Is your cat fed "people food" or does she have access to the garbage can? Does she have internal parasites, such as coccidia or hookworms? Does she have food sensitivities? Has she been diagnosed with feline leukemia, an immune disorder, a fungal infection, polyps, or tumors? If so, she may have colitis.
Colitis is an inflammation of the colon's mucous lining, which often results in painful diarrhea. The condition can be acute (a sudden, short bout), or chronic (long-term). If the condition appeared suddenly in response to a change in diet, try withholding food from your cat for 24 hours. Slowly return to feeding your cat her original diet, or gradually, over a 2-week period, introduce a new diet of bland, hypoallergenic food—strained-meat baby food (made without stomach-upsetting onions) is ideal. Vitamin A has been found to help certain types of colitis. To soothe your cat's colon lining, try giving her roasted carob powder (found at health-food stores) 3 times a day for 3 days. You also can treat your cat's diarrhea with activated charcoal, which helps absorb toxins, poisons and other irritating materials.
If the condition still doesn't improve, visit your vet, who will ask you for a thorough history of your cat's diet and her eating and elimination habits. To rule out a possible pre-existing condition that may have caused the colitis, he will perform a stool examination and perhaps a radiograph or endoscopic test. Testing for food allergies may also be advised.
If your cat does have colitis, the first step involves treating whatever underlying factor—if any—is causing the condition. For instance, diet induced colitis responds to a daily menu of high-fiber, regularity-promoting food or a hypoallergenic diet. Parasite-induced colitis can be cured by ridding your cat of internal pests. Colitis related to an immune system disorder is treatable with cortisone (although long-term treatment should use other less toxic anti-inflammatory remedies).
Preventive Tips
The diet-induced colitis can be prevented by feeding your cat a consistent high-fiber diet. Periodic stool checks can quickly uncover colitis caused by intestinal parasites (such as coccidia or hookworms), making treatment easier.