How Low-Quality Food Nearly Cost My Cats Their Lives

Less than three months after my first cat’s recovery, my seven-year-old cat developed a far more severe condition: fatty liver disease, or hepatic lipidosis. The root cause? Another commercial cat food brand, along with the low-quality treats he had loved for years.

The Warning Signs

The first sign was subtle—Our litter box notified us of a change in his weight. At first, I thought it might be normal, given his age, with several cats in the home with timed automated feeding that allowed food to always be available, it was difficult to assess how much he was eating. During this period of uncertainty I was comforted by the fact that he never missed his treats. Each day he came running with the crack of the pantry door and shake of his treat box. It seemed like the only thing he craved were his daily treats.

His litter box triggered another weight loss warning. On review of the logged daily weight, it was clear he was losing 0.2 kg a week over a period of four weeks. I immediately took him to our Veterinarian. There we noticed the unmistakable sign of jaundice: his ears, gums, and the whites of his eyes had turned yellow. The diagnosis confirmed my worst fears—his liver was failing.

Understanding Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease in cats is often triggered by a period of anorexia (lack of eating), during which the body starts mobilizing fat reserves to compensate for the lack of nutrition. However, a cat’s liver is not designed to process large amounts of stored fat, leading to the accumulation of fat in liver cells. This results in liver dysfunction and, if untreated, eventual organ failure.

In my cat’s case, the pancreatitis he developed from consuming the low-quality “premium claimed” commercial food was the initial trigger. His pancreas became inflamed, causing pain and loss of appetite. This, in turn, led to rapid weight loss and the onset of hepatic lipidosis. The treats he loved so much—laden with artificial flavor enhancers and chemical preservatives—were literally poisoning him.

Intensive Care and a Devastating Prognosis

His condition deteriorated rapidly, and within days, he was admitted to the animal hospital for 24 hour intravenous fluids and supportive care. The treatment involved IV fluids, anti-nausea, antibiotics, and force-feeding with a syringe to prevent further fat mobilization. He spent two weeks in the hospital, yet his condition continued to worsen.  I watched him continue to loose weight and refuse to eat.  The yellow hue of jaundice deepened, and his liver values worsened with each blood test. The vets finally told me that euthanasia might be the only humane option left.

The thought of losing him was unbearable. I couldn’t accept that this was the end. As a last-ditch effort,  his veterinarian suggested transferring him to a larger hospital where they could insert a feeding tube directly into his stomach. The goal was to provide intensive feeding every four hours to support his liver and allow it to regenerate. Though the cost of this procedure was daunting, our love for him outweighed any financial concerns.

The Feeding Tube and an Unlikely Obstacle

After the surgery, he came home with a feeding tube, and my day revolved around his rigorous feeding schedule. I carefully administered his prescribed recovery diet every four hours then every six hours along with steroids, and an appetite stimulant, and pain relievers. He slowly began to find his energy, but there was a major hurdle—he refused to eat anything voluntarily except for one thing: the same commercial treats that contributed to his acute pancreatic attack in the first place.

It was a cruel irony. The only food he craved was the very thing that had pushed him to the brink of death. I scoured pet stores and online shops, searching desperately for a high-quality, nutritious “cat” treat in my area that would be safe for him, but I found nothing. Every option contained the same harmful additives, artificial flavors, and low-quality ingredients. It was frustrating and heartbreaking.

A Call to Action: The Birth of a Mission

After spending nearly five figures on veterinary bills, hospital stays, and treatments, I was left with a life-changing lesson: the quality of pet food and treats is not just important—it’s life or death.

My experiences with both of my cats opened my eyes to the reality that many pet owners unknowingly feed their animals food that is actively harming them. Commercial pet food brands prioritize cost efficiency over nutrition, using fillers, by-products, and artificial enhancers that can cause serious health issues.

After witnessing the suffering of my beloved pets, I felt an undeniable drive to make a change. The pet food industry needed healthier alternatives, especially when it came to treats. As, a Pharmacist for over two decades, and still pursuing a higher degree to continue my career in Pharmacy, I know and understand the impact on the food we eat, the genetic predispositions that influence how we absorb, metabolize and benefit from the type and quality of food we eat and how it contributes to I began researching feline nutrition, speaking with veterinary nutritionists, and exploring what it would take to create high-quality, biologically appropriate cat treats.

The Importance of High-Quality Pet Nutrition

The more I learned, the more it became clear that the pet food industry is riddled with misinformation and low standards. Some key takeaways from my research:

• Ingredient Quality Matters: Many commercial brands use cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, which offer little to no nutritional value.

• Artificial Additives Are Harmful: Preservatives like BHA and BHT, along with artificial flavor enhancers, can contribute to long-term health issues.

• Cats Need a High-Protein Diet: As obligate carnivores, cats require animal-based proteins and healthy fats, not carbohydrate-heavy foods.

• Liver and Pancreatic Health is Directly Tied to Diet: Poor-quality fats and additives can trigger pancreatitis, which can cascade into liver failure.