How do I tell if my cat has colitis

What is colitis in cats?

Colitis in cats is a digestive disease that causes inflammation of the colon also called the large or lower intestine

It can cause pain and discomfort in your cat, as well as diarrhoea or constipation.

Brief summary...

What is colitis?

A relatively common condition, colitis can affect both animals and humans. Like many conditions, its usually described as chronic meaning slow to develop, but persistent or acute, meaning it flares up quickly and may be intense.

Colitis can be painful and uncomfortable for your cat, and is responsible up to half of all cases of chronic diarrhoea. While its relatively common and easy to treat, feline colitis can lead to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is a more serious condition.

If your cat is displaying any of the signs and symptoms of colitis listed below, make an appointment with your local vet.

Colitis in cats symptoms

Be on the lookout for several of these common colitis symptoms in various combinations:

• Watery or bloody diarrhoea
• Mucous or jelly in the stools
• Excessive straining
• Constipation
• Excessive flatulence
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Frequent need to go to the toilet
• Lack of appetite or disinterest in food
• Stomach cramps

Common causes of colitis in cats

Treating your cat's colitis

Your vet will recommend a treatment programme, depending on the severity of your cats condition. They'll usually recommend fasting for 24 to 48 hours, then introducing a special high-fibre or bland diet.

They may recommend a course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medicationto treat any underlying infection, and a worming treatment to remove any gastrointestinal worms that can cause or exacerbate colitis.

While colitis can be painful and uncomfortable, its normally very treatable, and the prognosis is generally good.

Can I prevent my cat from getting colitis?

While its not possible to completely prevent feline colitis, taking the following steps may help to reduce your cats chances of developing it:

• Get into a regular worming routine
• Get into a regular flea treatment routine as fleas can lead to worms
• Keep your cats vaccinations up to date
• Feed your cat a balanced, high-fibre diet and plenty of water to drink
• Ensure your cat doesnt eat things theyre not supposed to
• Avoid sudden changes to your cats diet
• Keep stress to a minimum

Need more info?

For expert advice on colitis in cats get in touch with your local vet.

Find your nearest vet using ourfind a vetpage, or speak to a vet online using our oninevideovet service.

Felineinflammatorybowel disease(IBD) is acondition inwhich a catsgastrointestinal(GI) tractbecomeschronicallyirritated andinflamed.

Inflammatory cells infiltrate the wallsof the GI tract, thickening them and disrupting the abilityof the GI tract to properly digest and absorb food. Catsof any age can be affected by IBD, but the disease occursmost often in middle-aged and older cats.

While the cause of IBD is unknown, current evidencesuggests that it arises from a complex abnormal interactionbetween the immune system, diet, bacterial populationsin the intestines, and other environmental factors. Basedupon similarities to IBD in people and dogs, geneticabnormalities of the immune system are also thought toplay a role in feline IBD.

IBD can take different forms depending on the region ofthe GI tract and the type of inflammatory cells involved. Ifthe stomach is inflamed, the condition is called gastritis. Ifthe small intestine is inflamed, its referred to as enteritis;and if the colon (large intestine) is inflamed, its calledcolitis. The most common form of IBD, termed lymphocyticplasmacytic enteritis, involves inflammatorylymphocytes and plasma cells invading thesmall intestine. Eosinophils are another typeof inflammatory white blood cell commonlyinvolved in feline IBD. They may be the predominant cell type on occasion, as in eosinophilicgastroenteritis, but they are more commonly part of a mixedpopulation of inflammatory cells. Two less common formsof IBD are neutrophilic IBD, which involves neutrophils, andgranulomatous IBD, which involves macrophages. In somecases, IBD may be accompanied by inflammation of otherabdominal organs, including the liver and pancreas.

Clinical Signs

Common signs of feline IBD include vomiting, weight loss,diarrhea, bloody stools, lethargy, and decreased appetite.These signs can vary in severity and frequency, and thepredominant signs depend on which parts of the GI tractare affected. For example, if the stomach or higher areasof the small intestine are inflamed, the cat may experiencechronic vomiting. Inflammation in the colon, in contrast, ismore likely to cause diarrhea, with or without blood in thestool.

Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis of feline IBD requires an extensiveworkup because many of the signs of IBD are commonlyseen with other diseases. Your veterinarian will likelyrecommend baseline blood work, fecal examinations,X-rays, or an abdominal ultrasound to check for metabolicdisease, feline leukemia, parasitic or bacterial infections,hyperthyroidism, and certain types of cancer. Intestinallymphoma, a form of cancer, can be particularly difficultto distinguish from IBD in cats. A veterinarian may alsomeasure the levels of the B vitamins B12 and folate in thebloodstream, as IBD can hinder the absorption of thesevitamins from the GI tract. A hypoallergenic food trial mayalso be conducted to rule out food allergy.

