As cat parents, we desire to see our furry babies in good health and happiness. Yet, when we notice something unusual—like a skipped meal, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea- it naturally raises our concerns. One of the common health concerns is cat gastrointestinal issues. These GI issues can impact a cat’s digestive system, causing everything from mild and temporary discomfort to more serious and chronic conditions. 

Since feline gastrointestinal issues cannot be taken lightly, it is important to find the root causes and effective solutions for the well-being of feline digestion. So, let’s dive into this article to learn more about possible causes and solutions for GI issues. 

Common Signs of Gastrointestinal Problems in Cats

Vomiting

One of the common symptoms of gastrointestinal issues is vomiting. There can be various reasons behind vomiting. When your cats eat something that irritates or injures the stomach lining, it can cause vomiting. Likewise, food allergies, dietary indiscretion, toxins, and intestinal parasites can be other possible causes of vomiting. 

Vomiting in cats may not reveal much about the underlying causes of GI issues. However, the appearance of vomit can give various clues. For instance, vomit may contain traces of food the cat has recently eaten. Similarly, you may find bile, froth, fresh blood, or digested blood that looks like coffee grounds in the vomit. Hence, examining these vomit types aids your vet in identifying the underlying causes. 

Loss of Appetite

Another sign that hints towards cat gastrointestinal issues is loss of appetite. For instance, your cat is enthusiastic when it comes to food. However, if this foody buddy suddenly starts to skip meals or refuses to eat food, then GI issues can be the reason. Other reasons for loss of appetite can be dental problems or anxiety. 

Constipation

Constipation is the condition where your cat has the infrequent or difficult passage of feces. Usually, this is a common issue that can be solved easily. However, long-term constipation may be a sign of cat gastrointestinal issues.  Furthermore, constipation can be caused due to dehydration, pain or even neurological problems. Likewise, it can result from some kind of obstruction in the colon or poor digestible of your cat. 

Weight Loss

When your cat has some kind of gastrointestinal issues, weight loss cannot be seen immediately, but you will notice weight loss over time. One of the reasons for weight loss can be malabsorption. In this digestive issue, your cat’s gut cannot properly digest and absorb food which results in a lack of nutrient uptake. Similarly there can be other various reasons for unexplained weight loss in your feline friend. 

Diarrhea

If your furry friend is suffering from diarrhea, then it can be a sign of GI issues. Diarrhea can also have a different range of severity, from acute to chronic. When an intestine is imflammed with parasites, it can lead feces to be liquid consistency. Likewise, dietary changes, inflammatory bowel disease, or other chronic diseases can also cause diarrhea in your cats. 

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Causes and Solutions of Cat Gastrointestinal Issues

Health Conditions

Inflammation of the Large Intestine (Colitis)

One of the common causes of cat gastrointestinal issues is inflammation of the large intestine or colon. Inflammation can be caused by various factors such as food allergies, parasitic or bacterial infections, intake of toxins, or other inflammatory conditions. Usually, cats with colitis show symptoms like straining to defecate with a small volume of feces. Moreover, you can notice mucus or bright red blood in liquid-consistency feces. 

For the treatment of colitis, it is important to know the cause of inflammation of the colon. After a detailed physical examination and inquiry about your cat, the veterinarian will identify the cause and provide effective solutions. 

Gastrointestinal Obstruction

Another cause of GI issues is an obstruction or blockage within the walls, outside or inside the cavity of the digestive tract. These obstructions can caused by foreign objects, overgrowth or tissues, and even tumors. Due to the blockage, it is difficult to pass food and fluids, which can cause tears or damage to digestive tissues in the tract.

As for diagnosis, your veterinarian shall make an overall checkup and inquiry about your cat like missing a toy or needle, etc. Further x-ray or ultrasonography may be done to detect the obstructing material. After detection, a removal procedure will be carried out and medications may be prescribed for recovery.

Gastrointestinal Ulcer

The occurrence of gastrointestinal ulcers in felines is relatively uncommon; however, the possibility cannot be entirely dismissed. A gastrointestinal ulcer is a condition when wounds develop in the stomach or intestinal lining due to digestive enzymes and acids. This cat gastrointestinal issue may not particularly show any signs and can develop suddenly. However, this can be life-threatening for your feline friend. 

