What Causes Kittens To Have Diarrhea

Why Cats Get Diarrhea

There can be many causes of diarrhea in cats. Typically, cats will vomit or have diarrhea due to:

• Eating something toxic or a foreign object
• Too many table scraps or fatty foods can upset your cat’s stomach
• Rapid food change
• Intussusception this is a type of intestinal blockage where one part of the intestines telescopes into itself
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Metabolic disease: kidney disease, pancreatitis, thyroid disease, diabetes, and others
• Viral, fungal, or bacterial infections
• Reaction to medications

When fecal matter moves through the intestines faster than normal, and there is decreased absorption of water, nutrients, and electrolytes, the result is diarrhea. It is a symptom of diseases or other issues like toxins, foreign body ingestion, etc., that affect the small intestines, large intestines, or other organs outside the gastrointestinal tract.

What Causes A Kitten To Have Diarrhea

Food allergies, overfeeding, or eating inedible items can also cause diarrhea in kittens. Items like bones, fabrics, or kitty litter can create intestinal blockages if swallowed. While a poor diet is one of the most common reasons kittens suffer from diarrhea, there are other possible causes as well.

Choosing To Feed Or Not To Feed Your Cat

There seems to be a divide on whether to feed a cat battling vomiting and diarrhea. But unfortunately, starving your cat may cause a life-threatening liver condition.

However, it is advised that you avoid feeding your cat for 24 hours if your cat experiences vomiting, diarrhea, or both.

Provide your cat with only clean drinking water for the period to allow the gut to rest. Feeding your kitten with vomiting and diarrhea issues could stimulate muscular contractions in the stomach, causing your kitten to vomit.

Note that if your kitten continues to vomit after 24 hours, you should see a vet as soon as possible.

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Helping An Outdoor Cat With Diarrhea

If you have an outdoor cat, monitoring their bathroom habits can be a challenge. If you suspect your cat has diarrhea, staining of fur on the back of their legs and rump, weight loss, signs of dehydration, etc, you will need to try and isolate them in an area with a large litter box or two. If your cat is used to pottying outside, you may have to use dirt instead of litter and be sure they have plenty of privacy.

All of this information helps you know what is normal and abnormal for your cat. It will alert you to problems sooner which may avoid a vet visit. These key pieces of information change in pooping habits, changes in poop color, firmness, amount, etc. are very valuable when providing information to your cats veterinarian. It may save you a lot of time and possibly eliminate a lot of extra testing.

How Serious Is Diarrhea In Cats

The seriousness of diarrhea depends on how long the diarrhea has persisted and how many other clinical signs your cat has. If your cat has severe, bloody diarrhea and/or is showing more generalized signs of illness such as weakness, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, or loss of appetite, the problem may be very serious and medical attention should be sought as soon as possible.

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Why You Should Use Extreme Caution With Imodium

Imodium is a synthetic opioid. All opioids are known to cause constipation. They work by slowing down gut motility which allows for more fluid and salts to be drawn back into the body system.

It should only be given under the guidance of a veterinarian. The use in cats is extremely controversial and should only be used with extreme caution.

Imodium, when administered at safe levels, is not helpful for pain and, therefore, will not relieve any abdominal discomfort your cat may have.

In some cases, it can cause extreme excitement in some cats. Additionally, it can cause respiratory suppression in some cats.

You should never give Imodium to your cat if:

What Home Remedy Can I Give My 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 like homecooked chicken and rice. You can also give your can probiotics that can be purchase over the counter. If this doesn’t work or if your cat is sick, then contact your local veterinarian.

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What Is Cat Diarrhea

Diarrhea is defined as stool that is softer, looser or more watery than it should be. Cats with diarrhea may defecate more frequently than usual, have accidents in the house, and may pass blood, mucus or even parasites in their feces.

Though most cases of cat diarrhea resolve in a matter of hours or days without intervention, cats who have it for more than a few days, or that show more severe signs , should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

It’s important to note that smaller cats and kittens with diarrhea are especially susceptible to dehydration, so they should always be evaluated by a vet.

Home Care For Cats With Diarrhoea

If your cat has mild diarrhoea but is seems otherwise fine , you might wish to try settling them at home with the advice below. Book an appointment if your cat gets worse or doesnt improve within 24 hours.

• Feed small, bland, frequent meals – there is no need to starve your cat – instead, offer them small, bland, regular meals such as boiled chicken or white fish . Alternatively, for convenience, your vet is likely to sell a tinned food specifically for upset stomachs. Dont feed anything rich or fatty and call your vet for advice if your cat refuses to eat.
• Plenty of water – cats with diarrhoea often drink more to replace what theyre losing in their diarrhoea. Make sure your cat has constant access to water and encourage them to drink throughout the day.
• Rest – your cat might need slightly more sleep than usual while they recover, so its important to allow them to rest. However, if they seem excessively tired, or just arent themselves, speak to your vet for advice.
• Probiotics – probiotics help to boost friendly gut bacteria and absorb toxins in the intestines. Probiotics have been shown to help some cats but not all, and can be bought at your vets and online.
• Gradually reintroduce their normal food – once your cat is passing solid poo you can start to slowly reintroduce their normal dietover a few days.

