What to feed a cat with a diseased liver

You and your pet may experience anxiety when your cat is diagnosed with liver disease. The liver is an essential organ that helps with digestion, produces proteins, and filters toxins. Therefore, it is crucial for your cat’s health and recuperation that they receive the proper nutrition.

A cautious approach is needed when feeding a cat that has liver problems. It’s critical to select foods that will support their needs for nutrients without being too hard on their system. This post will discuss the best foods for cats with liver disease as well as offer some advice on how to make mealtimes more enjoyable for you both.

Knowing your cat’s needs can help you make informed decisions about home-cooked meals or prescription diets. Now let’s discuss the best feeding techniques to maintain the health of your cat’s liver.

What you need to know about liver disease in cats

The liver’s function is to neutralize and eliminate dangerous compounds from the blood by means of bile. The body becomes generally intoxicated if the gland’s function is compromised because toxins are not eliminated, which impairs the operation of every internal organ. Liver pathologies that are complex can be fatal.

In cats, the most prevalent liver conditions are:

• steatohepatosis – a disease accompanied by fatty liver, often caused by improper nutrition of the cat – an excess of fats and carbohydrates in the diet;
• hepatitis – inflammation of the liver, usually of viral origin;
• cirrhosis – a disease in which liver cells die and in their place fibrous tissue appears, unable to absorb toxins and remove them with bile; occurs as a complication of other liver pathologies;

The majority of liver pathologies are inherited conditions or result from poor diet, toxicity, or complex infections.

How to determine if a cat has liver disease

Although there are many causes of liver diseases, the clinical presentation is frequently the same. The following indicators should raise someone’s suspicions:

• frequent vomiting and diarrhea in a cat;
• change in the color of the mucous membranes of the mouth, whites of the eyes, tongue, ears (acquisition of a yellowish tint);
• severe hair loss;
• lack of appetite, sudden weight loss;
• weakness in a cat, apathy;
• dark brown or scarlet urine;
• hard and swollen abdomen (in the upper part);
• signs of pain:

• the animal moves slowly on half-bent legs;
• when trying to touch the tummy, it starts screaming, runs away and hides;

The cat should be brought to the veterinarian right away if there are any indications that its health is declining so they can perform a thorough examination.

Which breeds are most susceptible to liver disease

Certain breeds have a high prevalence of liver pathologies in their representatives. These are animals that are first and foremost predisposed to metabolic disorders. Among them are:

• Highland Folds;
• Persian cats;
• Australian Mists;
• Russian Blues;
• Siamese;

Siamese cats are predisposed to metabolic disorders

These breeds are linked to metabolic disorders, so in addition to liver issues, they may also develop obesity and urolithiasis.

Basic rules of nutrition for liver diseases in cats

Poor diet will exacerbate liver disease and cause the cat to pass away quickly. You should closely adhere to the feeding recommendations made by the veterinarian in order to avoid this. These suggestions will vary depending on the particulars of each case, as the diet is determined by the precise diagnosis, type, and stage of the illness, the existence of coexisting conditions, the overall health of the pet, and factors like age, breed, and weight. The general feeding advice for cats with liver disease is provided below.

An animal with liver pathologies needs a lot of protein in its diet, to start with. This is required to repair the diseased gland’s damaged cells. Making sure the cat gets the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals is also essential. An adult animal, for instance, needs daily:

• vitamin B – 23 IU per kilogram of animal weight;
• vitamin D – 2.3 IU/kg;
• potassium – 180 mg;
• phosphorus – 160 mg;
• magnesium – 25 mg;
• zinc – 0.15 mg.

It’s imperative that you use fats and carbohydrates with extreme caution. On the one hand, they are necessary for the recuperation of an ill animal. Conversely, overly dense and fatty foods will contribute to the emergence of complications because they overstress the already-diseased liver.

A sick cat’s diet should be designed to prevent the liver from becoming overworked; food free of dyes and preservatives is necessary, and all items should be the freshest available.

Veterinarians typically advise a starvation diet for one to two days during exacerbations, or until the condition improves. You can only use clean water. The animal is fed low-fat fish and meat broths following such an enforced fast. Three to four days following the flare-up, you can resume a regular diet, but with twice the recommended dosage based on the cat’s weight and age.

