Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to the condition that results when cells involved in inflammation and immune response are called into the lining of the GI tract, interfere with the ability of the bowel to contract and move food, causing the bowel’s function to be disrupted.
Several things can happen with a cat with IBD depending on the intestinal location of the infiltration – those being chronic vomiting, watery diarrhea with weight loss, or a mucous diarrhea with fresh blood.
Inflammatory bowel disease is probably the most common cause of chronic intestinal clinical signs, and a likely condition your veterinarian may consider when diagnosing an animal with a chronic problem with vomiting, diarrhea or both.