A definitive diagnosis of feline IBD requires an intestinalor gastric biopsy and evaluation of the tissue under amicroscope. A patient with IBD will have increased numbersof inflammatory cells in the intestinal wall (Figures 1 and 2). Thetypes of cells found will indicate what type of IBD is presentand help guide treatment. Gastrointestinal biopsies may beperformed using a flexible camera, called an endoscope,that is passed through the mouth or the rectum (Figures 3 and 4), or via abdominal surgery. Endoscopy is a less invasiveprocedure; however, surgery may be recommended for patients in whom liver or pancreatic disease is alsosuspected, so that these organs can be biopsied as well.Both endoscopy and surgical biopsy require generalanesthesia, and the associated risks must be consideredwhen deciding whether to perform these tests.

Treatment

A veterinarian will usually recommend treatment forintestinal parasites if this has not recently been done, and acombination of dietary modification and various medicationsas the first steps. There is no single best treatment, so yourveterinarian may need to try several different combinations ofdiet or medication to determine the best therapy.

Dietary Management

Because dietary allergens can play a role in IBD,your veterinarian may recommend a food trial usinghypoallergenic diets. These diets contain protein orcarbohydrate sources that the cat has never eaten before.Rabbit, duck, or venison-based diets are common initialchoices.If symptoms do not improve with a hypoallergenic diet, thenyour cat may benefit from diets that are high in fiber, low infat, and easily digestible. It may take several weeks, or evenlonger, for cats to improve after a diet change. During anyfood trial, all other food sources, including table scraps,flavored medications, and treats must be eliminated.

Medical Treatment

Metronidazole may be recommended along with dietarymodification as the first medical therapy. Metronidazole hasantibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antiprotozoal properties,and is usually fairly well tolerated, although some cats maylose their appetite when given this drug.

If dietary modification or metronidazole are not effective,corticosteroids, which are potent anti-inflammatory andimmune-suppressing agents, may be recommended, eitheralone or in combination with metronidazole. Cats shouldbe monitored closely while they are on corticosteroids, asdiabetes and immune suppression are among their potentialside effects. Nonetheless, cats tend to tolerate these drugswell as long as they receive them at an appropriate dose.

Cats usually take corticosteroids orally, starting with a higher dosethat is gradually reduced over several weeks. In cats that wonttake medication orally, or in cases in which vomiting is severe, yourveterinarian may give the medications as an injection.

If none of these medications successfully controls the symptoms ofIBD, more potent immunosuppressive drugs, such as chlorambucilor azathioprine, may be necessary. These drugs can suppressproduction of white blood cells, red blood cells, and, lesscommonly, platelets, in the bone marrow. A veterinarian mustcarefully monitor cats taking these drugs.

As GI bacteria may play a role in the development of IBD, newertherapies include prebiotics, which are substances that promotecertain bacterial populations, and probiotics, which are bacterialstrains that promote GI health. The addition of soluble fiber, suchas psyllium, to the diets of cats with inflammatory colitis may behelpful, and supplementation with folate or vitamin B12 should beprovided if an affected cat is deficient in these B vitamins.

Prognosis

IBD can often be controlled so that affected cats are healthy andcomfortable. However, even with proper management, symptomsmay come and go. Keeping the disease in check requires strictcompliance with dietary and medical therapies. Vigilant monitoringby the veterinarian and owner is also critical, so that relapses canbe assessed and the dosing of long-term medications can beadjusted.

Updated April 2018

Colitis in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

1. Rule out parasites

Your vet may want to rule out any parasitic cause for your cats colitis. They may recommend testing your cats faeces, or may suggest using an anti-parasitic medication (dewormer).

2. Treat infection

Some cases of colitis may be caused by bacterial infections, in which case your vet may prescribe a course of antibiotics. If your cats colitis is caused by a form of inflammatory bowel disease, they may also recommend anti-inflammatory medication.

3. Diet change

Many cases of colitis will clear up with a change in diet. Your vet may recommend what is known as a novel protein diet - with venison or rabbit as the protein source for example. Diets that are high in fibre can also be useful. When it comes to diet change, it is best to ask your vet for advice.

4. Reduced stress

If your cat is stressed, it would be best to identify the cause and try to help minimise their anxiety. Keep them occupied with games and try to ensure that they always feel safe and have access to a quiet place of their own where they can be by themselves.

How can we prevent colitis in cats?

Taking care of your cat and making sure youre doing the best you can in providing them with a good quality of life doesnt come easy. It takes time and effort and a good deal of love and affection as well. To decrease the chance that your cat will get colitis, here are a few things you can do:

• Keep your cat up to date with their vaccinations.
• Provide a high quality, balanced diet.
• Encourage proper hydration by providing fresh and clean water every day.
• Minimise stress by ensuring that they have a safe and calm home environment.
• Avoid giving them human food.
• Avoid any sudden changes in your cats diet.
• Provide a regular worming routine and flea treatments.

Colitis in cats can be easily managed if spotted early and if your cat is given the right treatment. If you want to find out more about feline digestive issues, check out our article on diarrhoea in cats next.

