Inflammatory bowel disease in cats causes chronic gastrointestinal inflammation affecting quality of life, requiring careful dietary and medical management to control symptoms and maintain welfare.
Cats with chronic IBD experience ongoing gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and the distress of frequent vomiting and diarrhea. Weight loss despite adequate appetite is distressing for both cat and owner. Chronic inflammation causes abdominal pain that may not always be obvious but significantly impacts quality of life. Long-term management requires commitment to dietary consistency, regular veterinary monitoring, and often lifelong medication. Cats achieving good disease control can live comfortable lives but the chronic nature of IBD means welfare monitoring must be ongoing.