Fatty Liver Disease in Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Fatty Liver Disease, medically known as Hepatic Lipidosis, is a common and serious liver condition affecting cats. This Pets4Homes guide explores the causes, symptoms, and the latest treatments for this disease to help you recognise it early and take swift action for your cat’s health.

What causes Fatty Liver Disease in cats?

This condition usually affects cats that are overweight and then experience rapid weight loss, often due to strict dieting or illness. When a cat suddenly stops eating or eats insufficiently, its body starts breaking down fat deposits to produce energy. The liver becomes overwhelmed by this fat, which it cannot process efficiently, especially in obese cats.

Additional causes include:

• Trauma, such as a broken jaw preventing eating
• Underlying illnesses, including kidney disease or infections
• Stress or sudden changes affecting appetite

Regardless of the cause, the key issue is a lack of sufficient nutritional intake, leading to fat accumulation in the liver and liver dysfunction.

How does Fatty Liver Disease develop?

The liver performs hundreds of vital functions, including fat metabolism and detoxification. In fatty liver disease, fat accumulates within the liver cells, impairing their ability to function properly. This creates a damaging cycle: fat clogs liver cells, reducing their capacity to process fat, causing more fat buildup.

Bile ducts inside the liver can also become blocked by fat, further worsening liver function.

Recognising the symptoms of Fatty Liver Disease

Early recognition is critical. Common symptoms include:

Loss of appetite or complete refusal to eat

This is the most typical sign. The cat feels unwell, possibly experiencing liver pain, causing refusal to eat which accelerates liver damage.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

These can result from the body trying to remove toxins due to impaired liver function.

Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

A sign that bile is not flowing properly due to blocked bile ducts.

Weakness and lethargy

The cat may become very weak and disinterested in activities, potentially collapsing as disease progresses.

Heart irregularities

Electrolyte imbalances can lead to abnormal heart rhythms which can be serious.

If you notice these symptoms, contact a vet immediately as delays can be fatal.

How is Fatty Liver Disease diagnosed by the vet?

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, history, and blood tests showing liver damage and elevated blood fat levels. Sometimes a liver biopsy or ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirate is performed to confirm fat accumulation, though this may not be done if the cat is unstable.

Modern treatment options for Fatty Liver Disease

Treatment requires hospitalisation for intensive care and supportive therapy. The priority is nutrition: as cats often won't eat, feeding tubes with specialised liquid diet provide essential calories for six to seven weeks until liver function improves.

Supportive care includes:

• Intravenous fluids to combat dehydration
• Vitamin and metabolic supplements such as vitamin K and L-Carnitine to support liver recovery and blood clotting
• Medications like antiemetics to reduce nausea and liver supplements to enhance function

Early and aggressive treatment can improve survival rates to around 75-80%, compared to lower survival without metabolic support. Continuous monitoring of bilirubin and other lab values helps veterinarians track progress and adjust treatment.

This approach is in line with international and UK veterinary guidance for best outcomes.

Conclusion

Feline Fatty Liver Disease is a serious, potentially fatal condition but with prompt veterinary care, including hospitalisation and nutritional support, many cats recover well. If your cat is overweight, losing appetite, or showing signs of illness, please seek veterinary advice urgently. Early diagnosis and a carefully managed treatment plan are essential to save your cat’s life.