Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition causing nausea, abdominal pain, and nutritional deficiencies that significantly compromise quality of life in affected cats.
Feline IBD causes chronic nausea and abdominal discomfort that cats cannot communicate but that substantially reduces quality of life. The condition is often misread as a picky eater phase or attributed to hairballs, delaying diagnosis by months or years during which the cat experiences ongoing suffering. Early diagnosis through endoscopy or biopsy enables targeted treatment that can bring cats to long-term remission with good quality of life. The welfare investment in accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment is substantial but worthwhile.