Why isn't my cat eating, but she still drinks water and licks vitamins?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is in fact a concerning sign in cats as inappetence can be observed with conditions such as pancreatitis, kidney disease (most likely chronic in nature), dietary indiscretion and diabetes, just to mention a few possibilities. Cats can develop serious illness when they stop eating. This is known as hepatic lipidosis which is directly related to anorexia. I recommend that if Nutmeg is not eating by tomorrow morning, to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. General labwork and thoracic/abdominal imaging may be recommended for work-up. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

I'm sorry Chloe won't eat! Anorexia is a very general sign of illness, and it could be caused by dental problems, systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. It's actually serious when a cat won't eat, as if they don't eat for 72 hours, they develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. This needs to be avoided, so I would take her into the vet either today or tomorrow. The vet can diagnose what is causing her to not eat, and how best to treat. I hope this helps!

Hi Emily. Poor Miri. A loss of appetite is a very general sign of many illnesses, and it's actually extremely serious when a cat won't eat. If she goes long enough without eating (about 72 hours), she will develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. You need to take her into a vet now.

Poor Cathy! Not eating is quite serious in cats, as when they go long enough without eating, they will develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment. She may not be eating because she has a dental problem, systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

Take Piper back into a vet immediately. It's extremely serious when a cat won't eat, and if they don't eat going on 72 hours, they will develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about Annabelle. If she is not eating and now not drinking these are definitely signs of concern that require evaluation by a veterinarian. In particular, if she is an overweight cat (it says on your information that she is 14 pounds) then she is at risk of developing a dangerous liver condition called hepatic lipidosis if she isn't eating. There are many possible underlying causes for her symptoms, including primary GI disease (such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastritis, stomach ulcer, gi tumors, gi infection, pancreatitis, cholangiohepatitis) or disease of the liver or kidney (either of these can cause increased thirst). The vet will want to do an examination and will likely recommend bloodwork and an x-ray to try to determine the cause of her symptoms. She may need to be prescribed an appetite stimulant, and may need fluid therapy if she is dehydrated.

Poor Maverick sounds quite ill! It's actually very serious when a cat won't eat his food. When cats do not eat, they become prone to developing a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. It becomes an emergency when they don't eat for longer than 24 hours because you want to avoid the cat developing a fatty liver. There could be numerous causes for him not eating including dental disease, systemic illness, infection, inflammation, or injury. The best thing you can do for him is to get him into a vet immediately. The vet can diagnose what is causing him to not eat and act sick, and can treat him for it. Best of luck.