Healthy Liver Cat Food

The liver is one of the most important and largest organs in a cat's body. It helps regulate the levels of most chemicals in the blood, and helps reduce toxin levels. Unfortunately, liver disease is not uncommon, especially in older cats. While the liver must be seriously damaged before symptoms appear, its function may be impaired much earlier. Cats with liver problems may need special care and a carefully formulated diet to survive.

  1. Symptoms

    • Feline liver disease symptoms often cause cats to stop eating, or to have a reduced appetite. This may be accompanied by swelling in the abdomen, vomiting or diarrhea, and significant loss of weight. Cats with liver disease are often lethargic and irritable, and may seem depressed. They may also show an obvious yellowing of the gums, ears and eyes, called jaundice, and suffer from seizures.

    Types

    • There are several different types of liver disease in cats, not all of which have adequately explained causes. Parasites, such as roundworms, tapeworm cysts, liver flukes and toxoplasmosis may all damage the liver. Diseases like diabetes, Cushing's syndrome, leukemia, FIV and feline infectious peritonitis may also cause liver problems. Hepatic lipodosis, or fatty liver syndrome, frequently occurs in cats in the United States. Its cause is not known, though, according to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, a poor-quality commercial diet may be a factor.

    Considerations

    • Different types of liver disease require different diet adjustments. Hepatic lipidosis, for example, is often treated by feeding cats a high-protein food that is dense in calories. A portosystemic shunt, or abnormal connection in the veins that allows blood to bypass the liver, is treated by providing a low-protein diet, as well as supportive care as directed by veterinary specialists.

    Protein

    • Cats suffering from serious liver damage may be completely unable to use protein and amino acids correctly. They often have little to no appetite. These cats may require regular tube feeding, and intensive support care. Some cats may be unable to cope with the protein in tube-fed diets, and will arch their necks backwards and suffer tremors. These cats may need to be euthanized.

    Warning

    • Shellfish, organ meat and foods containing fish meal must never be offered to cats with liver disease. These foods contain substances called purines, which metabolize into uric acid. A damaged liver is unable to process this effectively, and toxins may build up in the blood.

    Recovery

    • In many cases, cats with liver disease are able to recover, as long as an appropriate, veterinarian-recommended diet is offered, and owners give adequate supportive care. The liver can partially regenerate, and may function even if half of it is damaged or missing. Careful diet management and treatment of the underlying cause of the damage allow the liver to heal and the cat to resume a relatively normal life.