How bad is liver?

tabbysia

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
987
Purraise
510
Location
Texas
A lot of posters on this site have said that it is bad for cats to have too much liver, but why? I have found a food that my very picky dry food addict IBD kitty loves, but it is duck and duck liver. She is only supposed to have duck and hates the "loaf" style food. This food consists of little pieces. Should I not feed this food too often and stick more to the dry duck food that she also likes and tolerates and does not contain liver?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #2

tabbysia

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
987
Purraise
510
Location
Texas
I should have mentioned that the food with the liver is canned (Canidae). I'm trying to get her to eat more wet.
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,836
Purraise
13,144
Location
Columbus OH
Too much liver fed over time can lead to vitamin A toxicity  which can cause bone overgrowth.  https://www.superhappypets.com/article_cat_vitamina_toxic.html   Feeding a complete canned food will not cause issues, it has the right amount of liver to meet a cats needs without overdoing it.  Usually the issue arises when people feed a home made diet and they don't know what they are doing.  That can cause all kinds of issues including this one from overdoing the liver.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

tabbysia

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
987
Purraise
510
Location
Texas
Above is the food I have started feeding her. Should this be okay?
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,836
Purraise
13,144
Location
Columbus OH
It's fine.  They are just identifying the source of the liver which is important for kitties that have allergies or food sensitivities.  Many foods don't identify the liver source or the protein source is a novel protein then they use chicken liver.
 

raintyger

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
1,690
Purraise
139
Location
Long Beach, CA
You should be fine with a cat food with liver in it. The liver does provide vital nutrients, in fact. When I fed raw I started with a premix and added muscle meat and liver. The package specified I had to add liver to be complete. Liver overdose happens when you feed liver separately like a treat or as @Denice has pointed out, feeding too much as a part of a homemade raw diet.
 
Top