Gastrointestinal disorders can afflict your cat at any age. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, abdominal pain and dehydration. Infections, dietary indiscretion or other problems can all cause digestive upset, and a thorough examination must be done to determine the cause. Treatment can begin once the source of the condition is ascertained.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a condition that causes an inflammation of the intestinal wall. The cause is unknown, and it can affect any cat, although purebred cats may be at an increased risk. Signs include intermittent vomiting and diarrhea, as well as appetite and weight loss. According the Cat Fanciers' Association, a switch to a more hypoallergenic diet may improve symptoms.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, can often result from stress. A safe and secure environment, combined with a high-fiber, hypoallergenic diet, may relieve the symptoms of IBS, which include persistent, intermittent diarrhea and vomiting. Tests reveal no obvious cause for the symptoms--veterinarians at the Marista Animal Hospital suggest that IBS is a psychosomatic disease and should be treated with anti-anxiety medications.
Bacteria
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Potentially harmful bacteria live in your cat's intestinal tract but are kept in check by populations of beneficial bacteria and a strong immune system. If your cat is immune-compromised or is taking antibiotics, these "good" bacteria are destroyed, giving bacteria like salmonella a chance to replicate and cause illness. Salmonellosis can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration in cats. Other gastrointestinal bacteria include Campylobacter and Clostridium piliforme.
Parasites
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Roundworms are a common and usually benign intestinal parasite found in many cats and most kittens. If roundworm populations get too large, they can cause intestinal blockage. There are other intestinal parasites that affect cats; your veterinarian can help identify and specifically treat each species. Over-the-counter de-wormers are available, but not all chemicals work on all worms. It is best to obtain accurate test results and treat parasites with the appropriate prescription drug.
Protozoa
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Single-celled organisms such as Entamoeba histolytica and giardia can cause gastrointestinal distress in cats.
Amebiasis is caused by an intestinal amoeba (Entamoeba histolytica) that causes inflammation of the large intestine. This results in persistent diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics.
Giardia live in the small intestine. They cause a long-term intestinal infection called Giardiasis. Symptoms include intermittent diarrhea and vomiting, and stools will be soft and pale. It can be treated with a combination of prescription drugs.
Toxoplasmosis
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Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite found in most warm-blooded animals. Usually, T. gondi causes no harm to its host, but if its host is immune-compromised--suffering from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)--the protozoan parasite can cause toxoplasmosis. Symptoms include neurological malfunctions like light and touch sensitivity, seizures and loss of bowel control.
Hairballs
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Every time your cats grooms itself, it swallows some hair. Sometimes, the hair accumulates in the stomach and forms an indigestible clump. Commonly called a hairball, its impressive scientific name is a trichobezoar. Trichobezoars cause vomiting and regurgitation in cats. If the mass becomes large and dense enough, it can block the digestive tract, requiring surgery. Longhaired cats are more susceptible to severe hairball problems.
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