How to stimulate your cat's appetite: causes and solutions

On many occasions, you may start to notice that when you serve your cat food, he simply sniffs it and leaves it there without even tasting it. This behavior is quite common and can be due to several reasons. Among them, a routine diet can make cats, just like humans, get bored of always eating the same thing. This is one of the reasons why your cat could be eating less than usual. So, what is the reason?how to stimulate my cat's appetite? Below, we’ll explore possible causes and solutions to help your feline get back to eating normally.

Cats are very fussy eaters and can be incredibly selective. If you notice that your cat has lost its appetite or has lost weight rapidly, it is crucial that you pay attention to its eating behavior as this could be an indication of a bigger problem.

Why might your cat lose its appetite?

There are many reasons why your cat may stop eating or lose its appetite. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Health problems: Oral diseases, such as gingivitis or dental problems (cavities or abscesses), can make eating painful. Serious illnesses, such as chronic kidney failure or digestive problems, can also cause your cat to lose its appetite.
• Stress: Cats are very sensitive to changes in their environment. A move, the arrival of a new member of the family (whether a person or another pet), or even routine situations such as moving house or a visit to the vet can cause stress, which in turn affects their appetite.
• Food monotony: If you always feed your cat the same type of food, it can lead to boredom. Just like us, cats also enjoy variety in their diet.
• Mild digestive problems: Some mild stomach ailments, such as indigestion or hairballs, can make your cat feel unwell and prefer not to eat.
• Lack of olfactory stimulation: If your cat has lost its sense of smell due to respiratory illness, its appetite is likely to decrease, as cats rely heavily on scent to be attracted to food.
• Age of the cat: As cats age, their sense of smell and taste diminishes, so it's normal for them to become pickier about their food.

Tips and tricks to stimulate your cat's appetite

Before applying any of these tips, it is important to rule out serious health problems by visiting your trusted veterinarian. If everything is in order, here are some tips to help your cat regain its appetite:

Create a relaxing environment for eating

The environment in which your cat eats directly influences its appetite. Make sure its food spot is in a quiet place, away from noise, sandboxes or high traffic areas in the home. This will allow your pet to eat without distractions and feel more secure.

Separate food, water and litter box

While it may seem logical to place the food and water bowls together, this is not ideal for cats. Felines in the wild prefer to keep their food and water sources separate to avoid cross contamination. Additionally, their litter box should also be in a different location to avoid their food and their waste area being close to each other.

Offer small portions more frequently

If your cat has lost interest in his food, try changing the feeding pattern by offering small portions several times a day instead of a large amount in one meal. Not only will this prevent you from rejecting food because it gets cold, but you can also try different types of food throughout the day.

Try wet food

If your cat is tired of dry food, you can try offering it wet food, which has a softer texture and is generally more palatable to cats, especially if it is slightly warmed to enhance its aroma. Wet food also helps to increase fluid intake, which is a good thing for cats that do not drink enough water.

Mix dry food with wet food

Mixing dry and wet food can be an effective strategy to vary the texture and taste of your cat's food, which can catch their attention and encourage them to try again. Additionally, dry food is beneficial for maintaining dental health, so keeping a combination is ideal.

Heat the food slightly

Heat intensifies the aroma of food, which can be crucial if your cat has lost its sense of smell or appetite. Gently warm wet food for a few seconds in the microwave before offering it to your cat. This will make it smell stronger and more tempting to your cat.

Wider and lower plates

Some cats don't like eating out of deep bowls. Try using wide, low bowls so your cat doesn't have to put his head in the bowl as much. This will also reduce stress for your cat, allowing him to keep an eye on his surroundings while he eats.

Rely on home-cooked food (in moderation)

If your cat is very disinterested in his regular food, one solution might be to add small portions of homemade food. Offer foods such as unseasoned cooked chicken or turkey, boneless fish or even hard-boiled eggs, always under the supervision of a veterinarian to avoid nutritional imbalances.

Always check with the vet

If, despite following these tips, your cat continues to not eat for several days, you should consult a veterinarian. Prolonged lack of appetite in cats can lead to serious problems such as hepatic lipidosis, which is potentially fatal.

Your vet may recommend appetite-stimulating medications, anti-inflammatories in case of oral problems, or even a special therapeutic diet if your cat suffers from an underlying disease.

Ultimately, the key to stimulating your cat's appetite lies in offering variety in their diet, making sure their environment is conducive to food, and always looking for the best option for their health.