It’s normal for a cat’s appetite to decrease for a bit right after its owner leaves town. If your pet’s eating habits really start to suffer, there may be several reasons why.
The main reason cats stop eating or eat less when their owners are away is anxiety and stress. Your cat feels safe with you there and might be concerned that you’ve gone. Routine changes can cause changes in appetite and eating, too, so it’s a good idea to schedule pet-sitting visits around your cat’s typical mealtimes. We will inform you if your cat is not eating enough or at all while you are away, and we will encourage it to eat and whet its appetite with a high-value treat. If that doesn’t work, there could be an underlying medical problem, and our sitters can take your cat to the vet right away.
Call (404) 793-6178 and speak with the Sandy Springs, GA cat sitters at Critter Sitters about the services we offer to pet parents while they are away.
Top Reasons Why Your Cat is Not Eating While You’re Away
Your cat might not be eating while you are away for several reasons. A lowered appetite for the first day or two you are gone is normal, but refusing food entirely for multiple days could be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem.
Separation Anxiety and Stress
It’s extremely common for cats’ appetites to wane when their owners leave town. Being separated from the humans they love most can cause serious anxiety and stress in cats, who might be worried that their owners are gone for good.
Especially if you work from home and usually spend most of the day with your cat, it might be more stressed or anxious and less likely to eat as it normally would right after you leave. This isn’t necessarily cause for immediate concern, but it is something our sitters will pay close attention to during mealtimes.
Changes to its Routine
Cats are creatures of habit, and they thrive with a steady routine. Changing their daily routines can be confusing, and cats might refuse to eat or eat too little in protest. Keeping daily routines as normal as possible is one of our cat sitters’ top priorities. When in our care, your cat should get its meals at the same times of day it typically eats, so it is hungry and expecting food when presented with it.
Underlying Medical Issues
Unfortunately, hidden illnesses and medical conditions are another common reason why cats stop eating when their owners are away. While the sudden change in your diet is most likely due to stress or a change in your routine, we can look for other signs of an underlying medical issue, such as excessive fatigue, sudden behavioral changes, litter box issues, and poor grooming habits. If your cat refuses food for too long, we can take it to the vet for immediate care before you get home.
What Should a Pet Sitter Do if Your Cat is Not Eating While You’re Away?
Our cat sitters have experience with cats that eat less or stop eating altogether when their owners are gone, and can make sure your cat is well cared for and that you are well informed of the situation at all times.
Keep You Updated
If your cat is not eating well or at all while you’re away, the pet sitter you hire should tell you immediately. Sitters should pay attention to how much of their meals cats eat, and if they throw up or get sick afterward. Litter box usage can give us a good idea of how well your cat is eating and drinking, and we can also keep you updated on that front. Changes in litter box habits can also be a sign of underlying medical problems in cats of all ages.
Sitters can send daily videos and pictures of cats eating to address any concerns an owner might have about their pets’ appetites and eating habits. We can also update you after each meal is fed and eaten to alleviate any stress.
Offer Your Cat High-Value Treats
High-value treats might convince an anxious cat to eat something while its owner is away. Before leaving on vacation, stock up on your cat’s favorite treats and point them out to your sitter. If your cat shows no interest in the high-value treat that it normally can’t resist and is also not eating its meals, that may be an indication that there is an underlying medical issue that requires immediate attention.
Increase Number of Daily Visits
Sometimes, a cat’s poor eating habits when its owner is out of town stem from feeling unsafe and unprotected. Cats feel extremely vulnerable when eating and may feel more comfortable with a companion near them at mealtimes. If this is the case for your cat, our sitters can increase the number of daily visits your cat receives.
Some cat owners start with one daily visit and increase to two or three per day, depending on their cats’ responses to being home alone between visits. Tell us if you’re concerned about your cat’s eating habits or other behavior since you’ve been away, and whether you’d feel more comfortable with more frequent visits, up to four per day.
Take Your Cat to the Vet
A pet sitter should be prepared to take your cat to the vet if its appetite disappears and it refuses to eat when you are out of town. If we cannot take your cat to its regular veterinarian because it is off-hours and the office is closed, we can pivot to a nearby emergency vet instead. We will update you on everything that happens at the vet and get your permission for procedures or treatments.
Trust Our Pet Sitters with Your Cat While You’re Away
For help from Critter Sitters, call our loving Atlanta cat sitters today at (404) 793-6178.
