M is eighteen pounds of beautiful orange fur and green eyes. She has a large round belly a short, cute tail, and a dark tiger stripe "M" on her forehead. Yes, she is a fat cat. She has lived indoors with her people family since she was a kitten. They realized she was overweight several years ago and have had her on a strict diet of low calorie dry cat food. She did not lose much weight but it at least helps her maintain her form.

When M-kitty did not eat one night, her owners were concerned. When she did not eat the next day or the next, did not drink any water and hid under the bed they were downright frightened that she was really sick so they took her to see the Vet.

On presentation M was nervous. Dr. Bales found her to be dehydrated, pale in her mouth, soft in her abdomen and had a temperature of 101.5. Normal cat temperature is between 101 F - 102.5F. Some tests were ordered and her worried owners left their big orange girl with Dr. Bales and her technician to take a blood sample and an x-ray. What would make a fat cat stop eating??

There is a condition that occurs in animals called hepatic lipidosis. This condition occurs more in cats than dogs and more frequently in overweight cats. When a cat stops taking in enough calories for sustainance, its body begins to metabolize fat stores for energy. Because cats are obligate carnivores, their livers are not able to process large amounts of fat. When fat is broken down for energy, a molecule called a triglyceride is formed. These triglyceride (TG)molecules are stored in liver cells for further processing. Cats require proteins to continue TG metabolism and move them out of the liver. When a cat is not eating, it is in a protein defecit and the fat molecules stay in the liver cells creating what is called a fatty liver and a clinical condition called hepatic lipidosis. The liver is unable to function properly and causes these cats to develop a number of clinical problems including vomiting, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. By the time they are usually seen by a vet they lost a significant amount of weight and have a yellowish pallor to their mucous membranes (jaundice).

The treatment for hepatic lipidosis is FOOD! You would think that would sound great to a cat that has been on a diet it's whole life but by the time a cat has lipidosis it does not feel like eating. There is often a primary reason that the cat stopped eating to begin with like liver or intestinal disease, stress, even a too calorie restrictive diet. Appetite stimulants are sometimes used but usually force feeding or tube feeding is indicated. The cat has to take in enough calories to stop it from having to use any of its fat stores in order for the disease to begin reversing. If the cat is not cooperative to syringe feeding large amounts of a special diet then a feeding tube is put into its neck and it can be easily fed by the owner at home. Most of the time these cats can make a full recovery and begin eating on their own within a week or two.

Lucky for M, she did not yet have hepatic lipidosis. Her owners brought her in very soon after she stopped eating. Her blood work looked good, without any high liver enzymes. Her x-ray did not show any intestinal blockages or foreign bodies. Her liver and kidneys were normal size. In fact an x-ray of an obese animal is actually quite beautiful. The intra-abdominal fat surrounding her internal organs gives very good detail of each organ. Can you see the kidneys and bladder in M's x-ray?

M was force fed a soft canned food with a syringe. She was moderately cooperative which means she swallowed the first few syringes then tried to get away and spit out the food. The fluids rehydrated her well and her mucous membrane color and demeanor improved. We could see her true sweet personality once she felt better and knew why her family loved her so much! She was sent home the next day with a dose of Mirtazepene, a medication that decreases nausea and stimulates appetite. She ate when she got home and made a speedy recovery.

M-kittys story is a lesson in observant owners who brought their pet in for treatment before she got seriously ill. The potential for M to have developed hepatic lipidosis was great had she gone even a few more days without eating. Why did she stop eating? There were some indications on her bloodwork that showed she may have had a mild form of pancreatitis. The fluids and food prevented and treated both diseases.

Happy Valentines Day and Enjoy Mardi Gras coming up in March....