Fatty Liver Disease in Cats

Feline hepatic lipidosis, also called “fatty liver disease, aka ‘hepatic lipidosis”, is the most common liver disease of domestic cats. Unique to the species, this disorder can affect cats of any breed or age, although it is most commonly seen in middle-aged, overweight cats that appear to lose weight too quickly.

Cats with “fatty liver” often show one of more of the following symptoms: loss of appetite (anorexia), typically over a period of several weeks, rapid weight loss, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive drooling (caused by nausea).

As the disease progresses, a cat will become lethargic and depressed, show signs of muscle wasting, appear jaundiced (a yellow tint to the skin, the eyes, and the mucous membranes), and may collapse and go into seizures. All of these signs are pointing to the end stages of liver failure.

To understand how “fatty liver syndrome” progresses, you must first know how your cat’s liver works in her body.

The main functions of your cat’s healthy liver include removing any toxins from her body, producing chemicals necessary for healthy digestion, and turning protein she gets from her food into energy. When your kitty stops eating for a period of time – regardless of the reason – their body automatically replaces the proteins  required for survival with fat from their reserves and deposits them in her liver for energy.

Feline bodies are made to convert proteins, not large amounts of fat, into energy. When those fatty deposits end up in the liver, it cannot function properly, and the organ becomes swollen and turns yellow. This lack of liver function quickly develops into malnutrition.

Your veterinarian may not be able to pinpoint an exact cause of your kitty’s liver disease. A sudden loss of appetite or a drastic reduction in the amount of food your cat eats can be a trigger for the disease. This loss of appetite may originate from some underlying disorder, such as kidney disease or cancer, or may occur when changing foods to one the “picky-eater” cat doesn’t want to eat. It only takes about 2 weeks of a cat eating half her normal amount of calories for “fatty liver” to develop.

Additionally, important risk factors appear to be stress, obesity (and/or aggressive weight loss attempts by pet parents), getting lost or a change in the cat’s living arrangements, and other generalized diseases, such as an upper respiratory infection.

Veterinarians typically diagnose fatty liver disease using blood tests that reveal high levels of a liver enzyme that is indicative of liver failure. Because the liver plays an important role in the synthesis of red blood cells and the production of blood clotting factors, blood and urine tests are helpful with the diagnosis of liver failure. Additionally, radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasonography may reveal an increase in the size of the liver.

Ultimately, veterinarians typically recommend performing a biopsy or needle aspirate of a bit of liver tissue to make a definitive diagnosis for “fatty liver.” In a severe or advanced case, your cat will probably be hospitalized and placed on intravenous fluids to help overcome the electrolyte imbalances caused by in malnutrition and organ failure. Some veterinarians recommend supplementing IV fluids with B-complex vitamins to help alleviate some of the symptoms. Once their condition stabilizes, your cat can come home.

The main treatment for fatty liver disease revolves around at-home dietary management. This means that in order to reverse the effects of malnutrition, your cat’s protein requirements will need to be met immediately. If she is not eating on her own, you’ll need to syringe-feed her food into her mouth so that she is forced to swallow. Your vet technician can show you how to do this. This type of feeding may need to be done for several weeks until she is eating on her own.

Successful management of this disease depends on early diagnosis and treatment. If your kitty survives the initial few days of illness, a prognosis for a total recovery is very good to excellent.