What are gastrointestinal and digestive disorders?

Any disorder that reduces the digestion or absorption of food, or alters its passage through the digestive tract, can be called a digestive disorder. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect a cat's stomach and intestines, resulting in pain and other problems. Efficient digestion is essential for your cat to be able to build and repair tissues and obtain energy.

Digestive disorders in cats are quite common and most clear up within a few days. But some cats need long-term management because they have regular or permanent digestive problems. GI disorders can lead, to dehydration, acid-base and electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition so it is important to recognize the signs and consult with your veterinarian.

What are the types and causes of digestive disorders?

There are many different types of digestive disorders. The causes of digestive disorders range from eating something other than cat food, to food intolerance or sensitivities, infections, or lack of digestive enzymes. Some cat breeds such as Sphynx, Rex and Ragdoll, are more prone to particular digestive problems. Your veterinarian may carry out tests to determine the exact cause of your cat’s GI problem.

Commonly diagnosed conditions include:

Acute gastroenteritis: An inflamed digestive tract, usually short-term. Causes may include eating rancid or spoiled food, swallowing foreign objects, eating toxic plants, internal parasites, stress, food allergies and some disease conditions.

Colitis: More common in cats under the age of 5, colitis causes inflammation of the large intestine that results in frequent, painful passing of feces. If your cat is experiencing colitis, it may contain mucus and blood. Most frequently, colitis is caused by tumors or polyps, a change in food, allergies (including those to food), swallowed foreign objects and certain other diseases.

Diarrhea: Caused by infections, internal parasites, stress, a change in cat food, table scraps or rich snacks, eating spoiled food from the garbage and body organ dysfunction.

Constipation: Usually caused by dehydration, insufficient fiber intake, ingesting hair or other foreign objects, aging, tumors, trauma or fractures, spinal cord disease, large bowel nervous disorders, metabolic or endocrine disorders and debilitation, and lack of exercise.

Pancreatitis: An inflammation or infection of the pancreas (an elongated, tapered gland that is located behind the stomach). Origins are frequently unknown. Potential causes are decreased blood flow (due to dehydration, or other disease processes) infections, disease or trauma.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Commonly associated with chronic inflammation and discomfort of a cat’s bowels, but is typically not directly linked to gastrointestinal disease. Some suspected causes include food intolerances and the ability of the cat food to effectively pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Mental distress can also be a contributing factor for this condition.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: This condition is characterized by weight loss, increased appetite and large amounts of soft feces. Chronic pancreatitis is the most common cause.