Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Inflammatory Bowel Disease Welfare

Feline inflammatory bowel disease causes chronic gastrointestinal suffering that significantly reduces quality of life, requiring ongoing management and monitoring.

Key Facts

IBD affects middle-aged to older cats with Siamese and other orientals overrepresented
Signs include chronic vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, and reduced appetite
Endoscopy and intestinal biopsy are required for definitive diagnosis and classification
Treatment includes dietary modification, prednisolone, and sometimes chlorambucil
Cobalamin deficiency secondary to IBD requires supplementation for appropriate management

Welfare Considerations

Chronic gastrointestinal disease causes ongoing nausea, discomfort, and weight loss that profoundly affects quality of life. Appropriate diagnosis and targeted treatment can achieve remission or good control, dramatically improving welfare for affected cats.

What You Can Do

Seek specialist referral for cats with chronic vomiting or diarrhoea unresponsive to initial treatment
Commit to dietary trials as directed by your vet even when compliance is challenging
Monitor weight regularly as an objective measure of IBD control in affected cats