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A kitten that isn't eating is almost always a reason to be extra alert. Kittens need food every few hours to grow. Check the food and the environment first. Has your kitten not eaten for more than 24 hours? Call the vet.
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You put the food bowl down, your kitten sniffs it and then just walks away. Or worse: your kitten hasn't eaten anything at all for the past few hours. As the owner of a young kitten, you know this doesn't feel right. And you're right to be worried.
Kittens grow incredibly fast and need small meals regularly to keep up with that growth. A cat that doesn't eat for a day is annoying. A kitten that doesn't eat for a day is a serious matter. In this article, we cover the most common causes, when you need to take action and what you can do to get your kitten eating again.
In the vast majority of cases, not eating has a practical, non-medical cause. Start your search here:
Not eating in a kitten can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Watch out for the following signs that call for a visit to the vet:
No medical signs, and the not eating has a practical cause? Then these are the steps that help most:
One of the most underestimated causes of irregular eating in kittens is the lack of a fixed schedule. Kittens are creatures of habit. They quickly learn when to expect food, and their appetite peaks around those times.
If your kitten eats inconsistently or irregularly, the meals probably aren't predictable. An automatic feeder with fixed feeding times solves this: the feeder dispenses a portion at exactly the same time every day, even when you're not around. That consistent rhythm helps a kitten build a healthy eating pattern.
For a kitten aged 2 to 6 months, we recommend 4 meals a day, evenly spread: for example at 7:00, 12:00, 17:00 and 21:00. Want to know how many grams per meal? Read our article on how much a kitten should eat per day.
An automatic feeder helps with eating problems by creating a fixed rhythm. The click of the feeder at the set time becomes a signal for your kitten: it's mealtime now. Kittens that get used to this rhythm naturally start getting hungry at the right times.
With the HD camera in the feeder, you can check remotely whether your kitten is at the bowl and eating. If your kitten goes to the bowl every day but still doesn't eat, you've at least ruled out a practical cause.
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Call the vet. After 24 hours without food, the risk of liver problems (hepatic lipidosis) rises quickly in kittens. In the meantime, try offering small amounts of appealing food, such as warm wet food or food with a little chicken broth. Don't wait if there are other signs too, such as lethargy, vomiting or diarrhea.
A new kitten in a new environment is almost always stressed. The smells, sounds and people are unfamiliar. It can take 24 to 72 hours before a kitten feels safe enough to eat normally. Offer a calm, secluded spot for the food bowl, keep the hustle and bustle around the kitten to a minimum and let it settle in at its own pace. Still not eating after 24 hours? Call the vet for advice.
Try serving the food at room temperature (never straight from the fridge). Add a small amount of chicken broth without onion or garlic to make the smell more appealing. Make portions smaller and increase the frequency to 4 meals a day. Provide a quiet place to eat, far from the litter box. Don't stare at the kitten while it eats.
A 2-month-old kitten (about 0.8 kg) needs 50 to 60 grams of dry food per day on average, spread over 4 meals of 12 to 15 grams each. As the kitten grows, the daily portion increases. Read our full article on how much a kitten should eat per day for a complete overview by weight and age.
Yes, but never do this abruptly. A sudden change of food brand or type can cause stomach problems and make the not eating worse. Always switch gradually over 7 to 14 days: start with 80% old food and 20% new food, and shift that ratio week by week. If a kitten consistently refuses to eat a certain brand, it may be down to the smell, taste or texture.
An automatic feeder helps by setting fixed feeding times. Kittens that get a consistent schedule quickly get used to the rhythm and develop an appetite at the set times. With the HD camera, you can check remotely whether the kitten is at the bowl and eating. If the kitten consistently doesn't show up at the bowl, that's a clear signal to call the vet.
Summary
A kitten that won't eat almost always has a cause you can tackle. Check the food, the environment and the schedule. Does the not eating last longer than 24 hours, or are there other signs? Call the vet.
Want to know exactly how much your kitten should eat per day? Read our guide on how much a kitten should eat per day. Or read more about feeding a kitten and an adult cat together.
Help your kitten build an eating pattern
An automatic feeder with a fixed schedule feeds your kitten at the same times every day. That rhythm is exactly what a young kitten needs to develop a healthy eating pattern.
Read: how much should a kitten eat per day? →
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