Feeding raw liver to cats can cause chronic hypervitaminosis A, a painful and progressive skeletal condition. Understanding the risks of nutritional imbalances in raw feeding is essential for responsible cat ownership.
Hypervitaminosis A in cats is an entirely preventable condition caused by well-intentioned but nutritionally uninformed feeding. Owners who feed raw diets including frequent liver provision are unaware that liver contains 100-200 times more vitamin A per gram than muscle meat. The resulting chronic pain from cervical and joint exostoses causes significant suffering that may go unrecognised for months or years as cats are stoic about pain. By the time clinical signs are obvious, irreversible bony changes have occurred. Dietary correction stops progression but cannot reverse established joint damage. Raw diets can be nutritionally complete and appropriate for cats when properly formulated, but this requires understanding of nutritional requirements. Liver should represent no more than 5-10% of a raw diet and should not be fed daily. Commercial complete raw diets that meet FEDIAF nutritional guidelines avoid this risk.