Feline inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a serious problem for  cats.

Yet it is a newcomer to the list of health problems in cats. A few decades ago, it was rare. Which means it must be due to something that has happened to cats within that period.

One significant area of change is that veterinary treatment for cats has exploded as big business. Health care isn't just about supporting ailing cats anymore. It's big business, driven by industry.

That doesn't bode well for good health.

You can get hood winked into the so called 'wellness clinics' which are really just about adding in treatments your cat doesn't need, to make you dependent and part with hard earned dosh.

All under the guise of prevention.

However, the result is a toxic cat with a lowered immune system.

Another significant area of change is the food. Again, pet food has become big business. It's very easy to persuade people your product is superior by clever advertising.

However, it wasn't a change for the better. Quite the opposite. Instead of hunting their prey, cats are now fed kibble.

Feline irritable bowel disease affects the stomach and both the small and large intestines. The pancreas and the liver can also be affected.

Swelling occurs and damage to the organ walls, making absorption difficult. This leads to vomiting, diarrhoea, sometimes bloody stool, decreased appetite, so weight loss, and lethargy.

These symptoms can also occur in many other conditions, especially poisoning, as this is, in essence.

People don't consider that commercial cat food could be poisoning their cat, but it can and does.

First, consider the natural diet for our carnivorous cats.

Then look at the ingredients on the packet.

Is there a difference?

Does soy protein isolate sound like healthy cat food?

Or all the chemicals listed that preserve colour, flavour and attempt to address the nutritional shortfall?

Do wild cats have access to cookers, to cook their prey?

Are the prey that cats hunt and eat dry, like kibble?

The fact is that commercial cat food companies spend far more on the pretty packets and clever advertising than they ever do on the food itself.

It sounds rosy to the unsuspecting public when a claim such as 'fortified with added vitamins and minerals' is made.

You only ever have to add in nutrients when the contents are deficient. If the contents were real food, there would be no need.

The article below goes into more detail.

Veterinary treatment never looks at causes. Their only concern is the effect. That's how vets are trained. Condition X needs drug Y.

The big guns come out - the steroids, the cortisone. All these do is to mask the problem, and damage the effectiveness of the immune system.

They also damage organs, making for a shorter life. 

Even when the symptoms go away, it's temporary. Constant repeats are needed until finally the cat gives up. Death is a preferred option to this ongoing onslaught.

The very first thing to do is to change the diet to one very close to how they evolved - quality raw meat and bones. 

This is one thing that only you can do. That's your job. And an immensely important one because symptoms can reduce and your cat can feel better in a matter of days.

Don't go looking for DIY treatment until you've got this right. The internet abounds with supplements and treatments that promise results.

It's rather like getting treatment for headaches when you keep banging your head against the wall. You need to stop the head banging first.

In mild cases of feline inflammatory bowel disease, a change of diet may be all that is required to get your cat back to robust health.

In older or more serious cases, professional homeopathic treatment can complete the healing. Once healed, the problem will not return. Your cat will be in much better health than before.