How to Tell If My Cat has a Fever: 10 Vet-Reviewed Signs

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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For us, its easy to tell if we have a fever by feeling our foreheads or using a thermometer. Unfortunately, its not as simple as a pet parent when you think your cat is sick and might have a fever. Its also important to note that the average temperature in cats isnt the same as the normal temperature in humans. A cats normal temperature runs between 100.4 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, how can you tell when a cat has a fever? There are a few likely signs to watch for. In the guide below, well discuss them and what you can do to reduce the fever.

How to Tell If Your Cat Has A Fever

1. Lack of Interest in Playing/Normal Behavior

One of the most common signs that your cat is sick and has a fever is a lack of interest in playing or participating in everyday activities. If your cats behavior changes drastically, they could be sick, have a fever, and need to be seen by a vet.

While there are many reasons a cat might not be acting normal, this is one of the signs to be on the lookout for if youre concerned that your cat might have a fever.

2. Lethargy

As with humans, a fever is your cats bodys way of fighting off an infection. Whether the infection is viral or bacterial, the body fights it by raising the cats internal body temperature by activating their immune system.

Having no energy and being lethargic are very common side effects of having a fever and are among the main signs that your cat has one and might need to see a vet as soon as possible.

3. Lack of Appetite

While a lack of appetite is a sign of several conditions, it is a common sign of a fever. If you find that your cat is refusing food, its best to make an appointment with your vet for a diagnosis and to get to the root of the problem.

Cats sometimes have days where they dont eat as much as on other days. However, if they refuse the food they usually love, it could be a cause concern.

4. Hiding or Staying Away from Others

As a pet parent, you already know that cats are, by nature, programmed to survive. So when they get sick, they go off on their own or hide from others so as not to be vulnerable to attack.

In the wild, cats are vulnerable to attack from larger predators when they are sick. If your cat is feeling bad, they may hide away from others until theyre feeling well again.

5. Grooming Decreases

Cats are very meticulous and clean animals, and if your cat stops grooming, something is wrong. Healthy cats can be seen grooming themselves quite often.

If you notice your cat isnt grooming, make an appointment with your vet to diagnose a possible underlying condition. Cats dont stop grooming themselves for no reason, and a fever will make them feel bad enough that they dont feel like it.

6. Breathing Rapidly

A cat that is breathing rapidly is a cause for concern, and you need to contact your vet for an appointment right away. The same goes for panting. If your cat is panting or breathing rapidly, they could have a fever or an underlying condition requiring quick medical attention.

If you cant get in touch with your vet right away, its best to take your cat to the emergency vet clinic instead, especially if your cat is mouth-breathing.

7. Shivering & Chills

Like humans, a cat that is shivering or has chills likely has a fever. It is a telltale sign that your cat is sick, and you need to take them to the veterinary clinic.

8. Rapid Heart Rate

A rapid heart rate and rapid breathing go hand in hand with a cat having a fever. A cats resting heart rate isnt the same as a humans; their heart rate should be between 120 to 160 beats a minute.

A fever can cause their heart rate to increase. If your cats resting heart rate gets to 240 beats a minute, its time to get them to an emergency vet immediately.

9. Drinking Less Often

Drinking water is as essential to a cats health as it is to a human. A fever can cause your cat to not only lose their appetite but to drink less often as well. Dehydration can easily and quickly set in, which can be dangerous for your pet.

Keep a close eye on your feline, and if they seem to be drinking fewer fluids, its time to contact a vet.

10. Temperature is 102.5 Degrees or Higher

One sign that your cat is sick with a fever is if the thermometer reads 102.5 degrees or higher when you check their temperature.A pediatric thermometer is the easiest way to check your cats temperature. The temperature should be taken in the rectum. If the cats temperature reaches over 106 degrees Fahrenheit, you must seek help immediately, as your cats organs can start shutting down at this high temperature.

These are just a few of the signs youll likely see if your cat has a temperature. In our guide below, well give you a few causes of fevers in cats and a little bit on how to care for your feline friend as they recover.

Causes of Fever in Cats

There are a few different reasons your cat might be suffering from a fever.

Well list a few of them for you below:

• Viral infections
• Bacterial infections
• Toxins or poisoning
• Cancers or tumors
• Injuries
• A metabolic disorder
• Fungal infections
• Parasites
• Environmental causes
• Autoimmune disorders

These are a few causes for your cat suffering from a fever. If your cat has a fever, its best to get in touch with your vet for an appointment just to be on the safe side.

How to Care for a Cat with a Fever

You should never give your cat medication for a fever. Cats dont need to take human medicine since it can make them even sicker. In fact, you should never give medication to your pet without getting your vets approval.

If you discover or suspect that your cat has a fever, your vet will help you devise a treatment plan, including making sure that your cat doesnt become dehydrated while its sick.

After the vet visit, the best thing you can do for your furry friend is to pamper them, let them sleep, and patiently wait for them to get better. Love also helps, so dont forget to give your cat plenty as they recover!

Conclusion

This concludes our guide on how to tell if your cat has a fever. Remember, if your cat does have a fever, there could be several causes for the underlying illness they might have. Its best to contact your vet to determine what the problem is and to get a treatment plan that works and will have your little feline friend feeling better in no time at all.

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Featured Image Credit: Suthin Saenontad, Shutterstock