Improve Your Cat’s Appetite with These 5 Natural Stimulants

Cat owners should seek immediate veterinary care if their fur balls haven’t eaten in more than a day.  Additional symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and lethargy can point to serious medical issues.

If your furry baby is not eating as much as it usually eats or completely denying meals, it is most likely sick. Sometimes cats stop eating when they don’t find the food items on the meal menu attractive; however, if your munchkin shows decreased appetite for more than 24 hours, it could be a health issue.

Common reasons for a fur baby’s appetite problems are oral/dental diseases, stress and anxiety, pain, renal issues, pancreatitis, cancer, and environmental changes. It is best to take your fluffy little pet to the vet for examination and treatment. You might not need to worry about unexpected pet health expenditures if you have cheap pet insurance.

Cat insurance can cover a feline fur baby’s medical care during accidents, injuries, illnesses, dental, health emergencies, and more. So, consider purchasing a pet policy; meanwhile, read this article to understand the health risks associated with a kitty not eating well and how to stimulate a feline fur baby’s appetite naturally.

Health risks for a kitty not eating well

If your munchkin is outrightly refusing to eat, it is alarming. When a feline furry pet doesn’t eat, its liver processes the stored fat to meet the body’s energy requirements. The problem arises here; a cat’s liver may not be able to handle this process well and may eventually begin to fail, leading to a fatal condition known as “Hepatic lipidosis” or fatty liver commonly.

How to naturally stimulate a kitty’s appetite?

The vet may run blood tests, X-rays, and abdominal/pelvic ultrasounds in severe conditions to assess the health problem. Otherwise, they can perform a physical examination and prescribe appetite stimulants, medications, and simple therapies that can help your pet heal.

Also, you can consider taking the help of natural appetite stimulants if there are no other symptoms apart from moderate hunger issues. However, ensure you follow your vet’s advice on this.

Natural appetite stimulants

1. Catnip (Scientific name: Nepeta cataria)

This herb contains an oil called “Nepetalactone” in its leaves. It is a popular pain reliever used by cat world members. If your kitty pie has lost appetite because of stress and anxiety, then catnip can be a helpful solution to alleviate the pain and discomfort.

Catnip is available in fresh/dry form and as sprays and toys that cats can use. However, not every cat responds to catnip, and too much exposure can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, aggression, and walking difficulties in cats.

2. Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a brilliant solution to treat many health conditions that reduce appetite in feline fur babies. For instance, pain, dental disorders, nausea, intestinal problems, and immune system diseases can cause appetite loss in cats.

3. Canned food

Feeding warm, savory food is a tried and tested method to enhance appetite in sick cats. For example, you can give your furball wet food, a mixture of wet and dry kibble, shreds, chunks, cooked egg, chicken broth, tuna juice, etc. Provide your munchkin variety and flavourful food, so they find it hard to say “NO” to eating.

4. Treats

Every cat has its set of favorite treats. If your furry pet isn’t in the mood for a meal, toss some delectable treats into its dish and see how it chews until the last crumb goes into the tummy.

5. Diet

Consult your vet for therapeutic diet charts that can set your kitty’s appetite on the right path to health.

The above tips can favour your feline fur baby’s health. However, meeting the vet is essential so your furry baby can recover soon from sickness and health issues contributing to appetite disorders.

With all this, consider purchasing cat insurance so you don’t have to take on the entire financial stress yourself during uncalled-for cat health scenarios. Cheap pet insurance is affordable and helps provide your furry friend with basic medical care during unexpected health scenarios. So, explore different pet policies and contemplate signing up for a plan that ideally suits your fur ball.