By: Muhammad Zafarul Adib Zaidi | zafarul@upm.edu.my

SERDANG, 2 March – The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FPV), in collaboration with the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Infaq (WAZAN), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), organised the Webinar Kebajikan Haiwan@VET, UPM Siri 2/2026 titled “Kenapa Kucing Saya Tak Mahu Makan? Adakah Ia Sakit atau Merajuk?” on 27 February 2026. The webinar formed part of a continuous education initiative aimed at enhancing animal health literacy within the community and supporting cat owners in making informed decisions regarding feline care.

The programme sought to assist owners in identifying the causes of changes in their cats’ appetite, whether related to behavioural factors, environmental stress, or underlying health issues. The session was delivered by Dr. Siti Sarah binti Ismail, Veterinary Officer at the University Veterinary Hospital (UVH), who explained that cats rarely refuse food without an underlying physical reason. Key aspects to assess include the duration of appetite loss, water intake, activity level, and the presence of additional symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and lethargy.

The webinar was moderated by En. Muhammad Syahir bin Zainal Abidin, Assistant Veterinary Officer at UVH, who ensured an engaging and interactive discussion. The session also addressed stress-related triggers such as sudden dietary changes, relocation, introduction of new animals, alterations in the owner’s routine, and temporary boarding, all of which may cause a cat to stop eating despite not being ill.

Participants were informed of potential warning signs of illness, including persistent lethargy, prolonged hiding, rapid breathing, strong oral odour, excessive drooling, repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, jaundice of the eyes or gums, sudden weight loss, and difficulty urinating. The session further introduced methods of observing facial expressions and body posture to help assess pain at an early stage, along with common causes such as dental disease, viral infections, kidney disease, diabetes, and poisoning.

The webinar also provided practical guidance for initial home management, including ensuring access to clean water, offering wet food with stronger aroma, relocating feeding areas to quieter spaces, and monitoring urination and defecation patterns. The programme aimed to enhance owners’ awareness and responsiveness towards behavioural changes in their pets so that timely and appropriate intervention can be undertaken, ultimately promoting overall feline wellbeing.

Behind the scenes before the webinar began

The lineup of committee members involved

Click the media below to watch the recorded video:

Click the media below to access the speaker’s slides:

Date of Input: 02/03/2026 | Updated: 03/03/2026 | zafarul