{"id":100299,"date":"2022-04-22T12:28:50","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:28:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/"},"modified":"2022-04-22T12:28:50","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T12:28:50","slug":"how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/","title":{"rendered":"How long can a feral cat go without eating?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_long_can_a_feral_cat_go_without_eating\" title=\"How long can a feral cat go without eating?\">How long can a feral cat go without eating?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#What_happens_if_you_stop_feeding_a_cat\" title=\"What happens if you stop feeding a cat?\">What happens if you stop feeding a cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_do_I_stop_feeding_feral_cats\" title=\"How do I stop feeding feral cats?\">How do I stop feeding feral cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_often_should_you_feed_feral_cats\" title=\"How often should you feed feral cats?\">How often should you feed feral cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_often_do_feral_cats_need_to_eat\" title=\"How often do feral cats need to eat?\">How often do feral cats need to eat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Do_feral_cats_eat_everyday\" title=\"Do feral cats eat everyday?\">Do feral cats eat everyday?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#What_happens_if_a_cat_doesnt_eat_for_3_days\" title=\"What happens if a cat doesn&#8217;t eat for 3 days?\">What happens if a cat doesn&#8217;t eat for 3 days?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#What_time_of_day_do_feral_cats_eat\" title=\"What time of day do feral cats eat?\">What time of day do feral cats eat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Will_cats_go_away_if_you_stop_feeding_them\" title=\"Will cats go away if you stop feeding them?\">Will cats go away if you stop feeding them?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_long_can_a_cat_live_without_eating\" title=\"How long can a cat live without eating?\">How long can a cat live without eating?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Can_a_cat_go_24_hours_without_food\" title=\"Can a cat go 24 hours without food?\">Can a cat go 24 hours without food?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Will_a_cat_starve_itself\" title=\"Will a cat starve itself?\">Will a cat starve itself?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Will_feral_cats_go_away_if_you_stop_feeding_them\" title=\"Will feral cats go away if you stop feeding them?\">Will feral cats go away if you stop feeding them?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Is_it_wrong_to_feed_stray_cats\" title=\"Is it wrong to feed stray cats?\">Is it wrong to feed stray cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#What_happens_when_you_stop_feeding_a_cat\" title=\"What happens when you stop feeding a cat?\">What happens when you stop feeding a cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_much_should_you_feed_a_feral_cat\" title=\"How much should you feed a feral cat?\">How much should you feed a feral cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_long_can_feral_cats_go_without_food\" title=\"How long can feral cats go without food?\">How long can feral cats go without food?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_often_should_you_feed_outdoor_cats\" title=\"How often should you feed outdoor cats?\">How often should you feed outdoor cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_often_should_I_feed_feral_cats\" title=\"How often should I feed feral cats?\">How often should I feed feral cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_many_times_a_day_do_you_feed_feral_cats\" title=\"How many times a day do you feed feral cats?\">How many times a day do you feed feral cats?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_often_should_you_feed_a_feral_cat\" title=\"How often should you feed a feral cat?\">How often should you feed a feral cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#How_many_times_a_day_do_cats_eat_in_the_wild\" title=\"How many times a day do cats eat in the wild?\">How many times a day do cats eat in the wild?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/how-long-can-a-feral-cat-go-without-eating\/#Are_feral_cats_always_hungry\" title=\"Are feral cats always hungry?\">Are feral cats always hungry?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_can_a_feral_cat_go_without_eating\"><\/span>How long can a feral cat go without eating?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What about feral cats that might have unreliable food sources? How long can a cat go without eating? In any caseill, picky, or ferala cat that doesnt eat might survive for as long as <b>two weeks without food, but not without serious health consequences.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_stop_feeding_a_cat\"><\/span>What happens if you stop feeding a cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What happens if a cat doesnt eat? Cats need nutrients to live, which they get from food and water. If cats stop eating, or if they cant find food with enough protein, this <b>can cause hepatic lipidosis, a liver condition that can be fatal if left untreated<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_stop_feeding_feral_cats\"><\/span>How do I stop feeding feral cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The best suggestion I can offer is that you should <b>contact rescue groups that practice TNR, which stands for trap, neuter and return, and see if they have volunteers who will take over feeding the cats. It would be an excellent idea to have the colony neutered, if the cats havent already been.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_you_feed_feral_cats\"><\/span>How often should you feed feral cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Meals can be given <b>1-2 times a day. If meals are provided regularly at the same time every day, the cats quickly learn when and where to expect food and might even wait for you. Meal times are a good time to observe and keep track of any changes in the health and temperament of the cats.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_do_feral_cats_need_to_eat\"><\/span>How often do feral cats need to eat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you are thinking about feeding feral cats, ideally only put food down <b>once a day. This will help ensure that the cats retain their natural drive and ability to hunt and fend for themselves. Or perhaps they will even find a second feeder!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_feral_cats_eat_everyday\"><\/span>Do feral cats eat everyday?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to the National Research Councils Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, <b>feral cats eat about 8 to 12 meals in any given 24 hour period. (1) Their behavior is geared towards small, frequent meals and they spend a great deal of their time actively hunting.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_a_cat_doesnt_eat_for_3_days\"><\/span>What happens if a cat doesn&#8217;t eat for 3 days?