Symptom guide

Why Is My Cat Not Eating? Causes and When It Becomes Dangerous

A cat that stops eating can develop a serious liver problem. Why cats lose their appetite, what to try at home and when to see a vet.

Updated October 2026 · 7 min read · By the Hushku editorial team · 2 sources

See a vet within 24 hours. Call your vet if no food for 24 hours

Short answer

Take a cat that has stopped eating seriously: cats that go without food can develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), which can be fatal without treatment. Call your vet if your cat hasn't eaten for 24 hours, or sooner if it's overweight, a kitten, unwell in other ways or hiding.

Key facts

Cats that stop eating risk hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver), which can be fatal without treatment.
An underlying illness is behind more than 90% of hepatic lipidosis cases.
Call your vet if your cat hasn't eaten for 24 hours, sooner if overweight or a kitten.
Dental pain, nausea and a blocked nose are common reasons cats stop eating.

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If your pet seems unwell, or you're worried, call your vet.

Overview

Cats are not like dogs when it comes to skipping meals. When a cat stops eating, its body breaks down fat for energy, and the liver can become overwhelmed with fat. This condition, hepatic lipidosis, is especially a risk in overweight cats and usually follows another illness that put the cat off food in the first place. Cornell's Feline Health Center notes that an underlying condition is behind more than 90% of cases.

Cats also hide illness well, so not eating may be the first sign you notice. A cat that is eating less, picking at food or going to the bowl and walking away needs attention, even if it seems otherwise fine.

Go to a vet now if you see

A male cat straining in the litter tray or passing little or no urine
Yellow tinge to the gums, skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Repeated vomiting, collapse or breathing difficulty
Possible poisoning, including any contact with lilies
A kitten that won't eat

Common causes

1. Dental pain
Needs a vet
Sore gums, resorptive lesions and broken teeth can make eating painful, especially dry food.
2. Nausea from illness
Serious
Kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism can all cause nausea and poor appetite.
3. Stress or change
Usually mild
A move, new pet or person, a change of food or bowl location can put a sensitive cat off its food.
4. A blocked nose
Needs a vet
Cats rely on smell to want food; cat flu and other respiratory infections can stop them eating.
5. Swallowed objects or a blockage
Serious
String, hair ties and other items can block the gut and cause vomiting and loss of appetite.
6. Urinary blockage
Serious
Male cats that can't pee often stop eating, hide and vomit. This is an emergency.
7. Food aversion
Usually mild
Being given medicine in food, or feeling sick after a meal, can make a cat avoid that food.

What you can do at home

Offer something very tempting: warm, strong-smelling wet food (warmed to body temperature).
Use a wide, shallow dish in a quiet place away from the litter tray and other pets.
Don't hide medicines in a favourite food; it can create an aversion.
Don't try to force-feed or starve a cat into eating a new diet.
Keep fresh water available and note what, if anything, your cat eats.

When to see a vet

Your cat hasn't eaten for 24 hours (sooner if overweight, elderly or a kitten)
Eating noticeably less for several days
Not eating with vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss or hiding
Dropping food, drooling or pawing at the mouth (possible dental pain)

Prevention

Change foods slowly over a week or more
Keep cats at a healthy weight
Twice-yearly check-ups and dental checks for senior cats
Reduce stress: plenty of hiding places, litter trays and resources in multi-cat homes

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Sources

We check guides against veterinary sources and update them when guidance changes. How we write and review.

Questions.

How long can a cat go without eating?

Don't wait to find out. A cat that hasn't eaten for 24 hours should be seen by a vet, because going without food puts cats at risk of hepatic lipidosis, especially if they are overweight.

My cat is drinking water but not eating. Is that OK?

Drinking is good, but it doesn't remove the risk of not eating. Call your vet if your cat hasn't eaten in 24 hours.

Can I give my cat an appetite stimulant?

Vets can prescribe appetite stimulants and anti-sickness medicines once they've checked for the cause. Don't give human medicines.

Key facts

Overview

Go to a vet now if you see

Common causes

1. Dental pain

2. Nausea from illness

3. Stress or change

4. A blocked nose

5. Swallowed objects or a blockage

6. Urinary blockage

7. Food aversion