My cat won't eat, cries, and has painful ears. What's wrong?

I’m so sorry that Bell isn’t feeling well! Lack of appetite, loss of energy, and possible fever can be caused by many conditions including infections, foreign bodies, certain cancers, urinary blockage and others. I recommend having Bell seen by a vet to determine what is going on and receive appropriate treatment. Your vet will begin with a physical exam and likely recommend further diagnostics such as bloodwork and X-rays if needed. Cats who don’t eat can get very sick over several days because of abnormal fat metabolism by their liver, so it is very important to have Bell seen as soon as possible. I hope all is well!

It is likely ge has pain and discomfort, possibly from a polyp or middle ear infection. A full vet check is recommended, possibly under sedation. Your vet can also assess his full coat condition and may recommend an omega fatty acid supplement as a natural antiinflammatory and moisturizer

Unfortunately, without a physical exam and diagnostics it is very difficult to determine what is making your cats sick. The discharge from the ears may be an ear infection (mites, bacterial or fungal), but the vomiting can have many causes. The most serious would be viral infection. Supportive care, such as IV fluids and medication to control vomiting, may be indicated while a diagnosis is sought. This will require a veterinarian. There is very little you can do at home other than to keep the warm and as stress free as possible. Offer a bland diet and a 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte to maintain hydration.

Place an e-collar (cone) on Kiki to prevent further scratching or rubbing. Minor bleeding can be stopped using a bit of styptic powder or plain cornstarch and gentle pressure. Keep the area clean and dry. Warm his food slightly or mix in a teaspoon of baby food to stimulate his appetite. It is vital that he begins eating again. Cats who do not eat for 2+ days are at high risk of developing serious liver related complications. If his anorexia persists, he will need to be rechecked by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you see very dark urine or a yellow tinge to his skin, gums, or whites of his eyes, then have him examined immediately.

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Quarter has a lot going on and is not feeling very well. I am sorry to hear! It is hard to say exactly what is happening with Quarter without examining him first but I can offer some possibilities. Ear mites are common parasites that can infect the ear. These are very itchy and can really cause some discomfort in cats. If Quarter has not been vaccinated, I would be concerned about something infectious causing his symptoms such a virus. My best advice is to take Quarter into a veterinarian for an exam and some diagnostic testing to determine what is in his ear and why he is lethargic. I hope this helps and I hope you can take him into see his veterinarian soon.

It may be that he is painful or not feeling well and that's leading to him reacting in this way. Ideally, take him to your vet for an exam. However, if he is eating/drinking/acting normally it is reasonable to just keep a close eye on him and take him in if other symptoms develop. Make sure that his litter box habits are normal. (he is urinating and defecating normally). Please do not give him any over the counter pain medications as there are none available that are safe for cats. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It's now a medical emergency that Rex won't eat. He's approaching the point where he will develop a fatty liver from not eating, and a fatty liver is fatal without treatment. He sounds quite sick and this cannot be treated at home. Please take him into a vet immediately.