Moderate severity

Oesophagitis (Inflamed Food Pipe)

Inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus — the muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach — which makes swallowing painful and can, in bad cases, scar and narrow the pipe.

⚠️ Common symptoms

Painful swallowing, gulping, or repeated attempts to swallowRegurgitation of undigested food or frothy saliva (bringing it back up effortlessly, unlike active vomiting)Drooling and lip-lickingReluctance to eat despite seeming hungry, or crying when eatingExtending the neck or gagging after taking foodWeight loss if eating becomes too uncomfortable

Oesophagitis is inflammation of the oesophagus, the muscular tube that carries each mouthful from the throat down to the stomach. Unlike the stomach, this pipe has no thick protective lining to shrug off acid or rough handling, so when it becomes inflamed the result is genuine pain on swallowing — and because swallowing is unavoidable, an affected cat quickly becomes miserable and reluctant to eat.

The classic clue is regurgitation rather than vomiting. Vomiting is an active, heaving effort that brings up partly digested stomach contents; regurgitation is almost effortless, with undigested food or frothy saliva simply reappearing shortly after a meal. Alongside this, owners often notice gulping, repeated swallowing, drooling, lip-licking, or a cat that approaches its bowl keen to eat but then backs away as if the act of eating hurts — which it does.

The causes are worth knowing because several are preventable. Acid reflux is common, particularly after an anaesthetic, when the valve at the base of the oesophagus can relax and let stomach acid wash upward. Another well-recognised feline cause is a tablet or capsule that sticks on the way down: cats have a narrow oesophagus, and a "dry-swallowed" pill can lodge and dissolve against the lining, burning a sore patch. This is exactly why vets advise following any pill with a little food or a small syringe of water. Swallowed irritants, foreign objects and prolonged vomiting round out the list.

With prompt treatment — acid suppression, protective coating agents, soft frequent meals and time — most cats recover well. The danger of ignoring it is a stricture: repeated or severe inflammation can heal with scar tissue that narrows the pipe, so food struggles to pass and the problem becomes chronic and much harder to treat. The take-home for owners is simple: painful or repeated regurgitation deserves a vet visit, and giving pills with food or water is one of the easiest ways to prevent the problem in the first place.

🔍 Causes

The most common cause is stomach acid washing back up into the oesophagus, often after an anaesthetic or with persistent vomiting. Tablets or capsules that get stuck on the way down and dissolve against the lining — a well-known risk in cats given certain pills without a follow-up of food or water — can burn a sore patch. Swallowing something irritating or caustic, a lodged foreign object, or a bad bout of vomiting can all inflame the lining as well.

🛡 Prevention

Give any tablet or capsule with a little food or a small syringe of water afterwards to make sure it goes all the way to the stomach rather than sticking in the pipe — a simple habit that prevents a surprising number of cases. Keep caustic household chemicals well out of reach, treat vomiting promptly rather than letting it drag on, and mention any history of reflux before a planned anaesthetic so precautions can be taken.

💊 Treatment

Treatment centres on protecting and resting the inflamed lining while it heals. Vets commonly prescribe acid-suppressing medication to reduce further irritation, a coating agent (such as sucralfate) that forms a protective layer over sore spots, and a drug to improve the way the stomach empties so acid is less likely to wash back up. Feeding small, frequent meals of soft, low-fat food, and sometimes holding the cat upright after eating, gives the pipe a chance to recover. Severe cases may need a temporary feeding tube that bypasses the oesophagus. Any narrowing (a stricture) that develops may require a specialist procedure to gently stretch the pipe.

When to see a vet: See a vet if your cat repeatedly brings food back up, gulps or cries when swallowing, drools, or goes off its food, and especially if these signs follow a recent anaesthetic or a course of tablets. Painful swallowing is not something to wait out — untreated oesophagitis can scar and narrow the food pipe, which is far harder to fix than the original inflammation, and a cat that stops eating is at risk of serious secondary problems.

⚕️ Medical disclaimer

  • This information is educational only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
  • Symptoms overlap between conditions — only a vet can diagnose accurately.
  • Never withhold treatment or self-medicate based on information found online.
  • When in doubt, call your vet. Early intervention almost always leads to better outcomes.

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