Other Causes Of Diarrhea In Cats
Diarrhea may be caused by certain types of metabolic disease and liver disease. Certain cats can be prone to Inflammatory Bowel Disease . These diseases are likely to produce ongoing signs and not respond to the usual therapies, so diarrhea that doesnt resolve within a reasonable timeframe should always be investigated further by your vet.
How Does Nutrition Relate To Diarrhea
We have all seen the Disney movies where the little kitten gets a bowl of milk. Maybe youve been tempted to give your cat some milk. Or even cream? Most of our little friends love it, but it is not a good idea to give cat milk or milk products like cream or yogurt. They cannot digest it, and it can cause diarrhea.
Some cats get diarrhea because theyre allergic. Food-intolerances are often seen in adult animals. In some cases, with on-going or recurring diarrhea being the main symptom. In these cases, cat food with hydrolyzed or novel proteins is recommendable.
Even if your cat is not allergic, changes in the cat food is often a part of the strategy alongside medication, in treating chronic diarrhea. In many cases, it will mean your cat needs to be on a prescribed diet for the rest of its life. However, these days, there are quite a few options, so even your picky cat can find something it will like.
What Causes Diarrhea In Cats
Diarrhea is caused by an osmotic problem, a gastrointestinal motility problem, a permeability problem, or a secretory problem. Osmotic diarrhea occurs when something causes the intestinal tract to absorb too much water into feces. Diarrhea associated with motility problems occurs when the intestines contract too much, or too little.
GI ulcers or leaky gut syndrome, can cause intestinal permeability problems that result in diarrhea. Secretory diarrhea occurs when the gastrointestinal tract is exposed to toxins from bacterial infections. Sometimes, a cat has more than one cause of diarrhea at the same time.
Common causes of diarrhea, all types, can include:
- Dietary indiscretion
- Feeding a new food to your cat
- Ingredient sensitivity
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal parasites, like coccidia, giardia, or roundworms
- Fungal infections, caused by eating old food that is contaminated by fungal spores
- Drugs or toxins
Diarrhea in cats can either be acute , chronic , or intermittent . Diarrhea is further classified into large bowel or small bowel diarrhea.
Large bowel diarrhea, seen in cats with colitis, involves straining to poop and small amounts of diarrhea that may have mucus or blood. Small bowel diarrhea involves larger amounts of feces, no straining, can be tarry, may cause a cat to lose weight. Both small bowel and large bowel diarrhea may cause loss of appetite.
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When Should I Be Concerned About My Cat’s Diarrhea
Most cats with acute diarrhea usually only have one episode of diarrhea, are fine afterwards and require no treatment. Causes for concern include chronic diarrhea that doesn’t resolve with treatment, bloody diarrhea, worms in stool, weight loss, loss of appetite for more than one day, or if your cat is lethargic or looks dehydrated .
Reducing Feline Cancer Risks
Its essential to incorporate practices that help reduce the risks of feline cancer for example, a good diet, exercise, low stress and avoidance of secondhand smoke, says Dr. Arteaga. Also, Be diligent about yearly vet appointments and biannual exams when a cat is older, as often, the disease will be caught earlier.
Always err on the side of safety and run past any new symptoms with your veterinarian. Early intervention is often key to effectively treating cancer in cats and improving their quality of life.
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Add Probiotics To Their Diet
Like other mammals, cats require many beneficial bacteria in their digestive system to help break down food. This is known as gut flora. Foods or supplements with probiotics can help cats restore natural gut flora levels if theyve been lost due to chronic or acute diarrhea.
As with any veterinary condition, youll need to keep an eye on your cat to ensure that their diarrhea is not serious. If its a fairly mild to moderate case and does not appear to be heavily chronic, then be sure you try one of the above remedies to naturally stop your cats diarrhea. Trust us when we say your cat will thank you!
How To Know When Diarrhea Is A Medical Emergency
When in doubt, call your vet or an emergency hospital for advice.
Questions? If you would like to speak with a veterinarian about your cat’s diarrhea,
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Other Causes Of Kitten Diarrhea
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Internal Parasites
Parasites such as roundworms and tapeworms can upset your kittens digestion and even stunt their growth. Your kitten should be dewormed at two weeks of age and again at two-week intervals until they reach 12 weeks. After that, kittens should be placed on a monthly anti-parasite product that is prescribed by a family veterinarian. This preventative treatment helps control intestinal parasites and fleas, which cause tapeworms.
Common bacterial infections include salmonella and campylobacter. Kittens can also contract viruses such as feline immunodeficiency virus, panleukopenia, feline leukemia virus and rotavirus.
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Environmental Stress
Moving to a new home, getting new housemates and other environmental factors can cause diarrhea in kittens.
