Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes chronic gastrointestinal distress through persistent intestinal inflammation and requires careful dietary and medical management for long-term welfare.
IBD causes chronic welfare suffering through persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and malnutrition from impaired nutrient absorption. Cats with uncontrolled IBD lose weight progressively, feel unwell continuously, and have severely impaired quality of life. The condition is complicated by the need to distinguish it from lymphoma (which requires different treatment) and the variable response to dietary versus medical management. Long-term monitoring including body weight, clinical scoring, and periodic reassessment of response to treatment is essential. When IBD is well-controlled — either through dietary management alone or with prednisolone — cats can maintain good quality of life for years. The welfare goal is symptom control that restores normal appetite, body weight, and behaviour.