Since overeating when liver pathologies are present is dangerous, lower doses should always be administered; instead, it is preferable to increase the number of feedings (four to five times with two to three hour breaks).

What is contraindicated to include in the diet

Foods high in cholesterol, oxalates, oxalic acid, and nitrogenous extractive substances (carnosine, creatine, anserine, and purine bases) should be avoided in a diet for a cat with liver disease. These materials can be found in:

• mushrooms;
• "heavy" meat (pork, lamb, horse meat);

It is strictly forbidden to give sick cats the byproducts of oxidation of fats that arise from frying in oil; instead, they should only be fed lean meat that has been baked or boiled.

While many of these products are not advised for cats in perfect health, they are strictly forbidden for animals with liver problems.

What ready-made foods can be used

There are specific therapeutic foods for cats with liver diseases; the terms "hepatic" or "liver care" appear in the names of these foods. They lessen the strain on the organ, delay the disease’s progression, and support the preservation and restoration of the body’s overall functionality.

Additionally, there are prepared foods made specifically for cats with liver diseases.

What is included in the composition of therapeutic foods for animals with liver diseases

Cats suffering from liver pathologies can eat both wet and dry food, such as pate or chunks of meat cooked in jelly. The primary requirement is that there be no thickeners, flavor enhancers, or preservatives in the mixture. They are consistently added to low-quality feeds, which are inappropriate for sick animals. Only the premium category of feed is available for the Hepatic or Liver Care series.

In the event of chronic liver failure, the feed’s starch and protein hydrolysate content can be beneficial.

Therapeutic feeds should have about the following nutritional value:

• protein – 15-28%;
• fat – no more than 22%;
• fiber — not less than 3%.

Protein sources include egg powder, beet pulp, corn gluten, and dehydrated chicken or fish meat. Minerals and vitamins must be included in therapeutic diets. Vitamins D3, A, E, B, PP, C, iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, sodium, and taurine should all be included in the composition. A maximum of 4.2 mg of copper is recommended because too much of this mineral strains the liver.

A high polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid content in the diet helps strengthen a sick cat’s body.

Is it possible to use therapeutic feeds without consulting a specialist

You need to speak with your veterinarian before using therapeutic feed. Verify that the cat’s liver issues are indeed the cause of its problems. Different diagnoses necessitate different diets, and different diseases can have similar symptoms. Hepatic or liver-care-designated therapeutic feeds are only appropriate for animals suffering from liver pathologies; they are not meant to be used for other illnesses or as a preventative measure.

To create an accurate nutrition program, speaking with a veterinarian before beginning to use medicinal feeds is also essential. Dosage tables are present on the packaging of completed goods, although they are fairly mediocre. It is preferable if a specialist performs a more precise computation based on the diagnosis, disease stage and form, and general cat information (weight, age, breed, etc.).

How long can you feed your pet medicinal food

The type of pathology determines how long diet therapy should last. For a minimum of six months following an exacerbation, cats with liver pathologies should receive therapeutic feeds. Throughout the cat’s life, therapeutic diet may be required for chronic liver diseases (though a veterinarian should make this decision).

Can special feeds be mixed with regular feeds

It is not advisable to combine therapeutic and regular feeds because it is nearly hard to determine the daily requirements of every ingredient a sick cat needs. With stable remission and a doctor’s approval, you can only completely transition to non-therapeutic products. Even in this situation, though, careful consideration must be given to the quality and composition of the food chosen; this is because the liver cannot fully recover and there is always a risk of exacerbations.

Video: how to transfer a cat to therapeutic feed

Table: comparison of ready-made feeds for cats with liver disease

• rice;
• corn;
• wheat gluten;
• dehydrated proteins from low-fat pork;
• minerals;
• chicory pulp;
• fish oil;
• soybean oil;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• hydrolyzed yeast;
• extract of marigold.

• 500 g package — 580 rubles.;
• 2 kg package — 1930 rubles.

• spelt;
• corn gluten;
• hydrolyzed fish protein;
• oats;
• fish oil;
• dehydrated chicken meat;
• calcium carbonate;
• flaxseed;
• potassium chloride;
• rice starch;
• sugar beet pulp;
• fructooligosaccharides;
• brewer"s yeast;
• calendula extract.

