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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Cats
IBD refers to several diseases that cause chronic inflammation of the feline digestive system. In a cat with IBD, one or more organs may be affected simultaneously: the stomach, intestine, and large intestine.
Detected following a fibroscopy, the mucous membranes of the organs are “invaded” by inflammatory cells , and this inflammation leads to a thickening of the wall which can no longer play its role properly. In an advanced form, IBD can also be associated with pancreatitis and cholangitis (inflammation of the pancreas and bile ducts). This is called the feline triad .
The causes of IBD in cats are still unclear. It may be linked to an immune deregulation, the presence of antigens, an imbalance of the microbial flora or in rare cases to a food allergy.
One thing is certain: a cat with IBD cannot be cured of this pathology... But alongside medical treatment, it is possible to introduce a suitable diet to help your little cat live better with its illness.
Quels sont les symptômes de la MICI chez le chat ?
Let's start with a little feline anatomy. The cat's digestive system is made up of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum.
And among these organs, three play a major role: the stomach which performs ⅔ of digestion, the small intestine which allows in particular the absorption of essential nutrients (amino acids, fatty acids) and finally the large intestine. It is in the colon that the absorption of a large part of the electrolyte nutrients (sodium, potassium) and water takes place, leading to the elimination of fecal matter.
These digestive organs have a crucial function, but sometimes they no longer function properly, leading to digestive problems in our cats, such as vomiting , diarrhea or even constipation .
In most cases, these disorders are temporary, caused mainly by a sudden change in diet or an unsuitable diet. But in some cats , these digestive disorders become chronic , that is, they last over time. In particular, they may have diarrhea attacks for several weeks and repeatedly. For these cats, when ALL possible causes are ruled out (parasitic disease, tumor, hyperthyroidism, etc.), chronic inflammatory bowel disease or IBD may be suspected.
Ces organes digestifs ont une fonction déterminante, mais il arrive qu’ils ne fonctionnent plus correctement, entraînant ainsi des troubles digestifs chez nos chats, tels que des vomissements (son chat vomit souvent), une diarrhée chez le chat ou encore une constipation du chat.
Dans la plupart des cas, ces troubles sont passagers, causés principalement par un changement alimentaire brutal ou une alimentation inadaptée. Mais chez certains chats, ces troubles digestifs deviennent chroniques, c’est-à-dire qu’ils durent dans le temps. Ils peuvent notamment avoir des crises de diarrhées pendant plusieurs semaines et de manière répétée.
Pour ces chats, quand TOUTES les causes possibles sont écartées (maladie parasitaire, tumeur, hyperthyroïdie, etc.), une maladie inflammatoire chronique de l’intestin ou MICI peut être suspectée.
What diet for a cat with IBD?
First of all, we advise you to consult your veterinarian. Each cat is unique; your veterinarian will be able to provide personalized care, and above all, confirm or deny by means of several tests (blood test, X-ray, fibroscopy, etc.) that your cat does indeed have IBD.
Pate for good transit
IBD, kidney failure , diabetes ... Whatever the pathology our beloved cats suffer from, pâté is the food to favor for their health.
“ We now know that wet food is the food that comes closest to the natural needs of our cats ,” explains veterinarian Dr. Géraldine Blanchard, an expert in feline nutrition for over 25 years.
Unlike kibble, cat food allows our felines to maintain a good level of hydration. As a guide, kibble contains on average 10% water compared to 75% for pâté. Rich in water, they facilitate intestinal transit , while also preventing urinary and renal disorders, the risks of obesity and overweight which can lead to diabetes, renal failure, etc.
Be careful though, not all cat food is equal. Some wet foods are deficient in certain nutrients or minerals, contain poor quality proteins or are too rich in carbohydrates. To choose the best food for your cat, do not hesitate to consult our article (by clicking on the little pink link).
Starch-free pâté
For all the reasons mentioned above, pâté is preferable to kibble . But another argument tips the scales in its favor: its starch content. It does not contain any (especially Ziggy pâtés).
It is important to know that starch is a carbohydrate that is poorly tolerated by many cats, and daily and excessive consumption can disrupt their digestive system.
