Definition
Colitis is the medical term for inflammation of the colon, which is the lower or “large” part of the gastrointestinal tract between the cecum and the rectum. Feline colitis can be acute, episodic or chronic.
How Colitis Affects Cats
The colon is an essential part of the gastrointestinal tract and is responsible for the final stages of digestion, before the stool is eliminated. When the layers of tissue lining the colon are irritated and inflamed, the final phases of digestion are disrupted, causing the resulting stool to become loose, watery and tinged with fresh blood and greasy mucus. Cats with colitis tend to have bloody or slimy diarrhea, strain to defecate (with or without success), pass small amounts of feces unusually frequently and show an increased urgency to reach the litter box.
Causes of Colitis in Cats
Feline colitis can be caused by a number of things, generally characterized as primary infiltrative intestinal disorders (inflammatory bowel disease, cancer), infectious disease (internal parasites, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, other microorganisms) or primary medical conditions causing secondary colitis. Recently, Tritrichomonas foetus has been identified as a gastrointestinal pathogen in companion cats. This protozoal parasite can infect cats of any age, breed or gender but tends to occur most commonly in young cats kept in crowded conditions. Determining the cause of chronic colitis is critical to successful treatment. A number of diagnostic techniques are available to veterinarians.
Preventing Feline Colitis
Prevention of colitis in cats requires conscientious owners with good cat management. Cats should be de-wormed prophylactically in accordance with the attending veterinarian’s protocol. The occurrence of colitis is much less frequent in cats that avoid dietary indiscretion and are not free-roaming – in other words, house cats are less commonly affected than are cats allowed to roam freely outdoors. Dietary modification and management may be necessary to prevent future episodes of colitis in predisposed animals.
Special Notes
Acute colitis is common in cats and is usually very responsive to supportive care. The prognosis for affected felines is generally excellent, especially with elimination of underlying infectious or parasitic causes. Chronic colitis is also common in cats, and the prognosis depends upon the cause. Colonoscopy is critical for diagnosing most forms of chronic colitis. Dietary chronic colitis carries an excellent prognosis with appropriate dietary management.