A survey conducted by Carus Animal Health at the International Cat Care World Feline Congress 2026 has highlighted concern among veterinary professionals that gastrointestinal inflammation may be under-recognised in cats presenting with subtle or intermittent clinical signs. Almost all respondents (97.6%) agreed that GI inflammation is sometimes missed in these cases. There was also unanimous agreement that early detection is important for improving clinical management and outcomes.
The findings reflect the particular challenges of feline medicine, where chronic gastrointestinal disease may present with vague signs such as intermittent vomiting, altered appetite, weight loss or changes in behaviour. These signs may be subtle, fluctuate over time or be normalised by owners, delaying recognition or investigation.
The survey also underlined how contextualised care influences the management of chronic feline GI cases. All respondents agreed that owner-related factors, including financial constraints or reluctance to pursue invasive diagnostics, play a role in decision-making. In this context, objective, non-invasive diagnostic tools may be particularly valuable, with 97.7% of respondents saying they would consider using a faecal biomarker test to support case management.
Lucy Williams BVSc MRCVS, Marketing and Veterinary Technical Services Manager at Carus Animal Health, said: "In many GI cases, vets are balancing clinical suspicion with the need to make practical decisions for the individual patient and owner. Having an objective marker of intestinal inflammation can help add clarity to that process."
The survey also identified a need for further education, with fewer than half of respondents (41.9%) saying they felt confident in their understanding of faecal biomarkers relevant to feline gastrointestinal health.
GIQuest, from Carus Animal Health, is a patient-side faecal calprotectin test that provides rapid, non-invasive insight into gastrointestinal inflammation in dogs and cats.
The survey findings will help inform Carus Animal Health’s ongoing education and research into feline gastrointestinal disease and point-of-care diagnostics.
To find out more about GIQuest, visit https://carusanimalhealth.com/giquest or contact Carus Animal Health at info@carusanimalhealth.com.
*Survey of 43 delegates at International Cat Care World Feline Congress 2026.
