Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 11/23/2011

Question
alright so, my cat is 13 and has recently been diagnosed with liver failure. He was in the vets for four nights because he wasn't eating, drinking and was throwing up yellow fluid [bile] she said she was happy for him to go home as the throwing up had stopped. But he isn't really eating or drinking with us at home and he just sleeps all the time. Do you think he's dying? Is there anything i can do? not really to lose my little baby

Answer
Liver disease is a very complex syndrome because of all of the functions that the liver does.  Your vet will be in the best position to tell you the proper therapy for the specific condition.  I can tell you that if a cat does not have protein in his intestines, the liver will get worse with a condition called hepatic lipidosis.  If the cat is not eating, then a tube can be surgically implanted in his neck going into the stomach so that you can put a syringe of food into the cat's stomach several times daily to maintain the nutritional and hydration status.  Drugs can also be administered through the tube.  Liver disease in cats takes a while to resolve and unless the liver is nothing but scar tissue (cirrhosis) then it is worth trying.