What To Do If Your Cat Has Diarrhea
Assess your cat’s behavior. Do they appear to be feeling well or acting more tired than normal? Do they have a poor appetite or any other symptoms that stray from their norm? Are they also vomiting? If a case of cat diarrhea is an isolated incident that resolves spontaneously in less than a few hours and doesn’t involve other symptoms, it’s generally not treated as an emergency.
However, diarrhea over a prolonged period , as well as diarrhea accompanied by a significant change in demeanor or other signs, should be treated as an emergency and taken to their vet or vet hospital right away. Bright red blood or darker tarry stools are also considered an emergency.
Finally, note the diarrhea’s frequency and appearance so that you can mention it to a vet at the next regular visit.
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Change The Litter Box Regularly
This is a rare remedy but a good way to keep your pet clean and free from the pungent smell when going through diarrhea. To maintain your cats health is to change the litter box regularly and make sure you clean the litter box before you let your cat uses it. If you notice your cat has worms or blood in the stool, this where you have to take your cat to the vet. To fix your cats stool problems is to refer to the tips above and try to see if it works on your cat. If you prefer a self-cleaning litter box, you can find the best self-cleaning litter box available.
When Should I Call The Vet
When a cat has diarrhea for a longer period of time, it will lose a lot of fluids, which means it will also be losing important minerals and salts that are vital for its health. If your cat has diarrhea, it might be a serious problem which will require a visit to your veterinarian to thoroughly check the feline, determine the severity of the diarrhea and prescribe the best treatment.
Your veterinarian will ask you a series of questions to determine how severe the diarrhea is. It will be helpful for your veterinarian to know when the diarrhea started, how many bowel movements your cat has had, what they look like, and if your cat is uncomfortable. It is especially important that you call your veterinarian immediately if your cat has the following:
- Blood in the diarrhea or the stools are black or tarry
- Eaten something toxic or poisonous
- Fever, depression, or dehydration
- Still not received all his vaccinations
Do not give your cat any medications, including over-the-counter human medications unless advised by your veterinarian to do so.
How suddenly the symptoms appeared is also a good clue to what the cause of the diarrhea may be. If the symptoms appeared suddenly, the condition is called “acute”. If the symptoms remain over a long period of time , the diarrhea is called “chronic”. If the symptoms appear, go away, and then come back again over several weeks, the diarrhea is considered “intermittent.”
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What Is The Most Common Cause Of Diarrhea In Kittens
There are many possible causes of diarrheaâ some benign and transient and others severe and lasting. Here are the most common causes of diarrhea:
- Dietary Changes. When kittens are abruptly given new food, it can cause diarrhea. Before switching your catâs food, consult a vet and make the change gradually so that your kittenâs sensitive stomach can adapt to the new food.
- Stress. Stress and anxiety are common causes of kitten diarrhea. New kittens can get stressed and develop diarrhea when weaned off or taken into their new homes.
- Food Allergies. Cats can be allergic to specific foods, such as chicken, beef, or grains. In such cases, they will have diarrhea. A common kitten diarrhea trigger is milk .
- Internal Parasites. Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, Coccidia, and Giardia, and can cause digestive issues and stunt kitten growth. Regular deworming is an important part of kitten care.
- Infections. Bacterial infections or viral infections can also cause kitten diarrhea. Vaccinations help boost the immune system and protect kittens from certain bacteria and viruses.
Provide A Comfortable Environment For Rest & Recuperation
Sometimes, like us, cats just need some rest. Diarrhea can be tough on your cats system, and a stressful environment may make it worse. Put your cat in a safe, secure, and comfortable room thats free of loud noises and stressors. Give your cat plenty of cozy places to sleep, including a cardboard box, blankets, and a cat bed.
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What Is The Treatment For Kittens Who Have Diarrhea
There are several over-the-counter options for treating kitten diarrhea.
Vet Classics Pet-A-Lyte Oral Electrolyte Solution. This is a simple and affordable liquid solution designed to rehydrate young kittens, adult cats, and dogs that are experiencing fluid loss due to gastrointestinal illnesses.
This supplement was developed by a team of vets to offer a home remedy-style treatment backed by science. Store for up to 30 days in the fridge to combat chronic diarrhea. This safe solution can be added to a kittenâs diet daily until they have healed from their illness.
Vet Worthy Anti-Diarrhea for Cats. This effective liquid treatment helps provide relief for upset stomachs. Formulated by a vet team, this tasty formula provides relief for kitten diarrhea, stomach cramping, and gastrointestinal discomfort.
The supplement is very easy to give using an oral syringe. As an alternative, it can also be mixed with cat food.
Purina FortiFlora Cat Probiotic Powder Supplement. This supplement is perfect for cats of all ages. It can be used with cat food. For cats and young kittens with chronic diarrhea, this probiotic mix can provide quick and much-needed relief.