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cats organs shut down very quickly if they dont eat. Unlike dogs and humans, their livers are not made to support their bodies for long living off their bodies energy stores alone. In some cases <b>cats can die in three or four days without any protein intake, even if they are hydrated.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_time_of_day_do_feral_cats_eat\"><\/span>What time of day do feral cats eat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is best to feed once a day, and at the same time each day. <b>Daybreak and dusk usually are the two best times to feed, as cats are up and active then. But keep in mind: if you have predators around, such as coyotes, they too are active at daybreak and dusk.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_cats_go_away_if_you_stop_feeding_them\"><\/span>Will cats go away if you stop feeding them?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you stop feeding the cats, <b>they will likely stay in the same area but be forced to expand their search for food. The large number of hungry cats can create conflicts with other cats and humans in the area. To remove feral cats from your property, be sure to remove any sources of food or shelter.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_can_a_cat_live_without_eating\"><\/span>How long can a cat live without eating?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>about two weeks<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cat_go_24_hours_without_food\"><\/span>Can a cat go 24 hours without food?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While your cat might think otherwise, <b>a cat can safely go 24-48 hours without food before any health issues appear. Cats cannot convert fat to energy as humans do, so they need food more often. If your cat stops eating for 24 hours, you need to call the vet, as there might be a medical issue.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_a_cat_starve_itself\"><\/span>Will a cat starve itself?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Cats will starve themselves if they dislike the food. Even missing a single meal can be detrimental because cats are susceptible to hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). Within 24-48 hours of not eating, cats use their fat stores for energy, resulting in liver malfunction.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_feral_cats_go_away_if_you_stop_feeding_them\"><\/span>Will feral cats go away if you stop feeding them?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you stop feeding the cats, <b>they will likely stay in the same area but be forced to expand their search for food. The large number of hungry cats can create conflicts with other cats and humans in the area. To remove feral cats from your property, be sure to remove any sources of food or shelter.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_wrong_to_feed_stray_cats\"><\/span>Is it wrong to feed stray cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dont feed and forget feral cats. <b>Feeding feral and stray cats is generous, but they need health care as well. If you cant manage ongoing care, at the very least, get the cat neutered, suggests Case.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_when_you_stop_feeding_a_cat\"><\/span>What happens when you stop feeding a cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What happens if a cat doesnt eat? Cats need nutrients to live, which they get from food and water. If cats stop eating, or if they cant find food with enough protein, this <b>can cause hepatic lipidosis, a liver condition that can be fatal if left untreated<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_should_you_feed_a_feral_cat\"><\/span>How much should you feed a feral cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you are thinking about feeding feral cats, ideally only put food down <b>once a day. This will help ensure that the cats retain their natural drive and ability to hunt and fend for themselves. Or perhaps they will even find a second feeder!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_can_feral_cats_go_without_food\"><\/span>How long can feral cats go without food?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Expect an adult feral cat to eat roughly 200 calories per day, plus or minus 2030 calories. This works out to about <b>5.5 ounces of wet (canned) food plus 1\/8-cup of dry food per day (increase to a half-cup if only feeding dry).<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_you_feed_outdoor_cats\"><\/span>How often should you feed outdoor cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What about feral cats that might have unreliable food sources? How long can a cat go without eating? In any caseill, picky, or ferala cat that doesnt eat might survive for as long as <b>two weeks without food, but not without serious health consequences.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_I_feed_feral_cats\"><\/span>How often should I feed feral cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>once a day<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_times_a_day_do_you_feed_feral_cats\"><\/span>How many times a day do you feed feral cats?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What about feral cats that might have unreliable food sources? How long can a cat go without eating? In any caseill, picky, or ferala cat that doesnt eat might survive for as long as <b>two weeks without food, but not without serious health consequences.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_often_should_you_feed_a_feral_cat\"><\/span>How often should you feed a feral cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you are thinking about feeding feral cats, ideally only put food down <b>once a day. This will help ensure that the cats retain their natural drive and ability to hunt and fend for themselves. Or perhaps they will even find a second feeder!<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_many_times_a_day_do_cats_eat_in_the_wild\"><\/span>How many times a day do cats eat in the wild?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What about feral cats that might have unreliable food sources? How long can a cat go without eating? In any caseill, picky, or ferala cat that doesnt eat might survive for as long as <b>two weeks without food, but not without serious health consequences.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_feral_cats_always_hungry\"><\/span>Are feral cats always hungry?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Feral cats will usually eat <b>a number of small meals throughout the day, with more hunting around dawn and dusk although cats may eat at any time in a 24-hour period since their vision and hearing work well in poor light conditions to help them catch food.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents How long can a feral cat go without eating?What happens if you stop feeding a cat?How do I stop feeding feral cats?How often should you feed feral cats?How often do feral cats need to eat?Do feral cats eat everyday?What happens if a cat doesn&#8217;t eat for 3 days?What time of day do&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-100299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100299"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100299"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100299\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}