Cat Suddenly Won't Eat Dry Food

Hello- I am new here but was looking for advice on a recent change in behaviour with my cat. 

My cat is just over a year old. He has been on a regular diet of iams optimal weight dry food (but we occasionally treat him to a can of wet food). This past Saturday he got sick 3-4 times throughout the day (the first one looked like a hair ball, the others were more watery). I was worried but was told this may happen, just to monitor him and he continues to get sick bring him to our vet ASAP. He stopped the next day and I thought everything was back to normal- but then I noticed he was not eating his dry food. His mood and behaviour has not change (he is still very playful and energetic).

I thought maybe the bag of dry food might just be a bad batch so I bought him a new one. He ate a bit and then still would not touch it but devoured the wet food I gave him.

He will have a few bits of dry food but then play with it or would drop it out of his mouth. The only way he will eat his dry food is if I mix it in with his wet food. 

I am not sure if he is just afraid to eat the dry food again (because he seemed to have a bad reaction to it on Saturday) or if it may be something more.

Not sure if anyone has experienced anything similar. I am going to take him to the vet tomorrow but was hoping for something reassuring.

Thank you.

-K

Sometimes cats will avoid dry food if they have dental issues, but that doesn't explain him getting sick. You might be right that he's avoiding the new bag because he had such a bad experience with the old.  I take it that he had been eating from it before with no problems?  You mention that the first episode might have been due to a hairball, but in my experience once the hairball is up, they don't keep throwing up so I'd wonder about those other two times.  You've definitely made the right decision to take him to the vet tomorrow.  Make sure the vet checks his teeth, just in case.

A word about dry food - many experts believe that cats do better on a diet of wet food, or mostly wet food.  They get a lot more water that way and a higher protein diet.  Having said that, there are plenty of cats who have lived to a ripe old age eating only dried food - I had one myself.  Still, you might want to do a bit of research on this and consider switching.  

Good luck at the vet tomorrow.  Please let us know what he says. 

Hello, thank you very much for your help! Yes, he has eaten his dry food without a fuss before this Saturday, so that is why it is so strange.

I was worried that it may be a dental problem as well (but as you said, it does not account for him getting sick). Thank you very much for the advice on wet food- and I will for sure! 

A couple of articles about dry cat food:

http://consciouscat.net/2012/03/22/the-best-food-for-your-cat/

http://consciouscat.net/2010/04/05/the-truth-about-dry-cat-food/

http://www.littlebigcat.com/nutrition/why-dry-food-is-bad-for-cats-and-dogs/