She will eat her treats with no problem.
I'm not sure whether or not something is wrong with my cat. Today, I noticed that she hasn't eaten much. She's made few attempts to eat or drink, but won't, and will instead yowl and present with symptoms of nausea (increased licking, head down, pa
My cat is 18 years old and in the past year has gotten to where she is hungry but won’t eat. She’s really picky about food, she’ll like a certain type and eat it for a week and then turns her nose up at it the next. She’s losing weight and I’m trying
My cat won’t eat vet food. I know she’s very hungry right now and if I brought out friskies wet food shed eat it in a heartbeat. What to do? I have to leave to work soon and she hasn’t eaten well since yesterday
My cat has been sneezing non stoo since yesterday. Vet visit today and blood work looked normal. Suggested lysene which I bought. Now is drooling excessively and her normally pale pink cold nose is dark pink and warm and very sensitive to the touch.
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
