Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Welfare and Pancreatitis Management

Pancreatitis in cats is a painful condition that is often underdiagnosed. Management involves pain control, nutritional support and treatment of concurrent conditions.

Key Facts

Feline pancreatitis frequently co-occurs with IBD and cholangitis in a triad syndrome
Diagnosis requires specific feline pancreatic lipase assay as lipase is not species-specific
Clinical signs are non-specific including vomiting, lethargy and anorexia
Analgesia is a priority but pain recognition in cats with pancreatitis is challenging for owners
Nutritional support via feeding tubes is required in cats unwilling to eat voluntarily

Welfare Considerations

Pancreatitis causes significant unrecognised pain in cats, compounded by the difficulty of detecting pain in a species that masks illness. Proactive analgesia and nutritional support are welfare priorities.

What You Can Do

Seek veterinary investigation if your cat shows repeated vomiting, lethargy or weight loss
Request feline-specific pancreatic lipase testing if pancreatitis is suspected
Discuss pain management protocols with your vet for any cat with diagnosed pancreatitis