Archive Case #35: Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

Clinical Clues

1. An overweight indoor cat is presented after eating very little for over a week following a household disruption.
2. The owner has noticed progressive lethargy and a marked drop in grooming.
3. On examination the cat is dehydrated and visibly icteric.
4. The liver feels enlarged on abdominal palpation.
5. Serum biochemistry shows hyperbilirubinaemia with increased liver enzyme activity.
6. Prolonged anorexia in an obese cat can result in severe hepatic fat accumulation and cholestatic liver dysfunction.

Diagnosis

Feline Hepatic Lipidosis

This case is most consistent with Feline Hepatic Lipidosis because an obese cat became anorexic after stress and then developed jaundice with biochemical evidence of liver dysfunction. The most important clues are the recent starvation period, body condition, and icterus, which make a primary intestinal disorder less likely.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.