Cats with gastrointestinal ulcers can show blood in vomit. Likewise, your cat may have stomach discomfort along with dark, tarry stools. Regarding the treatment of the ulcer, blood tests, endoscopy, and biopsy of the stomach are done to confirm the ulcer. After confirmation of the ulcer, your veterinarian will provide an entire plan regarding medication, hospitalization, and diet for proper treatment and aftercare of the wounds.

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is a chronic condition with a combination of different digestive issues and disorders in the stomach and intestines. Your can may show symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, loss in appetite, and weight loss.  This chronic condition can vary quite a bit in severity, ranging from mild to extreme, especially if it isn’t treated in time.

Various causes, such as metabolic disease, parasitic and bacterial overgrowth, stress, immune function, etc., can cause inflammatory bowel disease, individually or combined. 

For the treatment of IBD, your veterinarian can recommend some hypoallergenic or elimination diet for your cat. Likewise, immunosuppressants like Glucocorticoids, vitamin supplements, antiparasitic drugs, and antibiotics shall be added if required. 

Malabsorption

Another underlying cause of GI issues is malabsorption. In this health condition, your cat’s small intestine cannot properly absorb the nutrients from the food. This condition in cats can be caused due to IBD, parasitic infections, bacterial overgrowth, or other chronic diseases. 

If your cat has gastrointestinal issues due to malabsorption then dietary treatment along with management of complications after identifying the cause shall be done.

Also Read: Common Skin Issues in Cats and How to Treat Them

Intestinal Parasites

Parasitic and bacterial infections are other common gastrointestinal problems in cats. These infections are usually caused by exposure to contaminated food, water, or feces. Parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, giardia, coccidia, etc, shall reside in the digestive tract and cause GI problems. When suffering from these infections, your cat may show symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss. 

For the treatment of parasitic and bacterial infections, you can take your furry friend to the vet where the parasites or bacteria are identified through fecal testing and blood tests. Then you will be prescribed some medications by your vet to deworm your cat. 

Hairballs

Cats prefer to groom themselves. While grooming themselves, their tongues pick up hair that gets accumulated over time, forming hairballs. During most of the conditions, hairballs pass naturally either through vomit or stool. However, some cannot pass through the digestive tract and create discomfort resulting in cat gastrointestinal issues. 

In order to control the possibility of hairballs, you can try brushing your cat regularly or take your cat for professional grooming sessions. Likewise, if you are opting for commercial cat food, you can choose fiber-enriched cat food. If you are opting for homemade food, you can add a small portion of fiber-enriched foods. Similarly, make sure your cat is hydrated, as it can support effective digestion.

Food tolerance or allergies

It is not necessary for your cat’s digestive system to process all kinds of foods. There may be certain foods that trigger an immune response and cause upset stomachs, followed by itching, vomiting, skin sores, and chronic diarrhea in cats. 

It can be quite tricky to find out what kind of food your cat has an allergy to. However, you have to look out for the symptoms of food allergy in cats. You can take your cat to the vet so that the veterinarian can rule out other causes and confirm the food allergy. In case of severe food allergy, your veterinarian may suggest you some immunosuppressive drugs. Next, you can try some specific diet, like a novel protein diet for your cat for 8-12 weeks. Once the symptoms slowly start to fade away, you can try reinforcing other food to your cat. 

Conclusion

Cat gastrointestinal issues are common yet concerning health factors when it comes to our feline friend. Hence, quick recognition of causes and immediate effective treatment will not only ensure feline digestion but also promote the overall well-being of the pet health. If you want to solve more related concerns about your furry friend, we are here to help you. Stay tuned with Littlefurr.

FAQs

Can stress cause cat gastrointestinal issues?

Absolutely, stress can be the reason for GI issues in cats. There are various conditions that are specially induced by stress. 

Will my cat recover from inflammatory bowel disease?

Yes, with proper care and medications, inflammatory bowel disease in cats can be treated. 

Are GI issues more common in certain cat breeds?

GI issues can affect any cat, irrespective of their breed. However, some breeds, like Siamese, etc, may have a high possibility of suffering from IBD or food allergies.

What kind of food can induce food allergies in cats?

Proteins like chicken, beef, and fish can cause frequent food allergies among cats.

Is vomiting normal in cats?

Occasional vomiting due to hairballs is normal among cats. However, frequent vomiting can be a sign of other issues in cats.

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