undergoing rapid weight loss from caloric restriction,
researchers found it protected against hepatic triglyceride
accumulation. Supplementation of 250 mg of carnitine a day
in lipidosis cats is reported to be associated with better
survival rates.
For cats that are acutely il and refuse to eat for days
and even weeks, a feeding tube may be placed to al ow the
cat to be fed a soft diet, either while in the hospital or after
going home. It may take weeks of tube feeding before the
cat’s appetite returns to normal. Cats tolerate these tubes
quite wel , though, and most owners become adept at
feeding the cat in this way.
Once the cat’s appetite returns, the right diet helps them
recover. “Cats have some very peculiar amino acid
requirements, and these are particularly important in liver
disease,” says Dr. Davenport. Arginine, taurine and carnitine
are critical. “Carnitine is real y more of an amino vitamin than
an amino acid, but it’s integral to the shunting of fat in and
out of the components of the cel where fat is metabolized.”
She says that an inadequate amount of carnitine is thought
to be one of the mechanisms by which fat is believed to
accumulate in cats with hepatic lipidosis. Therefore, Hil ’s
Pet Nutrition therapeutic diet cal ed Prescription Diet Feline
l/d for cats with liver disease is supplemented with carnitine,
taurine, and arginine. Depending on your cat’s specific
needs, other therapeutic diets may be appropriate as wel .
Nurse Alert!
Liver disease in aging cats often requires long-term care to
help the cat maintain a good level of quality of life.
Cats with liver disease often refuse to eat for days to
weeks at a time. A feeding tube placed surgical y into
the stomach through the body wal provides the conduit
for temporary nutrition. A soft, semi-liquid diet given by
syringe through the tube maintains nutrition until the
appetite returns. Owners may be required to tube-feed
the convalescing cat.
A number of oral medications, usual y pil s, are often
needed to relieve the symptoms of liver disease. When
you must tube feed the cat, these medications can be
added to the food. Other times, compounding the
medicines may be helpful in helping the cat accept
medication.
Golden Moments: A Royal Treatment
Aztec was a surprise. Andrea Dorn, a research associate
at Iowa State Col ege of Veterinary Medicine, had set out to
capture an adult feral cat, but she discovered the six- to
eight-week-old baby. It only took Aztec a couple of days to
learn to love Andrea, and the feeling soon became mutual. “I
had just lost my first cat, 17-year-old Gabriel, so I was pretty
needy at the time,” says Andrea.
The little brown and white tabby baby was soon acting the
part of princess among the other cats in the household.
Aztec grew into a petite, seven-pound kitty and the bond
between Andrea and the special cat grew stronger year by
year.
Then several months ago, just before her seventh birthday,
Aztec began to have mysterious health problems. “She’s
always been extremely thin, and is not a big eater,” says
Andrea, “but I noticed she slowly stopped eating. She started
vomiting maybe once a week, but then it got more frequent.
We weren’t sure what was going on.” Andrea immediately
took the cat for a veterinary exam. “I practiced as a
veterinary technician for 15 years before I got to Iowa State,
and I don’t put up with a cat not eating for very long.”
Because of her background, Andrea was aware that these
vague symptoms could be caused by a wide range of
problems. But she immediately suspected liver problems.
When an X-ray and ultrasound seemed to substantiate her
fears, a liver biopsy was scheduled.
Often a liver biopsy can be done with a tiny incision
through the abdomen to take the necessary tissue sample.
But Aztec’s liver was too smal . Instead, an exploratory
laparoscopy was performed, using a specialized endoscope
to also take a look at the abdominal cavity and organs inside
of
the
body.
The
tests
determined Aztec
had
cholangiohepatitis.
“It’s an autoimmune-type problem. There’s something that
makes the liver react to itself,” says Andrea. The cause
remains unknown. The cat’s liver was so severely inflamed
that it was having trouble functioning normal y. Drugs such as
steroids are commonly prescribed to help counteract the
inflammation.
“Usual y you’re not going to cure it. It’s never going to go
away so she’l have to be treated the rest of her life,” says
Andrea. She’s researched the condition since Aztec was
diagnosed and is heartened to learn some cats have lived
with cholangiohepatitis for as long as seven years.
Treatment is tricky and must be tailored for each
individual cat’s tolerance level and situation. Because liver
disease often is associated with other body systems such as
the intestines or pancreas, some medicines are designed to
treat these problems, too.
Prednisone, a steroid, is the most common and easiest
treatment but a host of other medicines are often required.
