Inflammation of adipose (fat) tissue: Steatitis occurs in the fat tissue in certain animals, such as swine, horses, cats, and chickens.

Steatitis is one of the manifestations of vitamin E-selenium deficiency disease in these animals. It is said to be caused by feeding diets consisting of too much unsaturated fatty acid and not enough vitamin E.

"Yellow fat disease" is the more popular name for this illness.