What can I feed my cat with inflammatory bowel disease
7 Best Food for Cats with IBD Options to Soothe your Kittys Stomach
Food intolerances and sensitivities can potentially create serious problems for your cat. Food intolerances often result in irritated skin, poor coat conditions, and gastrointestinal upset. So it is important to find the best food for cats with ibd if your kitty has this issue.
If your cat suffers from health issues, like vomiting, diarrhea, or weight-loss, IBD may be the culprit. And if they are dealing with food intolerances, or health conditions, like IBD, its important to feed them the right cat food.
The right food means your cat can absorb essential nutrients, proteins, and vitamins to combat irritation and digestive issues.
Cats with IBD may be tricky to deal with and can cause stress on their owners, who might not know how to treat them. This list introduces some of the best foods for cats with IBD.
What is IBD?
Feline IBD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a syndrome, rather than a disease, and is common in cats. Its a condition induced by an inflamed and irritated gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
As well as being painful and uncomfortable for your feline friend, IBD thickens their GI in response to the irritation. When this happens, it becomes difficult for them to absorb nutrients and move food along.
What Causes IBD?
Inflammation is a reaction to changes in food, insult, injuries, or foreign substances. And depending on the type of IBD, different intestinal cells are affected. This is why it may be quite tricky to determine what is causing your kittys upset tummy.
At the moment, there isnt an exact cause of IBD. But evidence suggests that it relates to the bacterial population in the intestines, diet, the immune system, and several environmental factors.
IBD generally doesnt occur in younger cats. Rather, cats aged 5-12 are commonly diagnosed with the condition.
Possible causes:
- Bacterial infections
- Parasitic infection, such as worms
- Allergy or intolerance to proteins that are commonly found in cat foods
Signs of IBD and Diagnosis
Vomiting, weight-loss, chronic diarrhea, and poor appetite are common signs of IBD.
When diagnosing a cat with IBD, extensive tests and evaluations are done. The process needs to be done efficiently because many prevailing symptoms can relate to other health issues that cats often face.
7 Best Food for Cats with IBD Options
One of the first steps to treating IBD is dietary modifications and various medications. This is, of course, based on the recommendation of a vet or specialist. Many IBD foods require a prescription.
Below is a list of the best foods to feed your kitty if they suffer from IBD, or food sensitivities and intolerances.
1. Hills Prescription Diet Feline z/d for Skin/Food Sensitivities
Cats react to certain types of proteins found within popular ranges of cat foods. And while these proteins are rich in health properties, some cats react badly to them.
The Hills Prescription food sensitivities product has been developed to manage diet sensitivity, as well as aid in reducing the possibility of adverse food reactions. It is formulated with proteins and nutrients with low allergens.
Such as single animal-source protein, which minimizes the chances of adverse food reactions and prevents harmful conditions.
The food targets many health problems prominent in cats, such as IBD and gastrointestinal disease. With high levels of essential fatty acids, this product also nourishes your cats skin and coat, to prevent skin conditions that may arise with IBD.
Shop USA Hills Prescription Diet Feline z/d for Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Food / Wet Food
Shop UK Hills Prescription Diet Feline z/d for Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Food
2. Dr. Elseys Cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Dr. Elseys grain-free dry cat food is formulated with natural proteins found in cats wild-caught prey. With this natural design, the food removes all of the added proteins and allergens found in common retail cat food produce.
With high-quality ingredients, including chicken as the main ingredient and healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, your kitty will be left feeling active and happy. The fatty acids also play an important role in keeping the gut healthy and aiding in healing.
Many cats who suffer from IBD show remarkable weight loss and a lack of appetite. The fact that this grain-free food is made up of 90% protein means your kitty can maintain healthy body weight.
Shop USA Dr. Elseys Cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
3. Royal Canins Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Adult PR Dry Cat Food
Royal Canins selected protein food is specifically designed for our feline friends who dont do well with food composed of foreign substances. Their food is made up of high-quality, novel products that are rarely associated with food allergies.
The highly palatable wet and dry cat food is crafted with natural proteins found in rabbits and peas. This means your kitty is getting a well-balanced diet of protein and fiber.
