What to Feed a Cat with Pancreatitis

What is Pancreatitis in Cats?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. This occurs when the inactive enzymes that are released by the pancreas become prematurely activated before reaching to the small intestine. Then, the enzymes will start “digesting” the pancreas itself, which leads to inflammation.

The exact cause of pancreatitis is not fully understood. Pancreatitis has been reported to appear spontaneously, but also as a secondary condition to underlying diseases such as diabetes or inflammatory bowel diseases². In addition, presence of infectious agents such as feline herpes virus and toxoplasma, have been linked to the development of pancreatitis in cats².

What Does a Cat's Pancreas Do?

The pancreas is a digestive gland that is located close to the stomach.

The main role of pancreas is to release digestive enzymes to the small intestine to help in the digestion of food.

Fiona TansilMSc Student – Animal Nutrition

Enzymes that the pancreas secretes are lipase, amylase, and protease to break down fats, carbohydrates, and protein, respectively. Insulin is a hormone that controls the blood sugar level and is secreted by the pancreas as well. Thus, the pancreas plays a vital role in the digestion process and blood glucose control, and it is important to keep it working well.

How Serious is Feline Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is a serious condition that often co-exists with other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and can trigger the onset of hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver¹. Moreover, if your cat is diabetic, pancreatitis can further complicate the condition. Thus, pancreatitis can also be life threatening. Pancreatitis has been found to be a recurring condition in cats, this is then known as chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis in Cats Symptoms

In cats, pancreatitis is not specific to a certain age, breed, sex, or body condition score¹. However, obese cats are more prone to diabetes and pancreatic complications.

The clinical signs of pancreatitis in cats are considered subtle or nonspecific, therefore, a thorough veterinary examination is needed if you notice some of these symptoms or signs of pancreatitis:

What to Feed a Cat with Pancreatitis

If you have cats with pancreatitis, it is important to choose the right food for them, it can be tricky and might require trial and errors, but do not fret! Our expert nutrition team is here to help you make the right food choice for your cats. Here's some dietary and nutritional recommendations for cats with pancreatitis:

Reduced Carbohydrate & Higher Protein Diets

Unlike dogs, fat intake restriction in cats with pancreatitis is unnecessary². High fat foods have not been shown to cause or exacerbate pancreatitis in cats. However, some veterinarians might suggest that high fat diets are to be avoided.

Since pancreatitis is often associated with diabetes, a reduced carbohydrate diet might be a great option for your cats. The pancreas is responsible for the release of insulin and if the pancreas is inflamed and not working properly, the release of insulin might be affected. A reduced carbohydrate diet may be recommended to help manage blood glucose levels.

Our Go! Solutions Carnivore recipes for cats, particularly the Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Recipe is a high protein and low carbohydrate diet that may be an option suitable for cats with pancreatitis with concurrent diabetes.

Recommended Solution

Carnivore Chicken, Turkey + Duck Grain-Free Dry Food Recipe

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This delicious grain-free, protein-rich Go! Solutions Carnivore recipe has been specially formulated to support strong, lean muscles in meat-loving cats.

View recipe

Novel or Hydrolyzed Protein Diets

Novel or hydrolyzed protein recipes may be an option for cats that have pancreatitis alongside inflammatory bowel disease. Food allergies or sensitivities to certain protein ingredients in the diet have been reported to be one of the causes of inflammatory bowel disease in cats³.

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Expertly-Crafted Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs

We understand how hard it is when your cat suffers from food allergies. These grain-free cat food recipes provide all the nutrition your cat needs, using as few key ingredients as possible.

View Sensitivities cat food

In Conclusion

Pancreatitis is a serious disease that needs to be addressed. If your cat has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, it's important to choose a suitable diet that supports their needs. Some dietary options have been mentioned here, but we strongly recommend that you discuss with your veterinarian to find the best option for your cat.