Aztec also takes metronidazole [Flagyl], to control
inflammation in the intestines. “That’s one she’l probably be
on the rest of her life,” says Andrea. She’s also given a drug
that boosts the effects of the steroid drug, and gets Ursodiol,
a natural y occurring bile acid that helps protect her liver from
further damage.
Multiple drugs can have side effects. “She stopped
eating—that’s her barometer,” says Andrea, and tests
showed Aztec had developed diabetes. Besides al the pil s
being poked down her throat, Aztec also was given insulin
injections twice a day. Switching to a different steroid
medication cured the diabetes, though, so Aztec doesn’t
need insulin shots anymore.
The struggle to first diagnose and then treat and
maintain Aztec’s disease began to affect the cat’s quality of
life. After being force-fed pil after pil , soon she began
avoiding Andrea altogether. “It’s so hard when you deal with
something like this because you want to take care of your
cats, but at the same time they start hating you,” says
Andrea. “It’s just very emotional.”
The struggle continued until Aztec recently stopped
eating again. This time the veterinarian placed a stomach
tube so that she could be fed a puddinglike high-calorie
food, cal ed Prescription Diet a/d. “I have to mix it with water
to get it through the tube,” says Andrea. Aztec should weigh
6 or 7 pounds and her weight has dropped to about 5
pounds so she needs al the calories she can get. Andrea
feeds tiny amounts th
ree times a day. An added advantage
is that Aztec’s meds are administered at the same time—no
more pil ing.
Now the cat feels a whole lot better about Andrea and
being medicated. “I don’t have to stick things down her throat
al the time. Now she sits on my lap and purrs while I’m
watching TV, and it takes about a half hour to get everything
down,” she says. “I’m a big fan of stomach tubes, it’s a life
saver!”
To date, Andrea has spent over $3,000 on Aztec’s
diagnosis, care and medications. She’s also had to deal
with the rest of her feline household. “It’s pretty common for
cats to reject a cat after its been in a clinic, because it has
different smel s about it,” she says. “That can be a real
problem. But Aztec is a very strong personality, she’s very
independent.” She says the other cats can yel and scream
al they want, and “Princess” Aztec doesn’t care.
Andrea says it’s vital for people to know what’s normal for
their cat while they’re healthy, so they know when to get them
help. “Be sensitive to them. That’s what helps me.”
Feeding For Health
Foods designed to be highly palatable and digestible are
appropriate for cats suffering from liver disease.
Iams Veterinary Diets, Nutritional Stress/Weight Gain
Formula, Maximum-Calorie/Feline
Hil ’s Prescription Diet Feline a/d (recovery)
Hil ’s Prescription Diet Feline l/d (liver diet)
IVD (Royal Canin) Select Care Feline Mature Formula
IVD (Royal Canin) Select Care Feline Development
Formula
Purina Veterinary Diets, EN Gastroenteric Formula
Waltham Feline Convalescence Support Diets
OBESITY
Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat 30
percent beyond the normal and more often affects middle-
aged and older cats. Obesity is their most common
nutritional disorder. A recent survey of veterinarians
indicates that half of the adult cats seen are overweight or
obese. “In the six-to-twelve-year-old group as many as 40
percent of the cats are overweight or obese,” says Debbie
Davenport, DVM, director of special education for Hil ’s Pet
Nutrition.
Fat is an active metabolic organ capable of
producing hormones intricately involved in glucose stability
and body composition. Resistin, leptin and adiponectin are
key hormones involved in fat stability and glucose regulation,
so excess fat impacts more than the cat’s weight. Obese
cats are four times more likely to develop diabetes, five
times more likely to develop lameness, and three times
more likely to have no al ergic skin conditions compared with
cats of optimal body condition
Aging cats tend to gain weight as they age because their
activity level decreases, their metabolism slows, and cat
diets are designed to be very tasty. Free feeding of dry food
can lead to obesity, and canned or semi-moist foods are so
palatable, cats tend to overeat. “Studies show that a partial
reduction in the sense of smel seems to prompt the cat to
eat more food,” says Dr. Myers. “Perhaps this is one reason
aging cats are more prone to obesity.”
Although excess weight may not directly cause other
health problems, overweight old cats are also prone to them.
“Obesity definitely doubles, triples or quadruples risk for
diabetes,” says Dr. LaFlamme. It is also an aggravating
factor in heart problems, arthritis, and skin problems.
“Pancreatitis is linked to obesity, and to increased incidence
of lower urinary tract disease in cats. Feline hepatic
lipidosis, fatty liver in cats, is very strongly linked to obesity,”
says Dr. LaFlamme.
