Research overview: thiamine deficiency in cats

Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency causes serious neurologic disease in cats, including ataxia, seizures, and a characteristic ventroflexion of the neck, and has occurred from diets high in thiaminase-containing raw fish, from over-processed or improperly formulated foods, and from pet-food recalls involving inadequate thiamine. Prompt supplementation can reverse signs if treated early. This overview synthesizes the nutrition and neurology literature rather than one citation, describing the causes and clinical signs of feline thiamine deficiency, why certain diets and processing errors precipitate it, and why it remains a recurring concern requiring vigilance in diet formulation. It matters because thiamine deficiency is a preventable cause of severe, potentially fatal neurologic disease, and recurrent incidents underscore the importance of proper feline diet formulation and caution with raw-fish feeding.