Types of Feline Liver Disease

Cats can be affected by several different types of liver disease. Veterinarians can treat liver disease if the diagnosis is made early enough. While symptoms can differ depending on the disease, some that are common to most types of liver disease are: jaundice, loss of appetite, increased urination and thirst, diarrhea, vomiting and seizures.

  1. Hepatic Lipidosis

    • This condition is also known as fatty liver disease. The disease is brought on when a cat becomes anemic or stops eating (often due to stress of some kind) and its body starts using fat stores as fuel. Sometimes, the liver can't process all the fat, which leads to elevated enzymes and fat buildup in the liver. Treatment for this disease is a high-protein, high-calorie diet via feeding tube for six to eight weeks. Most, but not all, cases occur in obese cats. Quick diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

    Cholangitis Complex

    • This disease is actually a combination of related infectious or inflammatory liver disorders. The disorders cause inflammation and often bacterial infection of the liver. Treatment is nutritional support, IV fluids and antibiotics, if a bacterial infection is present.

    Toxic Hepatopathy

    • Exposure to toxins causes this liver disease. Some drugs may also cause this condition. If a cat is drinking water or eating food that is contaminated with toxins, his liver may not be able to handle them. The toxins can then cause his liver to become diseased and to work improperly. Treatment for this disease is removing the toxin from the cat's environment and nutritional support. Depending on what the toxin was, your veterinarian may diagnose medication.

    Liver Cancer

    • Several different types of cancers can affect the liver in a cat. Cancer causes tumors and often, by the time liver cancer is detected, treatment is difficult. That's because in cats, the cancer usually originated elsewhere and spread to the liver. Cancer beginning in the liver is rare for cats.

    Portosystemic Shunt

    • Cats with this condition were likely born with it. Having portosystemic shunt, or liver shunt, means that blood bypasses the liver and therefore is not detoxified by the organ. Toxins in the cat's blood increase, which can result in illness. Surgery is probably necessary to fix the problem.