Long-term studies indicate that fat dogs don’t live as long
as thin ones. One study of overweight cats reported an
increased risk for dying in middle age, says Sharon Center,
DVM, an internist at Cornel University. Researchers suspect
fat cats don’t live as long as thin ones, so obesity becomes a
longevity and quality of life issue.
Age-Defying Tips
Keeping your cat thin and svelte from kittenhood on wil
prevent health problems, help her live longer, and increase
her enjoyment of life.
Make twice-daily play therapy part of your routine. This
not only provides good exercise but also is a powerful
bonding tool that brings you closer.
Reward with attention, not treats
Choose an age- and activity-appropriate diet. Pets
that sleep on the sofa al day do not need the
equivalent of rocket fuel.
Feed measured amounts of food two to three times a
day instead of simply keeping the bowl ful al the time.
Diagnosis
The normal weight range doesn’t vary much from cat to cat
or from breed to breed. The breed extremes are
represented by the Singapura, with a normal weight range of
four to six pounds; and the Maine Coon and Ragdol breeds,
which can tip the scale at twenty pounds or more. For most
cats, though (pedigreed or not), the average weight is seven
to twelve pounds with males typical y on the higher end of the
scale.
not your cat is overweight. A much better measure is a
hands-on approach that checks the cat’s profile and
palpates, or feels, the body composition. Weight gain can
happen very gradual y, and the owner of a fluffy cat can be
surprised to discover she’s fat. Most people simply aren’t
aware the cat fal s outside healthy weight parameters.
Some breeds cal for slightly different conformations—for
instance, the Oriental-type breeds such as Siamese and
Oriental Shorthair cats tend to have longer, thinner bodies
than the cobby-type Persian breeds. In al cats, though,
general y you should be able to feel the ribs but not see
them. From above, you should see a decided break at the
waist, beginning at the back of the ribs to just before the
hips.
In profile, cats should have a distinct tummy tuck beginning
just behind the last ribs and going up into the hind legs. Many
adult overweight cats tend to carry a “pouch” of fat low in the
tummy, but seem of average size otherwise. If you can't feel
the cat’s ribs, and/or she carries a pouch on her tummy, the
cat is overweight. To evaluate your cat's condition, compare
her appearance to the il ustrations in the Body Condition
System chart. Remember to account for fur, which can hide
pounds.
Yet crash diets for cats can be deadly. Overweight felines
in particular are prone to liver problems, cal ed hepatic
lipidosis, and so care must be taken to ensure your cat loses
weight in a safe, gradual way. Before beginning a diet, your
veterinarian should examine the cat to rule out potential
health complications. The veterinarian wil calculate how
much weight should be lost, and suggest a diet and exercise
plan appropriate to your individual pet. Usual y, the target is
to lose about one to one and a half percent of her starting
weight per week.
Nurse Alert!
Obese cats very often have a difficult time grooming
themselves. Until the cat has lost the necessary weight, be
sure her fur is kept in good condition with combing and/or
brushing. Pay particular attention to the anal region, which
may capture waste and cause urine scald or attract flies or
maggots. Perfect Coat Bath Wipes offers a pre-moistened
toilet that’s convenient for keeping pets clean.
Slimming The Cat
Exercise is vital y important not only to maintain weight or
prevent weight gain, but also to take off the extra pounds.
Cats should get about 20 minutes aerobic exercise every
day to stay healthy. Keep in mind that obese animals can’t
maintain activity for extended periods. Any exercise program
should begin slowly and be adjusted to the cat’s ability level.
Interactive play is the best way to engage your cat in
exercise. Feather toys or fishing-pole lures that the cat wil
chase are ideal, says Rhonda L. Schulman, DVM, an
internist at University of Il inois. “If you just spend some time,
some cats wil learn to play fetch,” she says. Try using tiny
wads of paper, and flipping them across the room or down
the stairs. “My cats real y like the laser light. They wil chase
that al out of the house.”
Cats enjoy watching the world, so setting up a bird feeder
outside a couple of windows may engage them enough to
move. “Something they can watch that would actual y force
them to pace a bit, that’s great,” says Dr. LaFlamme. For
cats that are blind, try tying a bel or rattle toy on the end of a
string, and let sound help you exercise the cat.
Control ed leash walking is great if your cat wil put up with
a halter and leash. “There’s no reason cats can’t be taught to
walk on a leash,” says Dr. LaFlamme. Cats won’t power
walk, but a slow to moderate strol at the end of the leash
once or twice a day around the house or garden wil help
burn energy.
Very overweight cats may be reluctant to move at al .
“Make the animals work a little bit for their food,” suggests
Dr. Abood. “Your animal can’t handle a flight of stairs, so
how about a ramp up to a chair so they’re expending a few