Refusal to eat for over 24 hours

A cat's refusal to eat for over 24 hours can be a concerning sign of sickness or underlying health issues. Loss of appetite in cats, known as anorexia, can be caused by various factors, ranging from mild to severe conditions.

People joke about cats and their finicky eating habits, but it’s actually a serious issue if your cat won’t eat. Although a refusal to eat is a cause for concern for all pets, it can be more dangerous for cats.

When animals don’t eat enough, they must rely on their fat reserves for energy. Before stored fat can be used for fuel, it must be processed by the liver. This step requires adequate supplies of protein.