Hypervitaminosis A in cats is caused by excessive liver in the diet and leads to severe, painful skeletal deformities. It is entirely preventable through appropriate nutrition.
Feline hypervitaminosis A represents a completely preventable welfare tragedy caused by well-intentioned but misguided feeding practices. Owners who feed cats large quantities of liver, believing they are providing a nutritious treat, inadvertently cause progressive and irreversible skeletal damage that causes severe chronic pain. By the time clinical signs appear — reluctance to move, abnormal posture, poor coat — significant skeletal damage has already occurred. The cervical spondylosis that results is among the most painful orthopedic conditions seen in cats. Prevention is straightforward: limit liver to occasional small amounts and feed complete, balanced commercial diets. Raising awareness of this condition is an important welfare intervention given how commonly it arises from feeding practices promoted in some raw feeding communities.