| Issue 17: January 10 |
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Dear Dr. Schelling, Can I feed my cats raw or uncooked liver? I've heard conflicting things about the healthfulness of raw liver for cats. –Caroline and her cat clan Dear Caroline, Use caution. Raw or uncooked liver is high in Vitamin A, and too much vitamin A can cause hypervitaminosis A, or Vitamin A toxicity—a painful, serious, and irreversible condition. Vitamin A toxicity is characterized by excessive bone growth which can impair movement and even result in paralysis. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for cats, and any good quality cat food will contain the right proportion of vitamin A. The more vitamin A you feed you cats beyond that amount, the higher their risk of developing vitamin A toxicity. For this reason, many people decide not to feed their cats raw or uncooked liver. For more information on the causes and symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, and the limited treatments available for the disease, please read “Vitamin A Toxicity in Cats.” -Dr. Schelling Share:                
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