will a cat starve herself just because she doesn't like the food you put our for her?

Question

My cat was low on potassium and the vet told us we had tochange her food. she does not like the food he gave us to feed her and doen't eat very much and i am afraid she will starve herself. in w2 weeks she has lost 2 pounds

Answer 1

Before she starves herself she'll likely die from hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease):
http://www.cat-world.com.au/HepaticLipidosis.htm

One problem might be you didn't gradually change her food. Start over by mixing her old food with the new. Or ask your Vet if there is another way to get her more potassium like a supplement.

And that is way too much of a weight loss! You need to call your Vet's attention to that, if they aren't concerned you need to find a new Vet.

Answer 2

Yes actually. MAny will break down and eat but there are some that will starve themselves before they eat something they don't like. Sometimes cats will also starve themselves because of depression. Seen it happen many times. IS there any way you can mix the food and gradually give less and less of the original food until she is used to the new food? Dont let her go to long without eating though, if she wont eat it at all switch to something else a different cat food with high potassium. What exactly is the vet wanting you to feed her?

Answer 3

My cat is not feeling well right now so she isn't eating much of anything. But when I've left her for a day or two at a time, she will eat what I leave out for her. I do give her tuna and salmon in a can, but also canned and dry cat food as well. She always eats sooner or later. I can't see a cat starving. Cats don't like change of any kind. I would talk to the vet about what else she can eat.

Answer 4

Try putting a little of her old cat food on top of the new one so that when she sniffs it, she'll think its is still the food she's used to. Switching a cat's food brand or type is real tricky. Most people do it gradually like mix 1/3 new with 2/3 old. Afer a week, it will be 1/2 old and 1/2 new. then after another week, 1/3 old and 2/3 new. and after another week, all new food. But since you might have to hurry the procedure, I suggest "tricking" you kitty by simply putting a tsp or two of her old food over the new food, gradually lessening the amount as kitty begins o eat without protest. See most cats will "hang out" for you to put down something else when they turn up their noses at the new food. I successfully switched my cat from his favorite canned cat food to a diet canned food (which he at first detested) by doing the "topping" thing. He now eats new food with no problem. Took all of 1 week to complete.

Answer 5

I feel sorry for your cat.Try to give it pelently of milk or water.Give it cat food three times a day. Give her cat caned food.Give her a toy so she could be active.A cat will starve herself just because she doesnt like the food.Keep her active everyday.And just put the food any where in the house.When the cat is hungry the cat will eat the food

Answer 6

Get her back on the food that she likes. There are other ways to raise the potassium in her system. You should ask the vet about that.

What symptoms does she have from a low potassium reading and how far out of kilter is it?

Answer 7

Nope.. if anything gets hungry enuff it will eat you even..(even i'd do that better hope yer never on a plane crash with me in the Andes.. I'll be scoping out dinner in the first 5 mins) Cats are masters at manipulation though.. LOL

Hint: Cats like tuna.. and its cheaper and better than CAT FOOD.. My dog wont even eat anything besides Tuna and raw steak given the choice.. and well he usually has the choice.. But this is my first dog.. I've always had cats before..

Answer 8

she will not starve to death. Because you will get off your a.s.s and give your cat some cold cut Turkey!!! now

I bet that food was expensive. I always say before i am forced to buy there expensive sh.it. "can i have my cat sample it first? i dont want to buy it, get home and she hates it!" If your cat has low potassium go to the store and get a food that says on the package that it has vitamins and minerals in it. And where you feeding her cheap food to begin with? that's a no-no

Answer 9

Choose a whole-wheat wrap instead of two slices of wheat loaf of bread.

Answer 10

Cats are the ultimate manipulators of their humans.

What you may want to consider trying is to blend a small amount of the food she doesn't like with something she does like (ie other cat food and not, say, your curtains).