Practice Scenario

Long hair cat with blue eyes

Get to know AUTUMN

A 5-year-old, spayed female Domestic Longhair cat

  • Autumn is presented for vomiting, ptyalism, and anorexia. Some remodeling was done in the home and Autumn has been hiding under the bed for most of that time. The owner also reports she is unsure how much Autumn has eaten in the past week. Yesterday, the cat began vomiting bile and drooling.
  • Autumn previously had a body condition score of 7/9 but today is scored a 6/9. Her body weight has decreased by approximately 1.5 pounds since her last exam which was 6 months ago.
  • On exam, Autumn exhibits icterus of the sclera, pinnae, and mucous membranes. She is about 10% dehydrated and salivating, with elevated heart and respiratory rates. The rest of her exam is unremarkable.

Hepatic Disorders

Feline Cholangitis

Feline cholangitis is an inflammatory liver disease involving the bile ducts and, occasionally, surrounding liver tissue.1,2 The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Liver Standardization Group categorizes 3 types of feline cholangitis: neutrophilic, lymphocytic, and chronic due to liver fluke infection.1

Cats with neutrophilic and lymphocytic cholangitis present, in general, with similar signs: anorexia (cats with the lymphocytic form may instead be polyphagic), weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cats may be dehydrated and jaundiced. Cats with neutrophilic cholangitis usually present more acutely (1–2 weeks) than those with lymphocytic (several weeks to months). Chronic cholangitis due to liver flukes is seen in tropical and subtropical areas and is often asymptomatic.1

feline liver icon


Neutrophilic cholangitis may occur in association with chronic enteropathy and/or pancreatitis (acute or chronic). Triaditis, the combination of all 3 diseases, is diagnosed in approximately 25% of cats with neutrophilic cholangitis.2

Due to anorexia and weight loss, cats with cholangitis are at high risk of developing hepatic lipidosis. In addition to medical management, intensive nutritional support is crucial.

Key Messages

  • Stabilize pet and correct for dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. Begin intensive nutritional support as soon as possible.3
    • The use of an indwelling feeding tube allows convenient delivery of nutrients. The use of a syringe or “force” feeding is strongly discouraged since this causes additional stress and may potentially lead to food aversion or aspiration.4
      • A nasoesophageal feeding tube may be the best option for initial support since it can be inserted without sedation and used immediately. Only liquid diets should be used with these tubes due to the small diameter.
      • In a patient stable for anesthesia, esophagostomy tubes are quick to place and well tolerated by most cats. (Videos from veterinary specialists are available online if an overview of the procedure for esophagostomy tube placement is needed.) A gastrostomy tube is also a good option.4
    • Calculate resting energy requirements (RER) = 70 * body weight (kg)0.75 to determine volume of food.3 Start with 1/3 of the volume on the 1st day split over 6–8 feedings, then gradually increase to full RER over next few days. Feed slowly over 10–15 minutes and look for signs of nausea such as drooling or licking of the lips. If seen, temporarily stop the feeding and resume once resolved. Gradually decrease number of feedings by increasing volume provided per meal.3,4
    • Be careful not to overfeed or increase volume of food too quickly, especially initially, as this may cause refeeding syndrome.
      • Refeeding syndrome causes abrupt decreases in serum levels of potassium, phosphorus, and/or magnesium. Monitor serum levels closely, and supplement if needed.3,5
    • Feed a high calorie formula, such as a critical care or recovery formula, containing high protein (40–50% of metabolizable energy [ME]) unless pet is exhibiting signs of hepatic encephalopathy. If needed, blend food with small amount of water or liquid enteral diet to achieve consistency that will pass easily though the feeding tube. Be sure to flush the tube before and after each feeding with water.
    • Before discharging patient with a feeding tube, instruct owner on proper use and care. Allowing the owner to feed the cat while in the clinic can help alleviate owner concerns. Voluntary food intake at home should be encouraged by offering various dry and wet cat foods prior to each tube feeding. Warm the food to room temperature to enhance aroma and taste. The feeding tube can be removed once the cat is eating nutritionally balanced food reliably.
  • Consider supplementation of the following nutrients:5,6
    • Carnitine, which is needed for transport of free fatty acids, may improve lipid metabolism.
    • Vitamin K if coagulation parameters are abnormal.
    • B vitamins support energy metabolism in the liver. Vitamin B12 may stimulate appetite.
    • Vitamin E may help reduce oxidative damage secondary to cholestasis.
    • The long chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid may reduce inflammation.
  • Monitor weight, body condition score, and muscle condition score. Once the cat is fully stable and eating well, diet and calorie intake can be adjusted as needed.
Conversation Starter

“Most cats with cholangitis will not eat enough on their own, so a feeding tube is the best option to help stabilize your cat’s health. While this may sound scary, placing an esophagostomy tube is an easy procedure and usually very well tolerated. Once your cat is ready to go home, we will show you how to prepare food and give it through the feeding tube, as well as how to take care of the tube. Only a few steps are involved. We will be sure that you are comfortable before you take your cat home.”

Related Tools and Content:

Feline Chronic Enteropathy

Diet modification can play either a central or an adjunct role in a multimodal approach to managing cats with chronic enteropathy.

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Pancreatitis in Cats

Nutrition plays an important role in a multimodal management plan for cats with pancreatitis.

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Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

Prompt and intensive nutritional support is fundamental to the treatment of hepatic lipidosis in cats.

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Portosystemic Shunts and Hepatic Encephalopathy

Targeted nutrition can help manage clinical signs and improve quality of life in pets with portosystemic shunts.

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The Purina Body Condition System

The Purina Body Condition System is an easy and practical tool for assessing a pet's body composition.​

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How to Perform a Body Condition Assessment - Cat

Assess a cat's Body Condition Score in just 3 simple steps.​

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Use Muscle Condition Scoring to Detect Muscle Loss in Patients

Muscle condition scoring is a hands-on method for evaluating lean body mass that can be used as part of nutritional assessments.

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To Share With Pet Owner:

Evaluating Your Cat’s Body Condition

Assess your cat's Body Condition in just 3 simple steps.​

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References

  1. Boland, L., & Beatty, J. (2016). Feline cholangitis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 47, 703–724. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.11.015
  2. Reed, N. (2021). Feline inflammatory liver disease. In D. Bruyette (Ed.), Clinical small animal internal medicine (pp. 687–693). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. doi: 10.1002/9781119501237.ch63
  3. Valtolina, C., & Favier, R. P. (2017). Feline hepatic lipidosis. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 47(3), 683–702. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.11.014
  4. Webb, C. B. (2018). Hepatic lipidosis: Clinical review drawn from collective effort. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 20, 217–227. doi: 10.1177/1098612X18758591
  5. Norton, R. D. (2016). Nutritional considerations for dogs and cats with liver disease. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 52(1), 1–7. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6292R2
  6. Center, S. A. (1998). Nutritional support for dogs and cats with hepatobiliary disease. Journal of Nutrition, 128(12 Suppl), 2733S–2746S. doi: 10.1093/jn/128.12.2733S