The added fiber helps proteins move slowly through their digestive tract, promoting nutrient absorption.
This is another great IBD-related food product that contains fatty acids that aid in healthy skin and coats. The added fatty acids soothe itching skin, hair loss, and overall skin sensitivity which is brought on by an irritated gut.
Shop USA Royal Canins Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Adult Dry Food / Wet Food
4. Stella & Chewys Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
Stella & Chewys has designed their cat food with the philosophy of including all the goodness that cats got in the wild before they were domesticated. The food features only the healthiest, yummiest ingredients to prevent your pet from suffering from IBD.
Containing no grains or gluten, a common allergen, this product is made with up to 98% cage-free poultry, like wild-caught fish and chicken. The protein provides optimal energy sources, which improves appetite and is free from allergens.
Given that the food is free-dried, it retains optimal nutrients that you would find in raw food. This food can be served in either dry or wet form. For picky kitties, rehydrate the food with warm water to soften it.
Shop USA Stella & Chewys Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Cat Food
This Blue Buffalo Wilderness salmon recipe is ideal for cats suffering from IBS and showing symptoms such as vomiting, weight-loss, bloody stools, and diarrhea.
The wholesome ingredients of salmon, sweet potatoes and peas, do not contain any added preservatives or artificial flavors that may irritate.
The prebiotic fibers and probiotics derived from whole foods aid in healthy digestion, which prevents diarrhea and vomiting. While protein aids in healthy muscle growth and development.
With a unique blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and superfoods, when eating this cat ibd food your feline will not only be avoiding artificial ingredients, but theyll also be strengthening their immune systems.
Shop USA Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food / Wet Food
6. Royal Canin Sensitivity Control Adult Dry Cat Food
This Royal Canin sensitivity control cat food for ibd provides the perfect support for cats who suffer from food hypersensitivity needs. The sensitivity food is composed of carefully selected protein sources, to help reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
Just because your cat suffers from IBD doesnt mean they should miss out on pet foods healthy fatty acids and nutrients. This lactose- and gluten-free product includes a balanced variety of nutrients to cultivate healthy bacteria for their digestive system.
While IBD causes internal irritation, cats often suffer from skin irritation as a secondary result. With added biotin, niacin, and zinc, your cats skin will be strengthened to help protect them from external irritants.
Shop UK Royal Canin Sensitivity Control Adult Dry Cat Food
7. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Feline Formula Cat Food
An important factor when dealing with kitties who suffer from IBD and other gastroenteritis problems is keeping their food as natural as possible. This Purina Pro Plan food is specifically formulated for cats dealing with gastrointestinal conditions while maintaining an excellent taste for your cat to enjoy.
The high-protein meals are energy-dense and digestible. This means that your cat can absorb all the nutrients found within the food, but also allows for food to pass easily.
Shop USA Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Feline Formula Dry Cat Food / Wet Food
Shop UK Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Feline Formula Dry Cat Food
To Conclude, the Best Cat Food for IBD
IBD is a common disease that many cats suffer from. And while its essential to seek medical advice and the right medication, your cats food can play an enormous role in easing the symptoms.
The right ibd cat food can help absorb nutrients, prevent allergic reactions, and deliver healthy proteins to strengthen your cat. They can also maintain a healthy weight, keep your kitty active, and support their immune systems.
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Please Note: This best food for cats with IBD post contains affiliate links. That means if you click through on most of the links and end up making a purchase I will receive a small commission. This will not effect the price that you pay. I wanted to make sure that you were aware of this.
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Amanda created and owns The Discerning Cat. A lifelong cat lover she is the proud parent of two Siberian cats, Alexei and Vladimir. She is passionate about understanding cats and different cat breeds.
IBD in Cats: What You Need to Know
Has your cat been diagnosed with colitis? Does your cat occasionally vomit or have diarrhea? Have you been to the veterinarian more than once for these problems? Colitis in cats is a common problem, and if your cat struggles with chronic diarrhea and/or vomiting, then inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD in cats, could be the culprit.
