Cat with an eating disorder?

Question

My cat is getting incredibly fussy and with it incredibly skinny. She is 10 years old and weighs about 2.4kg She turns her nose up at nearly all the cat food but will reticently eat a morsel or two a couple of times a day. When we are eating she begs like a dog and will try to pinch food off our plates which she devours regardless of texture (so can't be her teeth). No one has fed her titbits so not got into any bad habits. she stays in virtually all the time and will only venture out to have a wee.She also sniffs out fluff off the carpet and eats that. I am convinced she has an eating disorder. She is wormed and flea treated regularly. Wherever i am in the house she has to be and miaows at me constantly. Sometimes i can get her to eat by sitting next to her and feeding her one piece at a time. What does anyone think is going on Please help with any advice or tips

Answer 1

I am guessing but it may that your kitty is going through some anxiety and stress. She does not want to go out except to pee and she wants to hang around you all the time and wil eat (a little) only when you are present. Something has frightened her or unbalanced her sense of security. That is why she won't eat (by herself) becuase she may think that the food will attract another predator and she'll get whooped. She does not feel secure. If this is indeed the problem, rehabilitation may take a while and require patience and understanding on your part. This is what I suggest: when you or your family sits down to eat, make that her feeding time too. Situate her bowl by the side of your table - at your feet. She may begin eating normally this way since you are there to protect her from whatever. Or, find a room where she can feel absoutely secure and feed her there. Be present at first so she knows it is safe.

If none of these methods work, you shoud seriously consider consulting a vet for any underlying medical problems.

Sorry to hear about this problem that developed in your kitty.

Answer 2

If she is losing weight, you definitely need to have her checked out by a vet. Cats can be incredibly picky. To point, it is OK if a cat has a picky appitite, but when they are losing weight, it is a serious problem.
They can decide to stop eating for any reason. I have a friend who's cat stopped eating because she didn't like her new bowl. She developed hepatic lipidosis, which is liver disease that can be very serious and life-threatening. When her bowl was switched back, she ate great and pulled through her liver disease.
I have seen lots of cats develop this disease, and if your cat is not eating well, she is at risk. This is a very big concern in cats who are not eating.
Your vet can run blood work and other tests.
You should take her soon for a "geriatric" kitty exam. When cats turn 10, they are considered seniors, so get her in soon.

Answer 3

Sounds like she has you wrapped around her little scheming paw :)
Cats are not afraid to stoop to low levels to get what they want and the more us human pander to them the worse they get!
First get her check by the vet to make sure it isn't something medical eg Diabetes, underactive thyriod, kidney failure. If everything is OK, then don't give into her. She can go 2-3 whole days without eating if she has to and I think that provided everything is great medically then just put food down and she will eat when she is hungry otherwise you will spend the rest of her life swapping and changing food as SHE sees fit!!
Goodluck it can be a very difficult habit to break and one I see sooo often.

Answer 4

she may not be fussy. If she lost weight in a short amount of time, you need to get her examined for diabetes at the vet. Also, try a new cat food. How would you like it if your mom gave you tender beef and liver 24/7 for your whole life. It would suck. change it up a bit.

Answer 5

I don't know how old your little darlin' is, but you need to TRY to get her back on regular cat food. Someone has spoiled her with hand feeding and table scraps. Try this for 7-10 days and, if there's no change, see your / a vet. There's a problem, but don't freak out!

Answer 6

You might have a cat who has developed kidney disease. A definite sign of that is not wanting to eat and weight loss. It usually strikes cats at around 10 years. Worth getting her checked at the vet.

Answer 7

She might be sick go to see your vet