Symptoms of Feline Colitis

Feline colitis can come on suddenly or develop over time. There are visual and nonvisual symptoms. Depending on the causes, your veterinarian will determine through diagnosis which treatment is best for your cat.

  1. Visual Symptoms

    • Some of the visual symptoms include frequent defecation, vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea and blood or mucus in the stool.

    Nonvisual Symptoms

    • The nonvisual symptoms can include reduced appetite, straining to defecate and constipation, not getting to the litter box in time, dehydration, and abdominal pain.

    Causes

    • Multiple ingested items such as salmonella, intestinal worms, and eating garbage, spoiled food or foreign objects can cause symptoms of feline colitis. Other causes can include cancer, stress, pancreatitis or a dietary allergy.

    Diagnosis

    • When you take your cat to the veterinarian, he will perform a series of tests to know if the symptoms are from feline colitis. These tests include a fecal test, blood count, urinalysis, X-rays and a biochemistry profile to check for diabetes or liver disease.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for feline colitis can take various forms, including a change of diet that includes high fiber and protein. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, deworming medications and fluids are used as treatment as well.