Introduction
Gastritis in cats is most often caused by eating spoiled meats or from food allergies. Cats can also experience gastritis if they are exposed to certain types of bacteria, and cats with weakened immune systems may also be more prone to gastritis. Gastritis can affect cats of all breeds and all ages.
Causes of Gastritis in Cats
Chronic Gastritis
Chronic gastritis in cats is a condition that causes periodic vomiting, and in some cases gel like stools or diarrhea. Cats can be prone to developing chronic gastritis if they have been exposed to certain types of bacteria, particularly bacteria from the Helicobacter genus. In many cases, chronic gastritis in cats is caused by food allergies. While cats have strong digestive systems, they can be allergic to dairy products, food preservatives, food colorings, and some types of meats.
Acute Gastritis
Acute gastritis in cats is a condition that causes severe vomiting to develop over a short period of time. This type of gastritis in cats is most often caused when cats eat spoiled meat, such as meat from the garbage or meat from a deceased animal. Acute gastritis in cats can also occur if a cat eats an undigestible object such as dental floss or a toy mouse.
Cats that are infected with viruses that weaken their immune system, such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, can often experience gastritis illnesses. Due to the cat’s weak immune system, viruses and bacteria that would normally be fought off affect the cat’s digestive system causing inflammation of the stomach tissues.