Inflammatory bowel disease is a common cause of chronic vomiting and weight loss in cats. Understanding diagnosis, dietary management, and treatment options improves welfare for affected cats.
Feline IBD causes chronic welfare harms through ongoing gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and the malnutrition of progressive weight loss. Cats with undiagnosed IBD may experience months to years of chronic discomfort before reaching veterinary investigation. The distinction between IBD and small cell lymphoma — conditions that look identical clinically — requires biopsy and affects treatment choice, but both conditions are manageable with similar approaches. Dietary management with novel proteins addresses food antigen-driven components of inflammation. Immunosuppressive therapy reduces mucosal inflammation and symptoms. Cobalamin supplementation supports healing. Many cats achieve good disease control and improved quality of life with appropriate management, but the chronic nature requires owner commitment to monitoring, medication, and dietary management over the long term.