IBD is described as a chronic inflammatory condition of the gut, and it's one of the causes of colitis in cats. IBD can affect different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, and the location determines what the disease is called. If it affects the stomach it, is called gastritis; if it affects the small intestines, it is called enteritis; and if it affects the colon, it is called colitis. In IBD, inflammatory cells infiltrate the walls of the intestines and interfere with normal digestion. The cause of IBD in cats is still unknown, but it is postulated that IBD in cats is the result of a complex interaction among diet, the immune system and the microbiome which is the bacterial population in the gut.
How Is IBD in Cats Different From IBS?
IBD is considered an autoimmune condition and differs from stress colitis in cats, which is sometimes called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD results from inflammation in the gut and can arise from a number of conditions that may be associated with autoimmune problems. In contrast, IBS results from stress and often causes a spastic colon that produces diarrhea. IBS is controlled by stress management, while IBD is managed by nutritional therapy and medication.
What are the Symptoms of IBD in Cats?
Signs of IBD in companion animals include diarrhea, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy and/or changes in appetite. IBD in cats often manifests as increased appetite and large amounts of diarrhea. However, a cat might also experience a decreased appetite in which weight loss is common.
How Is IBD in Cats Diagnosed?
IBD is first determined through exclusion, which means that other causes of vomiting and diarrhea are first ruled out. Your vet will likely ask for your permission to run laboratory tests, including blood work, urine analysis, fecal analysis, and a gastrointestinal panel. These tests are intended to rule out many diseases that can have the same symptoms as those of IBD, such as chronic pancreatitis, intestinal parasites, food responsive enteropathies, intestinal dysbiosis, etc.
If all these tests come back negative, then it's time to examine the intestines themselves. Your vet may recommend an abdominal ultrasound and/or a biopsy of the small intestine. A biopsy is the only way to definitively diagnose IBD; follow your vet's recommendations for additional testing.
Treatment for IBD in Cats
Treatment for IBD consists of a combination of medication and nutritional therapy. The importance of nutritional therapy in cats with IBD cannot be stressed enough. According to veterinary internal medicine specialist Craig Ruaux, BVSc (Hons), PhD, MACVSc, DACVIM-SA, 60% of cats with chronic GI disease improve with nutritional therapy alone and don't require steroids. Cats with IBD can truly benefit from a therapeutic meal plan prescribed by your vet; over-the-counter food is not appropriate for cats with IBD.
A low-fat novel protein, hydrolyzed protein or special dietary fiber meal may be recommended. You can purchase this food online with vet approval or directly from your vet. Be sure to ask if one of Hill's Prescription Diet cat foods might be an option for your cat. If a therapeutic meal plan is recommended for your cat, your cat shouldn't eat anything else especially during a meal plan trial so that your vet can assess the success or failure of the meal plan for managing IBD symptoms.
If your cat is diagnosed deficient in cobalamin (vitamin B12) and/or folate (another B vitamin), which many cats with IBD are, then these vitamin supplements are prescribed. IBD is often accompanied by unhealthy alterations in the gut microbiome, contributing to poor gut health. The guts of cats with IBD often contain too many of the bad bacteria (those that cause disease) and not enough of the more beneficial, symbiotic bacteria that aid in digestion. In these cases, a probiotic and/or a specialized prebiotic fiber-containing food is likely to be recommended. In severe cases or cases that don't respond to nutritional therapy alone, steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs may be prescribed.
It's important to note that many chronic feline GI diseases, including IBD, cannot be cured, but they can be managed. Additionally, diagnosing IBD in cats and treating the condition can involve trial and error, especially in cats that have more than one gut challenge. It takes time and testing to find the root cause, and it is important to communicate regularly with your veterinary care team, especially if treatment isn't working. By working with your veterinary care team, you can minimize the effect of the disease on your and your cat's quality of life.
Contributor Bio
Dr. Sarah Wooten
Dr. Sarah Wooten graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. A member of the American Society of Veterinary Journalists, Dr. Wooten divides her professional time between small animal practice in Greeley, Colorado, public speaking on associate issues, leadership, and client communication, and writing. She enjoys camping with her family, skiing, SCUBA, and participating in triathlons.
