Kitty dies from liver damage

I just got some sad news from a good friend. His 6 year old formerly healthy cat, Kitty, was lost for 10 days. When Kitty returned he was extremely malnourished. The first day Kitty ate and drank a little bit but the next day, Kitty just lay on the couch, seemingly unable to move, occassionally crying pitifully. The vet said that Kitty had extensive liver damage, judging from his physical condition and the fact that his gums and the undersides of his paws were white, instead of a healthy pink. My friend was told that it would cost a minimum of $1000 to diagnose the problem exactly and begin treatment. However, it was unlikely that Kitty would respond to any treatment. The vet strongly recommended that Kitty be put to sleep. My friend sadly agreed. Naturally, my friend and I would like to know what could have caused Kitty to become so sick in such a short time. We are guessing that he ate or drank something poisonous. Does anyone know what might cause liver damage in a cat? Any similar experiences? Thanks for any info. I have known Kitty since he was a kitten and it's hard for me to believe that he is gone.

It might have been trapped somewhere with no food or water. Household cats' liver go bonkers and start producing poisonous substances when the dietary intake stops for a while, be it due to stress or caption. The liver would damage the kidneys with the stuff it produces as well. However, diagnosis of the liver problem takes only a blood test and it doesn't cost much money. Another vet might have given you a different figure, and perharps prescribed special food. In any case, it is always good to get another opinion before such dramatic decisions.

Julie,

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's cat. However, I'd like to point out that the cat may not have been poisoned. You mentioned the kitty was malnurished when they found him. Well, my experience with liver damage came as a result of one of my kids not eating (in this case, due to another illness), and developing hepatic lipidosis.

With hepatic lipidosis, In short, when a cat stops eating, the body automatically starts breaking down body fat for energy. Unfortunately, the liver is not equipped to process body fat, and the fat accumulates in the liver, which then causes liver disease. It happened very quickly and I nearly lost her.

If your friend's cat either couldn't get to food or couldn't eat for some other reason, it's possible this disease might have developed and a poison was not involved at all.

Again, my condolences,