<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Here's my professional take on it...(I am a veterinarian). No, cats haven't
been documented with celiac disease. However, wheat allergies have been
detected, as have allergies to many other additives that are in most cat
foods. Also, cats develop fibre-responsive (increase or decrease in fiibre)
bowel diseases, including granulomatous bowel disease, inflammatory bowel
disease, etc. I have also seen some cats with exocrine pancreatic
insuffisciency (this is an underproduction of the digestive enzymes
produced by the pancreas, leading to signs similar to those you describe)
that respond, at least temporarily, to dietary change. Ditto for
lymphosarcoma and other cancers, which are common in older cats. What
bloodwork was done (CBC, chem screen, lipase, TLI, thyroid panel,
b-12/folate levels, ) and what were the results? was an ultrasound done?
How about colonoscopy? What is the cats FeLV/FIV/FIP status? Any other
clinical signs? What was the old diet and what is the new one? what about
table food? Any other meds? If the diet is working at present for this cat,
by all means stick with it if you are unable or unwilling to pursue further
diagnostics at this time. A biopsy may be a future option, but to me it is
a last resort as biopsies in these cases are often unrewarding.

        PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I have said this before-we are very educated
on  the topic of celiac in human beings. DO NOT translate to human
medicine. The only equivalent to celiac in animals is a gluten-related
enteropathy documented in a line of Irish setters. While wheat allergies
may be present, this is not a snap diagnosis in animals. Feel free to email
directly for opinions, just give me some time to respond (I don't get to my
email every day).

>My sister's 13 year old cat is ill...he is loosing weight, is anemic, and
>had foul smelling frequent diarrhea..."nothing showed" on x ray, except an
>inflammation of the small intestine...I suggested to my sister that she
>check her cat food for gluten...it DID contain gluten and she has switched
>to a brand gluten free...the cat has gained weight and his litter box is
>much easier to live with...when she asked the vet, she was told that cats
>DO NOT get celiac disease...they want to operate...any suggestions?

The impossible is merely that which has not yet been accomplished!