Hypervitaminosis A from excessive liver consumption causes severe skeletal pathology in cats, representing a preventable dietary welfare problem that can cause permanent disability.
Hypervitaminosis A causes progressive and ultimately severe chronic pain through skeletal fusion. The growing bony bridges between vertebrae restrict movement and compress nerve roots, causing neck and back pain that progressively limits the cat's ability to move, groom, and interact normally. Since cats naturally hide pain, the condition may be advanced before obvious signs appear. The tragedy of hypervitaminosis A is that it is entirely self-inflicted through misguided feeding practices - owners feeding liver as a treat or diet staple inadvertently cause serious and irreversible harm. Prevention through a balanced diet is straightforward.