Colitis in cats is a condition that occurs when the colon, also known as the large intestine, becomes irritated and inflamed. This type of condition can be classified as acute, episodic, or chronic.
Preventing colitis in cats, and preventing further attacks of colitis in a cat that has had the condition in the past, relies on pinpointing why the colitis occurred. Once the cause of the colitis is discovered, steps can be taken to keep the cat safe from the colitis causing factor.
The most common symptoms of colitis in cats involve changes in the stool and frequent trips to the litter box. These symptoms can appear suddenly if the colitis is acute, they can come and go if the colitis is episodic, or they can slowly appear and then become worse over a long period of time if the colitis is chronic.
When a cat becomes ill with colitis, they can experience acute colitis,
episodic colitis, or chronic colitis. The types of colitis are
distinguished by the severity of the symptoms and how frequently the
symptoms occur.
Diagnosis of colitis in cats is dependent on the cat’s symptoms in addition to an examination of the cat’s feces. In order to pinpoint the cause of the colitis, and eliminate any other possible cause of the symptoms, blood, urinalysis, and x-ray tests may also be performed.
Treatment options for colitis in cats depend on why the cat is experiencing colitis and on the severity of the symptoms. In some cases colitis can be cured through medications, and in other cases colitis can be controlled through medical treatments and dietary changes.