Giving birth is a monumental part of a female cat’s life. It’s an experience that is going to cause her to develop her maternal instincts, deal with hormonal issues, and/or end up worrying about what she’s eating. There are times when a cat will have digestive issues post-birth. This will make you ask, why is my cat not eating after giving birth?
It’s common for a cat to stop eating after giving birth due to the consumption of her kitten’s placentas. However, if this problem persists for 2-3 days, it’s a medical emergency and should be diagnosed by a vet immediately.
Please remember, this is not something to take lightly. The kittens’ lives will also be endangered due to the mother not eating because it will impact her ability to nurse properly. You have to take action right away!
Key factors include:
- Age of the Cat
- Type of Birth
- Internal Complications
When focusing on a cat not eating after giving birth, you will have to understand what the main issues could be. There are times cats look okay from the outside but there are lingering external issues that are hidden.
Remember, cats are resilient animals and this includes hiding their pain. They have to keep fighting through the pain in the wild and that is a natural instinct they have.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t bode well for the mother’s health and that is why you have to take responsibility for her well-being.
This article will look at what you should do with a cat not eating after giving birth. This includes the reasons for a cat not eating after giving birth.
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Reasons For Cat Not Eating After Giving Birth
1. Birthing Complications
The most common reason has to do with birthing complications.
This can include internal injuries that are causing the mother to deal with severe pain. When a mother is in this state, she will lose interest in everything including what she’s eating.
Unfortunately, this can also lead to death, which is why it’s important to act quickly. Whether it is a digestive issue, reproductive trouble, and/or any other internal complication, a solution is required immediately.
As you learn more what to do with a cat not eating after giving birth, you have to visit the vet. It’s always the best course of action if the behavior persists.
2. Increased Anxiety and Depression
With a cat not eating after giving birth, you have to think about the mother’s mental health.
While rare, it is still possible for a mother cat to go into self-preservation mode. This means ignoring the kittens and not wanting to do anything with them.
This can also lead to the killing of kittens.
The reason has to do with a hormonal fluctuation that causes the mother cat to behave oddly.
This can include not wanting to be around her kittens, not eating, and/or doing all sorts of things that wouldn’t be expected from a mother cat.
3. Consumption of Placenta
With a cat not eating after giving birth, you have to think about what the cat might have done after giving birth to her litter.
In general, it is possible for a mother to eat her kittens’ placentas.
Placentas are known for having a good nutritional profile and do offer value to mothers. This is why you should look to see if the placenta is still present and whether or not it was consumed by the mother.
If this is true then the mother might not eat for a day or so.
However, if this problem goes past the day mark then it is time to visit a vet.
Related Questions
1. Do Cats Lose Their Appetite After Giving Birth?
It’s common for mother cats to stop eating as much after giving birth. However, this doesn’t mean they completely stop consuming food. In situations where the mother stops eating, it’s best to visit a vet for a full check-up.
2. Why Is My Mother Cat Not Eating?
A mother cat might stop eating because she’s dealing with internal birth complications and/or consumed the kitten’s placentas post-birth. It’s recommended to visit a vet to make sure the mother is in good health and will eventually start eating.
Final Thoughts
These are the main reasons for a cat not eating after giving birth.
It’s best to take your time with a situation such as this and see a vet. You don’t want to ignore it and assume the mother cat will be fine.
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