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When is a cat not eating an emergency?

A marked appetite loss in a cat deserves prompt veterinary advice because cats can become seriously ill when they do not eat. Seek urgent care sooner for a kitten, a cat with diabetes or another condition, or when appetite loss comes with vomiting, weakness, breathing difficulty, pain or inability to urinate.

A good next step

  • Do not wait several days to see what happens.
  • Do not force-feed unless a vet instructs you.
  • Call your vet or an emergency clinic for case-specific triage.

Source checked: RSPCA Australia

Last reviewed 26 July 2026. General information only; not a substitute for veterinary or legal advice.

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Know when to stop searching

Some questions need a vet, not a webpage.

Seek urgent veterinary help for breathing difficulty, collapse, seizures, severe pain, major trauma, suspected poisoning, heatstroke, or repeated straining without passing urine.

If you are unsure, call your regular vet or nearest emergency veterinary clinic for triage.