Gallbladder Infection in Cats: What Owners Need to Know

In this guide

The gallbladder is a small organ that most cat owners never think about, tucked beside the liver and responsible for storing bile that helps digest fat. When it becomes infected or inflamed, a condition vets call cholecystitis, a cat can become seriously unwell quite quickly.

What causes it

Gallbladder infections usually start when bacteria travel up from the small intestine through the bile duct, or occasionally spread through the bloodstream. It rarely occurs on its own and is often linked to a related condition affecting the bile ducts and liver together, known as cholangitis or cholangiohepatitis. Pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease can also trigger it, since the organs of the digestive system sit close together and influence one another.

Signs to watch for

• Vomiting and reduced appetite
• Abdominal pain or a hunched, uncomfortable posture
• Lethargy and general dullness
• Yellowing of the gums, skin or the whites of the eyes, known as jaundice, which is an urgent warning sign
• Diarrhoea in some cases

Why appetite loss is especially risky in cats

Cats that stop eating for even two to three days are at risk of a separate, serious condition called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, where the body pulls fat into the liver faster than it can process it. This is one of the reasons vets treat appetite loss in a sick cat so seriously and often start nutritional support early rather than waiting to see if the cat starts eating on its own.

Diagnosis and treatment

Vets typically diagnose gallbladder infection through blood work showing elevated liver enzymes, combined with an abdominal ultrasound to look at the gallbladder wall and bile ducts. In some cases, a bile sample is collected under ultrasound guidance to identify the specific bacteria involved. Treatment usually involves hospitalisation with intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and a feeding tube if the cat is not eating on its own. Severe or obstructed cases may need surgery to remove the gallbladder. With prompt treatment, many cats recover well, though the outlook depends on how early the condition is caught and whether other organs, particularly the liver and pancreas, are also affected.

Getting the right diagnostics in India

Abdominal ultrasound and bile culture are not available at every neighbourhood clinic, so your regular vet may refer you to a larger hospital or diagnostic centre in your city for imaging. It is worth asking early on whether a referral is needed, since a faster diagnosis generally means a faster start to treatment. Cats recovering from a gallbladder infection usually need a follow up ultrasound and repeat blood work a few weeks later to confirm the inflammation has settled.

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