My cat won't drink water for days. Is the cold weather the reason?

There could be several reasons why your [cat will not eat](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-isnt-my-cat-eating). Take a look inside your cat's mouth and under its tongue if you can do it safely. If you see any redness, inflammation or bleeding of the gums or around teeth, there may be [periodontal disease](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/dental-disease-1/) present. Confirm there are no foreign objects (or string) in the mouth or under the tongue. If you see anything that does not appear "normal", schedule an exam with your veterinarian. Other potential causes include [kidney disease](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-should-know-about-kidney-disease-in-cats), [pancreatitis](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pancreatitis) or gastrointestinal issues. These may require blood work and x-rays to diagnose. If the mouth is clear, try warming the food slightly or adding some liquid from a can of tuna to stimulate appetite. If your cat does not eat for 3+ days, see your vet immediately to avoid complications involving [liver function](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/hepatic-lipidosis/).

No, it's normal for cats not to eat, and it could be they have gotten sick from being out in the cold. They could have developed a respiratory infection, making them congested. When cats are congested, they can't smell their food, and that will keep them from eating. The problem with cats not eating is that if they go longer than three days without eating, they are prone to developing a fatty liver. I would take all three cats into the vet tomorrow for an exam. If they do have a respiratory infection, they may need antibiotics to treat it. You can try to tempt them to eat, in the meantime, by gently warming up really smelly wet food, such as sardine or fish based. You can also starting them on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight.

Try warming the food slightly or mixing in a teaspoon if plain baby food. If he doesn't begin eating in the next 24 hours, have him physically examined by your veterinarian. A cat that does not eat for 2+ days is a serious risk of developing liver disease which may complicate any underlying condition.

Poor Gizmo Hill! If she has not eaten in three days, this is a very serious problem - cats can develop a life-threatening illness called hepatic lipidosis from not eating for multiple days in a row, so it's very important to find out what is causing her to not eat and get her started on appropriate treatment right away. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to - she may need blood work and x-rays to help diagnose the problem so that she can be treated before things get worse.

I'd feed Cupquake canned food, or add some low sodium gently warmed chicken broth to her dry food. I'd also recommend getting her a pet water fountain. It provides a continuous source of fresh water, and encourages the cat to drink. I have one for my cats, and they love it. You can get one at a pet store. I hope this helps.

In general, cats have adapted to fairly arid climates and do not require much water - generally only a few ounces per day. If Guzu is eating canned cat food, she is likely getting most of her water requirements from the food itself. If you are concerned, you can mix some additional water into the food. However, if she is eating strictly dry food, she will need to drink water. Some cats prefer drinking from running water sources, such as a trickling faucet or a cat water fountain. If Guzu is otherwise eating, active and not showing signs of vomiting or diarrhea, this is not a big concern. However, if she is showing you other issues, such as not eating, lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea, she should be evaluated by a vet. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank er you for using PetCoach. I would not necessarily be "concerned" but it would be good for him to drink more water. Two good ways to get more water into a cat are: 1. Feed canned food and 2. Get a water fountain for him. Cats tend to drink more from a source of running water. If he eats canned food it obviously has a higher water content than dry food. I suggest you do those two things and see how things go from there. ( https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cat+drinking+fountain&crid=1UT6TC4LCPX9I&sprefix=cat+drinking+founta%2Caps%2C327&ref=nb_sb_noss_2 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.