Introduction
Gastritis in cats is a type of condition that occurs when the stomach becomes inflamed, irritated, and infected. As a result of gastritis, the cat’s stomach is unable to digest food properly. Gastritis can either occur in cats in an acute, or chronic, form.
Symptoms of Gastritis in Cats
Gastritis causes a number of gastrointestinal symptoms to appear, and cats with gastritis usually run a low fever. The most common signs of gastritis are vomiting, lack of appetite, drinking increased amounts of water, and lethargy. Most cats with gastritis vomit frothy bile, and in many cases there are flecks of blood in the vomit. Sometimes if the stomach begins to bleed, the cat can vomit up this blood and the vomit will look very similar to wet coffee grounds. Gastritis can also cause pain in the abdominal area.
Acute gastritis causes symptoms to appear suddenly. These symptoms can be severe, and they may increase drastically in a matter of hours. Chronic gastric is generally associated with more mild symptoms, but this condition can occur for a long period of time and possibly cause damage to the lining of the stomach.
Causes of Gastritis in Cats
Gastritis can occur from a variety of causes, and this condition can affect cats of all ages and breeds. In most cases gastritis is an uncomfortable condition for the cat, but it is only considered to be a medical threat in severe cases. Most cats respond well to treatments for the condition, and the majority of cases can be treated at home.