Not only does it resolve gastrointestinal issues, but it can also improve the general health of a catâs intestine. This flavorful formula is approved by vets and is ideal for lasting immune system support.
Treatments & How Nutrition Impacts Diarrhea
Treating diarrhea depends on its underlying cause. There are many available treatments for diarrhea that may be recommended by your vet depending on a variety of factors. However, nutrition plays a key role in managing this condition.
Nutrition plays a significant role in a healthy cat stool. Poor nutrition may lead to chronic diarrhea, so an assessment of your cat’s nutrition will be conducted by your vet. They may recommend switching cat foods as a course of treatment. A lower-fat food or food richer in complex carbohydrates and digestible complex carbohydrates with added fiber may be recommended.
Chronic cases of diarrhea are typically treated with special meal plans alongside medications. In many cases, your veterinarian will recommend nutritional therapy for the rest of the cat’s life to help maintain proper digestion for conditions that cannot be outright cured. Your vet may recommend a therapeutic cat food that is specially formulated to help with digestion and diarrhea. Many cases of chronic GI disease in cats respond well to a highly digestible food with added prebiotic fibers. This category of GI disease is called ‘food-responsive enteropathy.
In cases where food allergies are a concern, a series of nutritional trials may be necessary to determine the cat’s ideal meal plan. Hydrolyzed foods or novel protein foods are commonly recommended for these cats.
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Home Remedies For Diarrhea And Vomiting To Kittens
- pattyParticipant
i need help I have a 2mos old kitten with diarrhea and vomiting all her food. i took her to the vet and just gave her a new diet and antibiotic. she has appetite to eat but what bothers me is that she vomits and her poop is not really good. and i heard her stomach making sounds.what will happen if she just throwing up her new diet for intestinal problems and the antibiotic .i just need options to keep her going without getting dehydrated.
28 April, 2014 at 8:28 am#806804ButtonsModerator
Weve had this issue recently with another member.. The problem with prescribing antibiotics to young kittens is that as well as kill the bad bacteria it also kills good bacteria in to gut making it harder for kittens stomach to get back to normal.. Im assuming youve already wormed kitten.. If not this should be done to eliminate any parisite causing an issue..
Changing of food will almost always cause some stich upset.. You can use goats milk natural yogurt.. no cows milk product as this will cause an upset tummy.. Most cats are lactose intolerant so goats milk is the best to use..
This should help boost the good bacteria in the gut speeding up the healing process.. Also its high in L-lysine which really improves the over all health of kittens/cats..
Some people also suggest tinned pumpkin this helps with digestion too..
Finally eating a bland food can sometimes settle a stomach.
Unfortunately these are the joys of reusing kittens
28 April, 2014 at 1:18 pm#806822
Increase Or Decrease Fiber Intake
Consuming fiber is the most important nutrient in helping your cats digestive system. This tip depends on the level of fiber intake in your cats diet. If your cat has frequent production of stool, this is the time for your cat to take a low-fiber diet. The best way to consume a low-fiber diet is to look for cat foods that contain 3% of fiber. When looking for cat foods, make sure the product labels as cats with sensitive stomachs.
If your cat produces little stool, it is the sign of lack of fiber in its diet. To increase the fiber intake is to take laxative supplements. To use a high fiber diet is either to use Metamucil or canned pumpkin. These two ingredients are effective to relieve the number of stools. All you have to do is to feed your cat with either one of these intakes.
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Cook Boiled Chicken Breast With Boiled Rice
One of the best home remedies for cat diarrhea is to prepare a nutritious supper for her. All you have to do is boil a boneless chicken breast and season it with boiling rice. Then combine the two meals and feed your cat in little, regular portions throughout the day. To ensure that your cat receives the same quantity of nutrients every day, try to mix in an equal amount.
If your cat isnt a fan of chicken, cottage cheese, low-fat turkey, or beef can be substituted . To satisfy your cats hunger, make sure you cook the meals at the appropriate times. If your cat cant eat boiling rice, rice-based cat chow is an option.
What Can You Give A Cat For Diarrhea
Most cats with acute diarrhea usually only have one episode of diarrhea, are fine afterwards and require no treatment. Cats with mild diarrhea may be managed with only feeding a fat-restricted, easily digested food, either homecooked chicken and rice or a therapeutic diet until normal stools are seen.
If this doesn’t clear up the problem within a day, then your vet can prescribe probiotics that can be mixed into your cat’s food and antidiarrheal drugs.
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Cat Diarrhea: 5 Treatment Options You Should Try
What do you do when you find diarrhea in the litter boxor worse yet, when your cat doesnt quite make it to the litter box? An immediate call to the veterinarian might be in order, but sometimes you might want to try some home treatment first. Heres how to respond when your cat develops diarrhea.