Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a relatively common disorder in cats. This is actually a group of conditions that are characterized by thickening of the large and/or small intestines.
The most common symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include gastrointestinal upset and severe pain. These symptoms may be mild at first and then increase over time. Younger cats may experience inflammatory bowel disease, but in the majority of cases middle aged to older cats are affected more severely by the disease.
The only test that can be used to accurately diagnose inflammatory bowel disease in cats is an intestinal biopsy. Additional tests may be used to exclude any other causes of the symptoms.