Feline inflammatory bowel disease causes chronic gastrointestinal distress requiring long-term management to maintain quality of life for affected cats.
IBD causes chronic gastrointestinal distress including nausea, vomiting, malabsorption, and weight loss that affects every aspect of a cat's daily life over months or years. Many cats with IBD are diagnosed only after years of chronic vomiting that owners have normalized. The welfare benefit of accurate diagnosis and treatment is significant — cats whose IBD is well-controlled with appropriate diet and medication eat normally, maintain healthy weight, and are free from chronic nausea. The journey to diagnosis, which may require endoscopy and biopsy, is worth the investment for the sustained welfare improvement that follows.