“For cats that are intolerant to starch or have a disturbance in their flora, it is worth trying a starch-free diet. We have cases where this has been very positive,” says Dr. Géraldine Blanchard.
Starch is necessarily present in dry foods , namely in kibble, and even in grain-free and/or gluten-free kibble, etc. Necessary for their manufacture, it acts as a glue; it allows the kibble to hold and have an airy and crispy texture. Without starch, it is not possible today to create a kibble. Which is not the case for pâtés! To make a pâté, starch is not essential.
That said, keep in mind that not all pâtés are necessarily starch-free. This carbohydrate is present in cereals, but also in starchy foods (potatoes, tapioca) and in legumes (lentils, chickpeas). Ingredients mainly used in industrial pâtés.
At Ziggy, we have chosen to keep it simple and healthy by not putting any cereals, starches or legumes in all our pâtés for cats and kittens. They do not contain starch to facilitate good digestion . The only carbohydrates present in our pâtés are those naturally provided by vegetables and animal proteins (noble offal and muscles).
“I recommend testing Ziggy pâtés for at least two months, and if all goes well, it will last for a long time” - Dr. Géraldine Blanchard.
A balanced fiber food
Fiber is a fundamental element of intestinal health. And your cat's diet must provide enough of it.
There are several types of fiber: soluble and insoluble fiber and fermentable and non-fermentable fiber.
Some non-fermentable fibers are interesting because they have a mechanical action on intestinal transit, such as psyllium, which has the ability to retain water and form a viscous gel in the digestive tract. It thus improves intestinal transit. As for fermentable fibers, they have an action on the microbial flora of the colon.
A balanced and diversified fiber intake is recommended to maintain a good microbial population. This applies to all cats, whether or not they have IBD.
Of course, the word “balanced” is emphasized. Too much non-fermentable fiber could cause diarrhea. Your cat should have enough fiber, but not too much.
At Ziggy, in addition to being starch-free and starch-free, our cat food is perfectly balanced in fiber so that your cat finds digestive comfort.
Note that the use of probiotics can also support the cat's intestinal microbiota. Some studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics in preventing diarrhea in cats and dogs.
Highly digestible quality proteins
Finally, your cat's food should always be rich in animal proteins , which are an essential nutrient for the digestive tract, microbiota and general health of the cat. Provided, however, that they are of high quality and highly digestible.
In some cat food, we do not find muscle or noble offal such as heart or liver, but reconstituted meat (mixture of vegetable and animal proteins) or mixtures of pieces of poor quality.
Having little nutritional interest, these proteins are not all digested in cats, and even less so in cats whose digestion is impaired. As specified in our article on flatulence in cats , when they reach the large intestine, they are fermented by the microbial flora present. Putrefied, they can thus cause gas, or even diarrhea.
For cats suffering from intestinal conditions, and even more so if they affect the large intestine or the colon, the intake of quality and highly digestible proteins is recommended. This is the case with all our Ziggy pâtés; real pieces of muscle and offal rich in quality proteins, highly assimilated by our cats.
Proteins are essential, but it should be noted that they can also potentially be a source of antigens against which the cat can react. Some cats can indeed develop an intolerance or allergy to certain proteins , such as beef, pork or chicken. “ But this is quite rare ,” emphasizes Dr. Géraldine Blanchard.
Only an elimination diet recommended by the veterinarian can confirm or deny an allergy - this consists of excluding a particular protein from the cat's diet for a few weeks - or by incorporating hypoallergenic foods into the kitty's bowl.
It should be noted that - contrary to popular belief - food allergies do not necessarily cause IBD.
Des Oméga 3 pour réduire l'inflammation
Enfin, pour votre chat souffrant d'une MICI, nous ne pouvons également que vous recommander de lui offrir notre Oméga Boost, une huile de poissons pour chat concentrée en Oméga 3 (EPA & DHA).
L'huile de poisson favorise la diminution des triglycérides potentiellement nocifs et de l'inflammation, ce qui peut aider à traiter les maladies inflammatoires de l'intestin et la pancréatite chez les chats.
