With cats being such a popular pet option and medication such as prednisolone being commonly prescribed for senior cats with a number of different heal problems, we commonly see people reaching out with a wide range of questions about using prednisolone with their pet cat.
One of the most common questions that we see people asking about is why their cat on prednisolone is not eating.
Although this can be a normal side effect of giving your cat prednisolone, you should always check with your prescribing veterinarian about what you should expect before you take any action.
Without being able to see your cat and its current condition, we are not able to offer any specific advice on how you should be trying to treat your cat but the advice below may be able to help some of our readers.
Please note, that everything below is generic information and is not intended as specific advice to your cat and you should always check with a vet.
What Is Prednisolone Used For In Cats?
Prednisolone is a type of steroid medication that is most commonly used to help reduce inflammation in senior cats.
This means that it can be prescribed for everything from allergies to arthritis and even cancer.
As with any medication, there are a number of potential side effects that you should be aware of before starting your cat on prednisolone.
One of the most common side effects that we see in cats taking prednisolone is a decrease in their appetite.
Why Is My Cat On Prednisolone Not Eating?
There are a number of potential reasons as to why your cat on prednisolone may not be eating.
The most common reason is simply that they are experiencing the side effect of reduced appetite that we just mentioned.
In most cases, this is not a cause for concern and will improve as your cat adjusts to the medication.
If you are concerned about your cat’s lack of appetite, we recommend checking in with your prescribing veterinarian.
Another potential reason why your cat may not be eating is if they are experiencing nausea or vomiting as a result of the prednisolone.
This is also a common side effect of the medication and should improve as your cat adjusts.
If you are concerned about your cat’s nausea or vomiting, we recommend checking in with your prescribing veterinarian.
The last potential reason why your cat may not be eating is if they are experiencing pain as a result of their condition.
If you think that this may be the case, we recommend checking in with your prescribing veterinarian.
How Can I Get My Cat On Prednisolone To Eat?
There are a number of potential ways that you can try to get your cat on prednisolone to eat.
The first is to offer them small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of their normal large meals.
You can also try offering them a higher protein diet as this may be more appealing to them.
Some people also try to focus the food in their cat’s meals around easy to digest protein sources that produce minimal gas when digested such as chicken breast.
Can You Give Prednisone To A Cat With Empty Stomach?
No, you should not give prednisone to a cat with an empty stomach as this can increase the risk of them developing an ulcer.
It is important that you follow the instructions of your prescribing veterinarian when it comes to giving your cat prednisolone and always make sure that they have food in their stomach before giving them the medication.
Can Prednisolone Cause Loss Of Appetite In Cats?
Yes, one of the most common side effects of prednisolone in cats is a decrease in appetite.
If you are concerned about your cat’s lack of appetite, we recommend checking in with your prescribing veterinarian.
When Should I Worry About My Cat Not Eating?
You should keep an eye on your cat’s food in take from the very start of you offering them prednisolone.
This is due to some cats already being in a bad way and potentially not eating due to the reason prednisolone has been prescribed to them.
Some vets will offer a food log book with the prednisolone and ask you to record everything that your cat eats during the prednisolone treatment.
If you noticed that your cat is not eating for over a day then we would recommend that you check in with your vet.
Most vets will offer a leaflet when prescribing medication so reading any paperwork that your vet gave you about the potential side effects of prednisolone in your cat can also provide answers in some situations.
In Conclusion
We hope that this article has been helpful in answering some of the questions that you may have had about why your cat on prednisolone is not eating.
If you have any further questions or concerns, we recommend checking in with your prescribing veterinarian.
