Symptoms

• Generally the first outward sign of feline fatty liver syndrome is loss of appetite. The cat may lose weight quickly. It may develop jaundice, usually indicated by yellow eyes and skin. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and lethargy.
  
  

Causes

• The exact cause of the disease is unknown. It presents more often in older cats who are overweight. There is also a high occurrence in cats with other diseases such as cancer.
  
  

Tests

• The first test after examination is a liver enzyme panel. If the levels are elevated, your veterinarian may recommend an X-ray or an ultrasound. Depending on the results, they may order a fine needle biopsy to ensure the cat doesn't have other issues.
  
  

Treatment

• Treatment for fatty liver disease is to force the cat to eat again. This may be as simple as offering different foods or syringe feeding special wet food, or as complicated as having a feeding tube inserted into the esophagus or stomach.
  
  

Prognosis

• Caught early enough, fatty liver disease usually responds well to treatment.