30/08/2026
🐱 Meet Nala, Felix & Milo: When “Not Eating” Is More Than Just Being Picky
Nala, Felix, and Milo were brought to our clinic with one main concern: inappetence or decreased appetite. 🐾
While a pet skipping a meal may sometimes seem harmless, persistent inappetence should never be ignored, especially in cats. Loss of appetite can be a sign of an underlying health problem, rather than a disease by itself.
🔎 What can inappetence be associated with?
A decreased appetite may occur with:
• Gastrointestinal problems such as gastritis, enteritis, constipation, or intestinal obstruction
• Dental or oral pain
• Infections and systemic diseases
• Kidney or liver problems
• Pancreatitis
• Stress or environmental changes
• Pain or discomfort
• Metabolic or hormonal disorders
⚠️ In cats, prolonged lack of food can become a serious concern.
Cats that eat very little or stop eating for several days are at risk of developing hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease), particularly cats that are overweight. This is why early assessment and intervention are important.
🧪 Sometimes, laboratory results can give us clues that aren't obvious from appetite alone.
For example, changes in liver-related laboratory values—including High levels of certain liver-associated enzymes—may need to be interpreted together with the patient's history, physical examination, and other bloodwork. A single laboratory value does not diagnose a disease by itself, but it can help guide the veterinarian toward what needs further investigation.
💡 The important lesson:
👉 “Not eating” is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
If your cat suddenly has a poor appetite, especially if it persists or is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, jaundice, dehydration, or other changes in behavior, have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian.
Early detection can make a big difference. ❤️🐾
📍 Pet Gallery Depot and Veterinary Services
Unit 110, Lower Ground Floor, Arcadia Building, Brgy. Don Jose, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
📞 0917-159-6406
