Feline inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic condition causing intestinal inflammation and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms. Long-term management significantly impacts cat welfare and quality of life.
Feline IBD causes chronic welfare impact through persistent nausea, abdominal discomfort, and the nutritional consequences of malabsorption. Cats with uncontrolled IBD experience ongoing gastrointestinal distress that affects appetite, energy, and social behaviour. Weight loss in affected cats can be severe and is associated with muscle wasting that reduces mobility and comfort. The difficulty in distinguishing IBD from small cell lymphoma without biopsy means some cats are undertreated for lymphoma while others receive more aggressive treatment than necessary for IBD. Well-managed IBD cats can have good quality of life for years; the welfare goal is achieving remission through appropriate dietary and pharmaceutical management tailored to the individual cat.