• corn;
• dry protein isolated from chicken meat;
• corn gluten;
• beet pulp;
• egg powder;
• chicory root;
• fish oil;
• vitamin complex.

• chicken or fish meat;
• corn starch;
• Cereals;
• Vegetable protein extracts;
• Oils and fats;
• Minerals;
• Vitamin complex.

• Cereals;
• Dehydrated chicken or turkey meat;
• Corn gluten meal;
• Dry whole egg;
• Minerals;
• Vitamin complex;
• Beet pulp.

Photo gallery: feed for cats with liver diseases

Royal Canin’s highly palatable food encourages eating and aids in healing. High-quality ingredients guarantee high dietary digestibility in Farmina Vet Life Cat Hepatic food. Foods on the Pro Plan diet are suggested to support liver function because they contain a high concentration of essential fatty acids and a moderate amount of high-quality proteins. Cats can maintain their health with Hill’s food, which has been clinically proven to be effective. Highly digestible proteins, fats, and carbohydrates can be found in Hill’s Prescription Diet Liver Care supplements.

What natural products can a sick cat be fed

In the event that the owners choose to feed their sick cat "natural" food rather than prepared food, the diet must be planned around approved and forbidden items. The following are a few examples of dishes that are appropriate for patients with fur:

• broth from lean chicken, turkey or fish with cereals;
• boiled and finely chopped poultry and fish (without fascia, tendons, bones and skin), it can be mixed with boiled carrots, beets, pumpkin, potatoes;
• meatballs from chicken or beef mince and cereals (rice, pearl barley, buckwheat, etc.);
• low-fat milk and sour cream (if the cat tolerates them well).

It’s crucial to make sure the cat gets enough water to drink and eats healthfully without going overboard. Because liquids pass through the excretory system more quickly than toxins do, the sick liver is not as burdened, which is crucial for healing and avoiding exacerbations. One thing to note, though, is that even in cases of extreme dehydration, the animal patient with liver disease does not experience thirst. The owners will have to forcefully pour water into their cat’s mouth each day if they observe that the animal rarely approaches the bowl (you can use a pipette or a syringe without a needle for this).

A cat should typically drink 25–30 milliliters of water per kg of body weight each day.

Is it necessary to add vitamins, microelements and minerals to the diet

Since vitamin and mineral complexes are already present in biscuits or canned food, you don’t need to give them to cats with liver diseases when feeding them ready-made food. A diet of "natural food" won’t provide you with the necessary amount of nutrients, particularly if your pet is mischievous and refuses to eat grass and veggies (like sprouted oats). In this situation, you ought to ask the vet to choose a medication that is appropriate and contains vitamins, macro- and microelements.

Purchasing vitamin and mineral complexes on your own without first seeing a doctor is advised because you run the risk of selecting the incorrect product (both an excess and a deficiency of micro- and macroelements can be detrimental to a cat with a sick liver).

Food Type	Description
High-Quality Protein	Lean meats like chicken or turkey help maintain muscle mass.
Low Fat	Choose low-fat options to reduce liver strain.
Hydration	Wet food can aid hydration and support liver function.
Vitamin E	Incorporate foods rich in Vitamin E for antioxidant support.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	Fish oil can promote liver health and reduce inflammation.

A cat with liver disease needs to be fed with great care and attention to quality nutrition. It is crucial to select a diet that is easy on the digestive system and promotes liver function. In order to improve general health, low-protein, easily digested foods are frequently advised, along with particular vitamins and minerals.

Seeking advice from a veterinarian is essential. Based on your cat’s unique requirements and the severity of the liver condition, they can offer tailored dietary recommendations. Maintaining your cat’s health and comfort may require routine checkups and dietary modifications.

In the end, feeding your cat the proper food can have a big impact on how happy they are. You can assist your pet in managing their liver disease and preserving their happiness and vitality by taking the appropriate measures.

It’s imperative to feed a diet that promotes liver health to a cat suffering from liver disease, emphasizing foods that are easy to digest, high-quality proteins, and vital nutrients. A healthier diet free of unhealthy fats and ingredients can help them better manage their condition. As every cat is different and has different needs, it is always best to consult a veterinarian for personalized advice.

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