The pancreas is a small but critically important organ located near the stomach. It produces digestive enzymes that break down food in the small intestine, and it also produces insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed — either suddenly (acute pancreatitis) or as a persistent low-grade condition (chronic pancreatitis). Both forms are painful and potentially serious in cats.
Causes
In most cases of pancreatitis in cats, no specific cause is identified — it is termed idiopathic. Known triggers include trauma, certain medications, concurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver disease, and infections. In dogs, dietary indiscretion (eating fatty foods) is a common trigger, but this is less clearly the case in cats. Some cats with pancreatitis also have concurrent IBD and cholangitis — a condition called triaditis.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Signs of pancreatitis are often vague and non-specific: lethargy, poor appetite, weight loss, and dehydration. Vomiting and diarrhea occur more commonly in dogs than in cats with pancreatitis. Definitive diagnosis requires blood tests measuring pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (PLI or SPEC-FPL) — a test specifically designed to detect feline pancreatitis. Abdominal ultrasound can also reveal pancreatic inflammation, though it requires a skilled ultrasonographer.
Treatment
Treatment is supportive: fluid therapy to correct dehydration, pain management (often requiring opioid medications given the severity of pancreatic pain), anti-nausea medications, and appetite stimulants. In severe cases, cats may need to be hospitalized. Dietary management is crucial — feeding small, frequent, low-fat meals helps reduce pancreatic stimulation.