Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common cause of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in cats, causing ongoing nausea, discomfort, and nutritional compromise that requires careful management for welfare optimization.
Chronic IBD causes daily welfare impairment through persistent nausea, abdominal discomfort, unpredictable vomiting, and the malaise associated with nutrient malabsorption. Cats with uncontrolled IBD live in a state of chronic low-level suffering that owners may normalize as 'just how my cat is.' Weight loss progresses slowly, masking the welfare deterioration. Welfare-centered IBD management involves accurate diagnosis (to distinguish IBD from lymphoma and guide appropriate treatment), dietary optimization trials, appropriate immunosuppressive therapy, B12 supplementation, and regular monitoring of disease control. Quality-of-life assessment should be explicit in management conversations, particularly as IBD may progress to lymphoma.