Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nutrition Management

Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires careful dietary management to reduce intestinal inflammation, with novel protein and hydrolysed protein diets forming the cornerstone of nutritional therapy.

Key Facts

IBD is the most common cause of chronic vomiting and diarrhoea in middle-aged to older cats
Dietary antigens are major triggers for intestinal inflammation in many IBD cats
Novel protein diets using proteins the cat has never been exposed to can reduce inflammation
Hydrolysed protein diets break proteins into fragments too small to trigger immune responses
B12 supplementation is often needed in cats with IBD-associated cobalamin deficiency

Welfare Considerations

Feline IBD causes chronic suffering through nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss. Nutritional management that identifies and eliminates dietary triggers can achieve remission or significant improvement in many cats without or with reduced medication. The challenge lies in the dietary trial process - strict adherence for 8-12 weeks is required to properly assess dietary response.

What You Can Do

Work with your vet to conduct a proper dietary elimination trial for cats with chronic GI disease
Maintain strict dietary protocols during IBD dietary trials - no treats or other foods
Monitor body weight and condition closely in cats with IBD