Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Aftab Tariq
IBS in cats, also known as irritable bowel syndrome, can bring about pain and discomfort for our feline friends. It’s crucial to seek veterinary care promptly to help the cat maintain a good quality of life. Proper treatment can help manage symptoms, ensuring it doesn’t impact the cat’s life expectancy. Dr Jessica Dreyfuss says,
“Feline Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a subtle but significant reminder that even our smallest companions can experience complex health challenges.”
IBS in cats manifests as sensitivity in the lower bowels, leading to frequent urges to defecate, diarrhoea or constipation, and cramping. This sensitivity can arise from various factors such as stress, dietary intolerance, or disruptions in bowel chemical functions. It’s essential to differentiate between IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with IBS being more acute while IBD presents with chronic signs.
Causes Of IBS In Cats
Identifying the precise cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in cats can be challenging. This condition is mainly associated with stress triggered by various factors, such as changes in the cat’s environment or routine, the introduction of new pets or children into the household, traumatic experiences, or insufficient mental stimulation. Other potential causes may include:
- Separation anxiety
- Intolerances of certain foods
- Inadequate intake of dietary fibre
- Irregular function of the colon
- Malfunctioning nerves in the digestive system
Ibs In Cats Symptoms
When cats suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), they may experience various symptoms that can vary in how often they occur and how severe they are. These symptoms may include:
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- Trouble with pooping
- Chronic on-and-off diarrhea
- Frequent need to poop
- Presence of mucus or blood in the poop
- Difficulty pooping (constipation)
- Pain in the belly
- Changes in how much they eat
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Passing gas
- Swelling in the belly (bloating)
- Throwing up (vomiting)
- Losing weight
- Feeling tired or weak (lethargy)
How Do You Know If A Cat Has IBS?
To determine if a cat has IBS, the vet first looks at the cat’s medical history and talks to the owner about when the symptoms started. They’ll want to know if the cat’s behaviour has changed if there have been any environmental changes, and if there are any other possible reasons for the symptoms. The vet does a physical exam and some lab tests to check the cat’s overall health.
 These tests might include checking the blood, urine, and poop, as well as looking at the cat’s electrolyte levels. If these tests return normal and there’s no other underlying problem, the cat might have IBS. Sometimes, the vet might also do X-rays or ultrasounds to better look inside the cat or take a small piece of tissue from the intestines to examine more closely.
The signs of IBS can be similar to other problems, so the vet will try to rule out those first. They’ll check for things like inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, feline leukaemia, metabolic issues, infections, or cancer before making a final diagnosis.
Treatment For Ibs In Cats
Stress reduction, adjustments to one’s diet, and medication use are typically effective ways to control symptoms. Because of this, it will be vital to keep the dietary limitations that have been prescribed and to make certain that the atmosphere continues to be as stress-free as possible. As a result of the high probability of relapse, maintaining consistent follow-up appointments is an essential component of long-term rehabilitation.
1: Dietary Changes
A trial of hypoallergenic foods might be suggested. The cat is given new protein and carbohydrates, which it has never eaten to do. Meats derived from rabbits, venison, or ducks may be available. Another option to try is a hydrolyzed diet.
No other things, such as table scraps, treats, or flavoured drugs, should be given to the cat throughout the meal experiment. It often takes at least a few weeks for results to become apparent. If the cat’s irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) persists after this time frame, dietary changes may be considered again.
Cats do best on low-fat, high-fibre meals that are also easy for their digestive systems to process. The diet should be tailored to the cat’s breed, age, and activity level. Therefore, keeping close contact with the vet during this process is important.
2: Medical Care
Patients experiencing inflammation may be administered corticosteroids, with prednisolone being the most common. Antibiotics and immunosuppressant medications may be recommended in certain instances. Side effects are possible with any of these medications, so watching your pet while they take them is important.
Using prebiotics and probiotics, which help encourage the generation and maintenance of beneficial bacteria that aid in gastrointestinal health, veterinarians have lately successfully treated irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
3: Management Of Stress
Urgent action is required if the cat is enduring excessive stress owing to its living surroundings. When all other options have been exhausted, it may be necessary to prescribe anti-anxiety medicine to the cat. Owners can also try sprays or diffusers containing calming essential oils to alleviate their feline friend’s nervousness. Cats can benefit from increased exercise and decreased stress levels when they are socialized more often and have access to various stimulating toys.
How To Treat Ibs In Cats Naturally?
