Upper respiratory infections can make cats lose their appetite. Stuffy noses hinder their ability to smell food, causing them to eat less.
Oral diseases, like tartar, gingivitis, or cancerous tumors, can cause cats to stop eating due to pain. Look for bad breath, drooling, or bleeding from the mouth.
Gastrointestinal problems, including obstructions, cancer, or pancreatitis, can reduce a cat's appetite. Nausea from various conditions also affects eating habits.
Coughing, fatigue, and difficulty breathing from congestive heart failure can decrease a cat s interest in food. Medications or new prescribed foods for heart disease might also affect their appetite.
Post-illness or hospitalization, cats might associate certain foods with feeling sick and develop aversions.
Emotional stress, anxiety, or depression can lead to a loss of appetite in cats. Events like losing a family member can trigger these emotions.
Nasal polyps or tumors can affect a cat s sense of smell and appetite. Tumors in the nose can be painful, making eating difficult.