Picky cat now refusing to eat ANYTHING!

cat dad

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Hello,

I have one very picky cat. He likes only his raw turkey and that's it. I have another cat that will eat anything - raw, canned, whatever. Neither of them eat human food.

I think a batch of food was bad and they both picked up a little stomach thing (one instance of vomiting, not sure which cat and now they are both turned off by their regular food. The one who eats anything won't eat his regular food, but he's happy with the canned food I got him and gobbles it up.

THE PROBLEM:

The picky eater won't eat his regular food and now because he's so picky, won't eat any of the new foods I've tried to get him to eat.

He clearly has an appetite, he circles and meows at me and looks at me like he's wondering why won't I find him the perfect food! :) He licks his lips when I make him smell the new food. He just doesn't like anything Ive put down.

Will he just eventually get hungry enough and eat what I offer, or do I need to be more worried and take him to the vet? He hasn't eaten anything since Friday, Sept 29th late afternoon, and only a small amount.

Any advice you can give, would be amazing!

Ron
 

missmimz

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How old is this cat? "Picky" in cats usually means they don't feel well, typically nausea. Licking of lips, sniffing and walking away, acting hungry but not eating, all signs of nausea. You really need to take him to the vet. Cats cannot go long periods of time without eating, if you're anywhere near the 24 hour period with no food off to the vet. 
 

siamnaco

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I would take him to vet before he develops hepatic lipodosis. I think cats are at a high risk of hepatic lipidosis if they haven't eaten in 48 hours. He may have a virus or some other health issue. I went through the same thing. My cat was obviously hungry but wouldn't eat anything that I put down. Went to vet and he had something wrong in his gastric system. I was finally able to get him to eat Beechnut Chicken Stage 1 baby food. It is just plain chicken meat in broth so no harmful ingredients. My vet also prescribed an appetite stimulant to help him eat. It's a very scary thing when a cat won't eat.
I hope you are able to get this resolved soon. Please keep us posted on how you all are doing.
 

lisahe

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How old is this cat? "Picky" in cats usually means they don't feel well, typically nausea. Licking of lips, sniffing and walking away, acting hungry but not eating, all signs of nausea. You really need to take him to the vet. Cats cannot go long periods of time without eating, if you're anywhere near the 24 hour period with no food off to the vet. 
I had the exact same reaction: the cat's behavior involves typical symptoms of nausea and he really needs to go to the vet.
 
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cat dad

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I appreciate the advice and will take him to the vet, but trust me when I say "picky" is his personality. Since he was a kitten (he's 4 now), he always has been suspicious of anything new - new food, new bed, new toy, etc... Not afraid, just cautious.

Cheers everyone!
 
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cat dad

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He's going the the vet at 3pm - again, thank you so much!
 

lisahe

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I appreciate the advice and will take him to the vet, but trust me when I say "picky" is his personality. Since he was a kitten (he's 4 now), he always has been suspicious of anything new - new food, new bed, new toy, etc... Not afraid, just cautious.

Cheers everyone!
I'm glad you're taking him to the vet! He sounds a little like our cat Ireland, who is also very cautious of new things... as well as a bit nervous and needy, which may be different from your cat. In any case, Ireland, too, has had a history of seeming like a picky eater (though not as picky as yours sounds) but her subtle symptoms of nausea led me to make some dietary changes that have worked beautifully in improving her eating and getting rid of the nausea symptoms. (The vet thinks it's the pancreas in the supplement I use for homemade food that has worked so well for her.) Ireland has also become a more relaxed cat, which is a huge plus!

I hope the vet appointment goes well!
 

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I hope everything went well and he feels better <3

Jennifer
 
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cat dad

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Yes! Thank you!

They ran a few tests and he has a clean bill of health. The vet is 90% positive he picked up something from the raw I feed him. He's taking a break from it now and I had been giving him an appetite stimulant, but he's eating more or less normally.

Thanks again for the advice!
 

jasher

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Yes! Thank you!

They ran a few tests and he has a clean bill of health. The vet is 90% positive he picked up something from the raw I feed him. He's taking a break from it now and I had been giving him an appetite stimulant, but he's eating more or less normally.

Thanks again for the advice!
I am so glad he is better :)

Jennifer
 
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