My cat hasn't eaten for three days.
'Gatto' = GAT-toh. Double t. 'Mangia' = MAN-ja. Third person singular of 'mangiare'.
Describing loss of appetite to the vet — one of the most common feline complaints.
'Non mangia da tre giorni' — 'da' + time expression with present tense in Italian expresses a duration that continues into the present. In English we use 'hasn't eaten for', but Italian uses the present tense 'non mangia da'. This structure (presente + da + tempo) is essential Italian grammar for describing ongoing situations.
Il gatto beve molto di più del solito.
The cat is drinking much more than usual.
Polydipsia (excessive thirst) combined with not eating can indicate kidney disease or diabetes in cats.
Ha perso peso negli ultimi due mesi.
It has lost weight in the last two months.
Weight loss history is important for the vet's assessment.
Il gatto dorme tutto il giorno e sembra debole.
The cat sleeps all day and seems weak.
Lethargy plus anorexia — combination of symptoms aids diagnosis.
Cats are enormously popular in Italy — an estimated 7.5 million domestic cats. Italy also has a large 'gatti liberi' (free-living cat colony) population, managed by volunteers under Law 281/1991, which grants colonies legal protection and prohibits their removal. Colonial cats are managed by local 'gattare' (cat ladies) who feed and care for them.