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Chronic Diarrhea In Cats

Causes of chronic diarrhea include:

• Resistant infections

• Poorly managed metabolic or endocrine disease

• Congenital disease

Chronic diarrhea is of particular concern because it can cause life-threatening complications. Long-lasting diarrhea that is resistant to treatment can often be multifactorial, with multiple treatments needed for complete resolution.

If no improvement is seen in your cats diarrhea within two to three days of initiating therapy, you should contact your veterinarian to check for potential complicating factors.

Sudden Change In Diet

A common cause of diarrhea in kittens. Young cats, in particular, are susceptible to dietary changes, so when you bring your new kitten home, find out from the breeder, or the previous owner what the kitten has been eating so far. He should continue to have the same diet, but if you would like to change to a different type or brand of food, you can do so, but introduce it gradually, over several days. On the first day 90% old food, 10% new food, second day 80% old food, 20% new food etc. This will slowly accustom your kitten to the new food without upsetting his tummy.

Treatment:

Switch back to the cats previous diet and then make dietary changes slowly by gradually increasing the new food and decreasing the old type.

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How Does Diarrhea Affect The Health Of A Cat

Diarrhea can make a cat feel unwell, and it can also cause serious problems in the body.

In addition to making a cat feel miserable and yucky, diarrhea causes lots of problems in lots of body systems in addition to the digestive system. Severe diarrhea causes dehydration and electrolyte imbalances that can negatively impact the cardiovascular system, the endocrine system, the musculoskeletal system, and a cats overall metabolism.

Furthermore, cats with chronic diarrhea can experience severe weight loss and litter box problems, such as defecating outside the litter box. This puts cats at risk of losing their home or even their life to euthanasia in severe cases.

Bacterial Causes Of Diarrhea

Diagnosis of bacterial-associated diarrhea in kittens is difficult for two reasons: the isolation rates for putative bacterial enteropathogens often are similar in diarrheic and nondiarrheic animals and the incidence of bacterial-associated diarrhea is extremely variable. Caution should be heeded in interpretation of the results of fecal ELISAs for C. perfringens enterotoxin and C. difficile toxin A and/or B in neonatal kittens because of the high incidence of positive ELISAs I*documented in apparently healthy kittens. The effects of C. difficile toxin A and B have been shown to be dependent on age in human beings and dogs, in whom high levels of toxins are detected in the feces of neonates in the absence of clinical signs of disease.42, 43 The reader is referred to Chapter 5 for a more detailed description of specific bacterial enteropathogens associated with diarrhea.

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How To Prevent Diarrhea In Kittens

Kittens will get an upset stomach from time to time, but there are some ways you can try to keep his diarrhea to a minimum.

• Feed your kitten food thats appropriate for his life stage, and dont change his diet too quickly. Anytime you want to switch him to a different food, mix the old and new foods together, and gradually add in more of the new food for at least one week.
• Vaccinate your kitten and put him on a parasite preventative medication.
• Ask your vet about giving your kitten cat probiotics with his food. Probiotics can help regulate his digestive system.
• Try to provide a schedule for your kitten. Cats like routine, so setting a regular feeding, playing and sleeping schedule can help him stay calm.

Kitten diarrhea can be pretty gross, but its not always a reason to panic. Just check your kitten for signs of illness. And remember, you can always take him to the vet if youre concerned.

Kitten Poop Color: What’s Normal And What’s Not

The color of a kitten’s poop can change depending on her diet. Anything that’s light brown to dark brown is normal, Demos says. However, poop that’s red, black, or green is concerning.

Also, blood in your kitten’s stool is definitely a sign something is wrong. Contact your veterinarian if the color of your cat’s stool is off or you see blood.

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Other Causes Of Kitten Diarrhea

• 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.

• Environmental Stress

Moving to a new home, getting new housemates and other environmental factors can cause diarrhea in kittens.

Veterinary Diagnosis And Treatment

Bring your kitten to the vet if his diarrhea continues for more than a day, or if you observe lethargy, vomiting, fever, dark-colored or bloody stools, straining to defecate, decreased appetite or unexplained weight loss.

Your veterinarian will examine your kitten for underlying illnesses and most likely take a stool sample to check for the presence of internal parasites, overgrowth of bacteria or other fecal abnormalities. Your veterinarian may also conduct blood work to identify other possible causes of the diarrhea.

Other diagnostic tests that might be recommended include X-rays, ultrasound, cultures, endoscopy and biopsy. The diagnostic tests performed and treatment recommended will depend on how the long the diarrhea has been present and the severity of your kittens condition.