IBS in cats is a long-term illness that can’t be cured. Instead, you’ll focus on easing your cat’s symptoms so they can have a good life. Your vet will likely help you find natural ways to handle the problem without giving your cat strong drugs unless needed. Here are some steps to start treating your cat naturally at home for IBS.
Start Elimination Dieting
Food allergens often cause cat IBS symptoms. You may think your cat has never been allergic, but cats often develop allergies as they age. They typically acquire sensitivities to their favourite meals, including chicken.
An elimination diet will help your cat feel better and reveal their allergies. You should introduce new protein and carbohydrate sources. Try rabbit, duck, and venison instead of chicken, beef, and salmon. Move to potatoes or other carbs.
Switch them to the new diet for over a week, then stop feeding them anything else. No allergen will remain in their system. Expect many weeks for their system to reset and improve.
It can be expensive and difficult to keep your cat on this new diet long-term because the food is hard to find, and it’s hard to deter cats from eating food scraps or neighbouring cats’ bowls.
Once their digestion returns to normal, you can reintroduce regular meals one at a time for a few weeks. Start feeding them chicken and see how they react. If they’re fine, introduce other foods to see how they react after three to four weeks.
Reintroducing a meal that causes a poor reaction is likely increasing their IBS and should be eliminated from their diet.
Ibs In Cats Diet
When you consider the large number of cat food items currently available on the market, you can find it challenging to navigate the maze.
We have done the tough lifting for you if you are wondering what to feed a cat with irritable bowel syndrome. Fortunately, we have determined what to give your cat. As of this year, the following are the top foods for cats suitable for irritable bowel syndrome.
1: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Cat Food
This cat food from Purina Pro is made especially for cats dealing with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, or food allergies. It’s crafted to help lessen the symptoms of IBS.
The Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Cat Food uses only one protein source: chicken. Plus, it’s been hydrolyzed to make it easier to digest. This formula works for cats of all ages, so it’s great for households with multiple cats.
Pros
- Tailored for cats with IBS
- Uses a single, high-quality protein source
- Suitable for cats of all ages
- Helps reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal distress
- Hydrolyzed for improved digestibility
Cons
- Expensive
2: Halo Holistic Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food
The Halo Holistic Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food is a fantastic choice if you want a natural alternative to regular commercial cat food, which could be causing your cat’s IBS symptoms. This food gets protein from wild-caught salmon and whitefish, making it especially good for cats with IBS. Using protein from multiple sources can sometimes worsen IBS symptoms due to the many different ingredients involved so that this single-source protein option might be better for your cat.
Pros
- Uses novel, high-quality protein sources
- Free from meat by-products
- Contains non-GMO ingredients
- Specifically formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs
Cons
- Contains soy
How Long Will A Cat Live With IBD?
Cats with inflammation in their bowels have a shorter average life span than those without. The study shows that Female cats with IBD might live 6.6 to 8.1 years less than women without IBD. Male cats with IBD might live 5.0 to 6.1 years less than men without the condition.
Conclusion
IBS in cats, also known as IBD, is a serious sickness. It can make cats have diarrhoea, vomit, and blood in their poop. No cure exists since we have yet to determine what causes this disease. Deciding when to put down a cat with IBD depends on how bad the cat feels. Most cats with IBD can live for a few more years after diagnosis.
But sometimes, the IBD gets so bad that the cat’s health gets really weak, and they might even die. If this happens, you might have to think about euthanasia or hospice care for your cat.
Frequently Asked Questions
When To Euthanize A Cat With IBD?
Deciding when to euthanize a cat with IBD depends on how bad their condition is. Many cats with this illness can live for several more years after diagnosis. However, in some situations, IBD can worsen to the point where the cat becomes very sick and may even pass away.
How Can You Tell If A Cat Has IBS?
Signs of feline IBD include throwing up, losing weight, having diarrhoea with blood, feeling tired, and not wanting to eat much. The severity and how often these signs show up can vary. It depends on which parts of the cat’s stomach are affected.
Do Cats With IBD Always Feel Hungry?
Cats with IBD might seem like they’re always hungry and have lots of diarrhoea. But sometimes, they might not want to eat much and end up losing weight.
Can Ibs In Cats Be Cured?
A cat that is not extremely dehydrated will most likely be able to receive treatment without the need for hospitalization. Irritable bowel syndrome does not have a single treatment that can be administered so that the veterinarian may suggest a mix of treatments.
Source
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Cats (IBS)
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats
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