Diarrhea in Cats and Kittens
Diarrhea in cats is not a disease in itself but rather a symptom that
something is wrong with your cat or kitten's health. This could be a minor
problem or could signify a more serious illness.
Like humans, many cats or kittens may suffer from an acute bout
of diarrhea. The meaning of 'acute' is that it comes on suddenly but will not
last longer that a few days or maybe up to a week or so. If your cat or kitten
is well and is eating, playing and generally looking well and has no other
symptoms other than a loose
bowel motion every so often then there is probably no cause for immediate alarm. The cause may
well be a change in diet, or an increase in dairy products
such as milk. Cats and kittens should never be given cow's milk to drink as most
felines have a lactose intolerance. More reading on this
subject can be found here:
Should Cats or
Kittens drink Milk
Other causes could include food allergies, worm and parasitic infestation and
viral or bacterial infections.
If the diarrhea problem is chronic, (The definition of
'chronic' is
an illness that persists for a long period of time) or your cat
or kitten is showing signs of other symptoms such as the following then a visit
to your vet must be scheduled.
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If your cat or kitten has any of the following symptoms as well as diarrhea then
you should consult with your vet.
Fever
Pain
Vomiting
Blood in the diarrhea
Lethargy or depression
Weight Loss
Dehydration
Loss of appetite
Foul smelling diarrhea
Straining making bowel motion
Any other sign of illness
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Diet
What you feed your cat has a huge impact on the state of your
cat's poop. Many of the cheaper brands of
cat food are bulked out with vegetables and carbohydrates which pass straight
through your cat. A basic rule of thumb is 'If you put rubbish in then rubbish
will come out' Feed your cat the best quality food that you can afford.
Cats are carnivores and have certain dietary requirements.
More reading on this
dietary requirement of cats.
What can I do at home for diarrhea in kittens or cats
before calling the vet?
Withhold food (but not water) for 24 hours (12
hours for kittens) to give your cat's digestive system a rest. Then
feed him feed him a bland diet of 50% boiled rice and 50% chicken or 50/50
boiled rice and cooked hamburger for the next two to three
days. Do not feed any dairy products. If the diarrhea doesn't resolve seek advice from your vet.
Watch out for dehydration
A
lot of water is lost from the cat or kitten's system when passing frequent watery motions
so watch your cat for symptoms of dehydration. Sticky or dry gums can often
indicate dehydration. Your cat's gums should feel slippery and not sticky.
Check your cat's
hydration level by gently pinching up a bit of skin on your cat's back. When
released it should quickly return to its natural position. If the skin returns
slowly then this is a sign of dehydration.
Encourage your
cat
to drink plenty of water. If dehydrated, Lectade may be given.
Lectade is an oral re-hydration therapy for cats and dogs and can be used to reverse
the effects of dehydration and loss of electrolytes following diarrhea.
Bacterial Infections that cause diarrhea
in cats and kitten
Bacterial infections such as
Salmonella, E. coli, Clostridia and
Campylobacter are often found in
young cats or immuno-suppressed cats. The symptoms can range from mild to severe
diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, fever and vomiting.
Antibiotics are likely to be prescribed by your
vet and in more serious cases the cat may also require intravenous fluids and
supportive care.
Viral
infections
that cause diarrhea in cats and kittens
Cats are susceptible to a number of viral
infections. All of them include diarrhea as one of the symptoms. Your vet can
test your cat and offer advice and treatment for the following viral infections.
Panleukopenia (feline distemper)
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
Feline immuno-deficiency virus (FIV)
Feline corona virus (FCoV)
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
Worms
that cause diarrhea in cats and kittens
Roundworm
Symptoms include Diarrhea, weight loss, poor growth
Hookworm
Symptoms include Diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, pale
gums, dehydration,
anemia, swollen abdomen,
black and tarry stools
Read more on when and how to worm your cat or kitten
or
Can humans catch worms from cats?
Parasites
that cause diarrhea in cats and kittens
Coccidiosis
Diarrhea is the
main sign of coccidiosis.
Blood and mucous in the
diarrhea is a common symptom.
Coccidian parasites
are quite commonly found in the intestinal tracts of cats
however the the immune system of a healthy adult cat is usually
able to keep them under control. Kittens on the other hand do
not have a fully developed immune system and may suffer from the
effects of this parasite. Stress increases the effects. Stress
can be brought on by simple factors such as the kitten going to
a new home or having a new pet introduced to the environment.
More
reading about Stress in Cats Other illnesses such as
FIV can also can put a greater load on a kitten's immune system
thus making it more difficult for the kitten to combat the
coccidian parasite.
Your vet will prescribe Sulfa antibiotics. This
will not kill the organism but will keep it in check until your
kitten develops a good level of immunity.
Giardia
Symptoms include diarrhea with mucus and having a pale greasy appearance. The
diarrhea may be greenish or yellowish. There may also be blood in the
diarrhea There is usually a very bad odor
to the diarrhea. Other symptoms are weight loss, abdominal pain and vomiting.
Cryptosporidia
Cryptosporidia is a single cell parasite. It can cause diarrhea in
younger cats and those who are immuno-suppressed.
Tritrichomonas foetus
Tritrichomonas is a single cell protozoan which can cause diarrhea with
mucus and blood. An inflamed painful anus is also a symptom. Your vet may
prescribe
Ronidazole
Other Diseases or Conditions which can cause Diarrhea
in cats and kittens
Diet change
Blockage such as hairball or foreign object
Food intolerance or sensitivity
Toxins
Cancer
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease
Intestinal obstruction
Irritable bowel syndrome
Kidney disease
Liver disease
Diabetes mellitus
Hyperthyroidism
Pancreatitis
Fungal infections
Bowel Disease
As you can see there are many causes of diarrhea in cats and kittens. If
diarrhea persists you should seek advice from your vet.
This article is
for information purposes only and is in no way
intended to replace veterinary advice.
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