The fat deposits on the chest and within the abdomen are usually affected first. The fat just under the skin usually becomes granular or lumpy. The hardened fat in the groin area of affected cats is often mistaken for hernias.

Cats suffering due to pansteatitis are usually sore and, therefore, quit jumping and climbing. Some severely affected cats quit moving altogether and bite or scratch whenever handled by anyone. Most cats with advanced pansteatitis experience generalized pain, have a fever, and do not eat. Affected cats become progressively weaker, exhibit increasing lethargy, and eventually die due to the disease.

Most veterinarians make the tentative diagnosis of pansteatitis based on the clinical signs and history of feeding only fish diets. A biopsy of the fat of the affected cat is helpful in making a definitive diagnosis.

Treatment of cats with pansteatitis usually includes feeding a balanced diet supplemented with vitamin E while administering drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. Recovery form pansteatitis usually takes several months.

Your veterinarian can give you additional information about how to properly feed your cat. Hopefully, you can convince your husband that a commercially prepared, high quality, balanced diet will be much better for your cat than just feeding tuna. Preventing nutritional deficiencies is far superior to treating them after clinical signs occur.

Q: We are wondering why our fat old, spayed cocker spaniel is getting lazier and lazier! It seems like she does not want to do any of the things she used to do.