Companion Animals

Cat Pancreatitis Welfare and Management

Feline pancreatitis is common but frequently overlooked, causing significant pain that responds well to analgesia and supportive care when recognised.

Key Facts

Feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) testing enables accurate pancreatitis diagnosis
Cats with pancreatitis show reduced appetite, lethargy and occasionally vomiting
The condition is often concurrent with inflammatory bowel disease and cholangiohepatitis (triaditis)
Analgesia including buprenorphine is essential as pancreatitis is a painful condition
Feeding continuation or rapid return to feeding is recommended to support recovery

Welfare Considerations

Feline pancreatitis is substantially underdiagnosed and undertreated, causing ongoing pain that responds to available treatments. Diagnostic testing and analgesia significantly improve welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Request fPLI testing if your cat is showing reduced appetite and lethargy
Ensure pancreatitis treatment includes analgesia alongside supportive care
Monitor for concurrent IBD and liver disease in cats diagnosed with pancreatitis