Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common chronic gastrointestinal condition in cats that causes persistent discomfort and requires long-term dietary and medical management.
Feline IBD causes a cycle of gastrointestinal discomfort that profoundly affects cat wellbeing when unmanaged. Nausea, abdominal pain, and the distress of frequent vomiting or diarrhoea reduce quality of life significantly. With appropriate management - dietary change, anti-inflammatory medication, and supportive care - most cats can achieve good welfare outcomes. The welfare challenge is the chronic, relapsing nature of the disease: owners must commit to ongoing management and regular veterinary monitoring. Distinguishing IBD from intestinal lymphoma matters for prognosis and treatment decisions - small cell lymphoma in cats has an excellent response to treatment and often carries a better long-term prognosis than many owners expect.