Cat Rhinotracheitis: When Your Cat Stops Eating and Drinking
📝 Summary
Feline rhinotracheitis (cat flu) blunts a cat's appetite in stages — reduced eating mid-illness, outright refusal once it's severe — because thick nasal discharge blocks scent and therefore the urge to eat. Clear the nose and offer strong-smelling foods like tuna or salmon; if the cat still won't eat, syringe-feeding under veterinary guidance may be needed.
1 Why a Sick Cat Stops Eating
A cat with rhinotracheitis loses interest in food gradually. Early on, discharge is light and clear and appetite holds; as the illness worsens, the discharge thickens, sticks around the nose, dries, and blocks scent. Because cats choose food by smell, a blocked nose kills the appetite, and by the later stage lethargy and lost smell lead to refusal and weight loss.
2 Getting Your Cat to Eat
Offer pungent foods — tuna or salmon tins are reliable appetite triggers — and a little chicken or fish broth to sustain nutrition. If the cat refuses entirely, syringe-feed only on your vet’s advice.
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