If your kitten is dehydrated, supplemental fluids may be given either via intravenous or subcutaneous route. Giving fluids orally may not be sufficient to make up for the dehydration because the liquids pass through the kitten too rapidly to be properly absorbed. To detect dehydration, gently pinch the normally loose skin at the back of the neck. When a kitten is normally hydrated, the skin snaps right back down. If the pinched skin flattens slowly or remains tented, the kitten is dehydrated. If the kitten appears to be dehydrated, take him to your veterinarian right away.

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Food Allergies And Intolerances

Diarrhea can be a sign that your new kitten’s diet needs to be changed.

If your kitten has diarrhea or is vomiting after they eat, it can indicate that their system is not agreeing with a particular ingredient. Your vet can help you choose appropriate food for your kitten to ensure they’re getting all of the nutrients they need without causing GI upset.

Diarrhea can also be caused by your kitten consuming a non-food item.

Dealing With Kitten Diarrhea

Growing up, we never had fewer than eight cats, so I am very familiar with all their behaviors, as well as their physical ailments. One of those ailments is diarrhea. Ugh. Even kittens cant make diarrhea cute. Unfortunately, kittens can develop diarrhea for no apparent reason, and it may take detective work by both you and your veterinarian to determine the cause. As a veterinarian for more than 20 years, and chief of staff at Animal House of Chicago, I have treated many cases of diarrhea in kittens, cats in age from birth through 6 months. In my experience, the most common causes are dietary indiscretion , a sudden change in diet and parasites.

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How To Help Kittens With Diarrhea

TriageDonald Bramlage, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Former Director of Veterinary Services at Revival Animal Health Donald Bramlage, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, practiced veterinary medicine for 30+ years and is known for his work in managing parvovirus. He received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Kansas State University in 1985. He served as Revival’s Director of Veterinary Services from 2011 until his retirement in 2019.Amy Hanson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, is an associate veterinarian at the Cat Clinic of Lawrence in Lawrence, Kansas. She is a 2010 graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her special interests include felines, acupuncture and dentistry. Her hobbies include showing cats and she is a judge for the American Cat Fanciers Association .

Why Does My Kitten Have Diarrhea

Its actually pretty common for your kitten to have diarrhea. Kittens have sensitive stomachs, so lots of things can give them digestive problems.

A kittens digestive tract is very sensitive, and even minor changes in their environment can lead to diarrhea, Dr. Bonk told The Dodo. Changes in diet, including switching brands or flavors of cat food, can cause temporary diarrhea. So can the stress of moving to a new home, being weaned, vaccinations or adding additional animals to .

Certain medications, human food and cows milk can also cause diarrhea in cats. Many cats are lactose intolerant, so giving your kitten milk can upset his stomach.

Sometimes kitten diarrhea can be a sign of something more serious, though.

Diarrhea in kittens may also be due to internal parasites, food allergies or infections, Dr. Bonk said.

Your vet will take into account all of your cats symptoms in addition to diarrhea to determine whats wrong and the appropriate treatment. More concerning causes of diarrhea in kittens include:

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Know What Is Normal For Your Cat

Know or learn your cats regular routines and understand what is normal in her day-to-day activities. This is a critical part of making sure your cat stays healthy. It allows you to identify problems before they become advanced. When you scoop your cats litter box one or two times each day, you are helping your cat have a clean place to relieve itself, and you will be aware of your cats normal elimination behaviors. This will allow you to be able to recognize abnormalities early.

Managing Cat Diarrhea: Causes Symptoms & Treatment

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You’ve noticed while cleaning out your cat’s litter box that they’ve been having diarrhea lately, and you’re a little concerned. Millions of cat parents witness this same issue with their cats every year. Whether your cat’s version is the soft and gooey variety, the streaky bloody style or the unfortunately watery kind, you can be sure you’re not alone in your litter box observations.

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Supportive Care For Diarrhea

Treating the cause of diarrhea is essential to ending it. But regardless of the cause, you’ll also need to treat the most deadly symptom of diarrhea: dehydration. Dehydration happens quickly with kittens exhibiting diarrhea, and it can lead to a domino effect of medical issues.

One way to help address hydration in kittens with diarrhea is to provide an electrolyte solution in place of water. Rather than mix the kitten’s powder formula with water, you can switch to using unflavored Pedialyte.** Pedialyte contains an optimal balance of glucose and electrolytes that will help rehydrate the kitten and keep the muscles and organs functioning properly. Be sure to use a flavorless product and to keep it fresh according to the label’s instructions.

For more extreme cases, subcutaneous fluids may be advised. Ask your veterinarian if subcutaneous fluids are right for your kitten, and ask for training to administer fluids safely and in the right amount. In severe cases of dehydration, fluid therapy can save a life.

You may also consider getting the kitten on a probiotic to support GI health.

**Some people have concerns about zinc in Pedialyte. The amount of zinc in Pedialyte is nominal, making up a fraction of the daily suggested value, and is not of concern. Zinc is an essential mineral for cats and is only toxic when consumed in large quantities.