Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes chronic gastrointestinal distress in cats, with persistent symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, and weight loss that significantly diminish quality of life if undertreated.
Feline IBD causes chronic, daily welfare impairment. Cats with active IBD experience recurring nausea, abdominal discomfort, and the distress of unpredictable vomiting and diarrhoea. Weight loss from malabsorption causes progressive weakness and reduces the cat's capacity for normal activities. Many cats with IBD develop food aversions from repeated meal-associated nausea, complicating dietary management. The condition tends to wax and wane, creating a cycle of partial recovery and relapse that may persist for years. Some cats are managed well with appropriate treatment, achieving good quality of life, but diagnostic delays — IBD is often normalised as "just a vomiter" — mean many cats suffer for months or years before receiving effective treatment.