Conference misery::feline_v1

    I think what you say about the hot weather could be the key.  We
    had a hot spell (yes, in England!) recently, and neither of our
    two ate very much for a couple of days.  Then it cooled a few degrees,
    and they were back to normal.
    
    Ali

If Portia seems healthy in every other respect, you are probably just
seeing a case of "let's see how worried I can make Mom if I don't eat".

This hot humid weather can certainly impact their appetite, some cats
are just more sensitive to it than others (of my 8, 2 are currently
picking at their food while the remaining 6 are inhaling everything 
in sight).  As long as she is getting some water and is her usual
self in behavior, I wouldn't worry for 2 or 3 days at least.  Of course
if she becomes lethargic or acts sick then this would mean a trip to
the vet, lack of appetite can mean impending illness.  

Have you changed anything in her routine that she might be objecting
to?  Sounds like she is trying to complain to you about something and
is using a hunger strike to get the point across!


Jan  who_has_a_herd_of_gluttons

(I adopted a cat courtesy of this notesfile and she spent 6 days
without eating more than one mouthful per day; but she drank plenty
of water and seemed perky and playful -- now I can't put the food
down fast enough, she was just letting me know that she didn't like
the change in food/owner).

Barring any health problems, she'll eat when she gets hungry....cats will
not starve themselves to death because they don't like your brand of food...
they may not get fat, but they will be healthy if healthy food is around.

However, I come from a warm climate (New Mexico) and the vet said that
canned cat food should NEVER be left out in the summer for more than
2 hours....dangerous levels of bacteria are possible and kittys can get
upset tummies (of course, then there is Samson who has a cast iron gut
that nothing can harm) or worse.  If you are leaving canned food down,
maybe that is the problem - try some dry kibble for a different texture
and taste to tempt her taste buds...or just wait until she decides she
really wants to eat.  If the problem continues (and you know for sure
she is NOT eating anything) and she begins to lose any weight, go back 
to the vet.

    Chauncey went on a hunger strike yesterday, too.  He even snubbed
    his nose at his favourite baby food!  Even though the house is air
    conditioned, I think the heat still bothers my boys.  Many moons
    ago, my vet also said don't worry until they begin to lose weight.
    
    You might try leaving some dry food, like Iams, around.  You can
    get a little sample box (free, at most places!) and see if Portia
    goes for it.
    
    Whatever goes on inside those little pea-brains!
    
    Mary
    

    When I got home from a three week vacation in April, I found four
    of the chubbiest kittys I had ever seen!  The lady that was cat
    sitting for me was letting them "feed at will".  They were probably
    nearly that fat when I left, but it took a separation for me to
    see them in a new light.  As a result, I changed their food to one
    that they don't like.  They went on a hunger strike.  To this day
    they cry like they are about to *starve* every time I set foot into
    the kitchen, even though there is plenty of food in their dish.
    It took almost a month of nearly no eating before they started to
    trim down.  Even now they eat only a fraction of what they did.
    They are starting to look much less like a bunch of footballs with
    tails!
    
    Marion (a really mean mommy)

    
    I wouldn't worry yet as everyone has said it is probably the heat,
    although my two are going through the same "hunger striking" at
    the moment but it's not even warm over here. 
    
    At first I thought they were getting fed up of their usual food
    (kattomeat and whiskas) so I tried every variety I could find in
    the supermarket (that wasn't too high in ASH) and they still won't
    eat....Sammie even tries to cover it up like it is S*@T !!!!!
    
    I think they are just getting too fussy for their own good or they
    have put themselves on a diet...so what I have done is instead of
    giving them 1 1/2 tins of food between them a day I now just put
    down 1/2 tin before I go to work and 1/2 tin when I get home...they'll
    eat it if their hungry enough but I know they won't starve as I
    am still getting presents of birds from Sammie.
    
    Sharon
    

    re: .5
    
    Marion,
    
    What's the food they don't like?  I've got a tubbo that could really
    use it!  Seems she's liked most everything I've tried so far.  ;-)
    
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    RE:  yucky food = "Happy Cat"
    
    I alternate it with limited amounts of "real" food (CD Dry).
                                                       
    Best of "yuck" with your chunky one.
    
    :^)
    
    Marion

   
    Unfortunately, that trick wouldn't work for me and my little porker,
    Tabbatha.  Tabby loved the Happy cat!
    
    We are beginning to think that Tabby will eat anything that doesn't
    eat her first. 
    
    She's got two nicnames.  "Hungry Hungry Hippo" (Which she actually
    responds to!) and "The Whale!"
    
    Holly
    

    Holly, I can help you out with a few more nicknames:  white whale,
    fat goat, pig face, pork belly, fat boy, lazy lizzard, etc.  These
    loving names belong , of course, to my baby boy, Yurii !!  Tiny
    thing that he is these days!
    
    Does anyone know where I can buy a kitty treadmill??
    
    E.T.

   
    Elaine,
    
    All of those names fit except for two.  White whale (she's all black)
    and baby boy (she's female).  She is getting to be quite a porker,
    though.
    
    Holly
    

    Holly, she may be a porker, but she is a beautiful baby girl!  Any
    time you get tired of her.....she would be an almost perfect match
    for my Alexander with those big round eyes!