Sky and The Case of the Very Hot Cat

Recently, I got a text from E, a cat mom in California, where they were in the middle of a brutal heat wave.

“Sky hasn’t moved in 3 days and won’t eat or drink anything,” she said.

Now, before we dive in, I want to clarify: I’m not a vet. My expertise is in cat behavior, not medical training. But one of the most important things I learned was when to say, “Call the vet!” And that’s exactly what I told E.

She replied, “But what if he’s just hot from the heat wave?” My answer: “Take him to the vet.”
“What if he’s just tired from playing with the kitten all week?” “Vet!”
“What if…?” “Nope, this isn’t behavioral. He needs a vet ASAP.”

Here’s the deal: cats don’t just stop eating. Yes, they sleep a lot, so you might not immediately notice if they’ve been lying in one spot for days. And they aren’t big water drinkers, so it’s easy to miss if they’re not drinking. But if a cat refuses to eat, it’s a red flag.

E did exactly what she should have—she noticed Sky’s change in behavior and reached out to me for help. Thankfully, she didn’t ignore it and assume it was just the heat. She took him to the vet, where they found out Sky had a fever. After some antibiotics, Sky bounced back and is now back to his usual kitten-chasing self. (And, luckily, the heat wave has passed!)

Key Takeaway: If your cat stops eating, it’s likely a medical issue. Don’t wait—call your vet.