The typical cat with FLS has recently gone through a period of anorexia (not eating). The chances of FLS occurring are greater if the cat was obese before the anorexia began. As fat is broken down to supply nutrients for the anorectic cat, the fat is deposited so rapidly in the liver that it cannot be processed. It becomes stored in and around the liver cells, resulting in liver failure. The cat usually becomes icteric or jaundiced, as evidenced by a yellow color in the whites of the eyes or in the skin. At this point, the disease will be fatal if not treated rapidly and aggressively.

How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis of FLS is made from blood tests for liver function and from a liver biopsy or aspirate. The former may be performed during surgery or with a needle inserted through the skin. The tissue sample is sent to a pathologist for interpretation. The latter involves inserting a very tiny needle through the skin and into the liver, removing a small number of liver cells, and examining those cells under the microscope. The FLS cat will have a large amount of fat in and among the liver cells. Generally, other tests are then performed to determine why the cat stopped eating. If the cause for anorexia is treatable or resolved, the prognosis is reasonably good.

Is this a treatable disease?
This disease is very treatable, but treatment of FLS requires that the cat receive nutritional support until the appetite returns. A consistently high quality diet will allow the liver to resume functioning so it may remove the fat. This does not occur quickly; it takes an average of 6-7 weeks. Therefore, a method of force-feeding must be used to allow you to feed your cat at home.

How do I provide the necessary nutritional support?
A feeding tube is surgically implanted into your cat so you can syringe special food through it into the stomach. There are several types of feeding tubes available. The best one for your cat will be determined based on several factors.

A special food mixture, is syringed through the tube three to five times per day. This food is formulated to meet the cat's nutritional needs; it should not cause vomiting or diarrhea.

When is the tube removed?
Persistence is essential. The average cat requires 6-7 weeks of feeding before it begins to eat. At least once weekly, offer your cat a small amount of its favorite food so that you will know when its appetite returns. The feeding tube will not hinder eating in any way. After your cat has been eating well for 3-4 days, it should be returned to the hospital for tube removal. Removal of the tube is simple and does not require anesthesia; however, you should not attempt to remove the tube yourself.

NOTE: Technically, a cubic centimeter (cc) and a milliliter (ml) are different. However, for our purposes, a cc is the same as an ml. Syringes are often marked in cc's.