Cat Diarrhea and What to Do About It

Like humans, cats can experience diarrhea and other problems with their digestive systems. This article will discuss what causes diarrhea and how to stop diarrhea from harming your cat.

Diarrhea is identified through frequent liquid or loose bowel movements. This is the pet’s natural response to remove harmful substances from the body, although it may have other causes as well. It can simply be caused by using new cat food, or it could be caused by something more serious.

Diarrhea usually resolves itself after one or two days, although some severe cases can last for months. Short and infrequent bouts of diarrhea aren’t a cause for alarm but chronic diarrhea may cause dehydration to your pets.

Causes of Cat Diarrhea

Cat diarrhea can be caused by food, medications and other irritants. A sudden change in diet can produce the ailment since your cat’s body isn’t used to the new cat food yet. Spoiled food that wasn’t removed properly may be accidentally eaten by your pet. The cat’s digestive system may not handle dairy products well which can result in diarrhea. Allergies caused by plants and food can also trigger diarrhea in some cases. Your cats may also ingest their own hairballs which can irritate their digestive tracts. If your cat is undergoing medical treatment, then see if diarrhea is known as a side effect of your pet’s medication.

You can easily address mild diarrhea. Your cat should only drink water and not eat any food for twenty-four hours to give the digestive system a break and help it flush any toxin out of your cat’s body. Kittens may only need to undergo a twelve-hour fast instead. After that time, you should limit your cat to eating only soft cat foods for a few days.

You should also write a list of the food items that your cat has eaten before the onset of diarrhea to identify the cause. If your cat travels outdoors then check your backyard to see if it has nibbled on any irritating or toxic plants. You should also see if your cat was stressed by events such as moving to a new home.

There are also certain diseases that are related to diarrhea. Bacteria, viruses and certain internal parasites such as roundworms, Giardia and Coccidia may cause the ailment. Kidney, colitis, liver problems, and tumors in the digestive tract are also associated with chronic diarrhea. Hormone problems such as hyperthyroidism may also trigger cat diarrhea.

However, more severe diarrhea should be quickly reported to your veterinarian. If your pet has very loose, or even "explosive" diarrhea, then it should be quickly rushed to the vet. Bloody stools, vomiting, and loss of appetite should also be a concern.

Preventing Cat Diarrhea

Simple habits can prevent the onset of the disease. Managing what your cat is eating greatly reduces the risk of diarrhea. Regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls so that old and spoiled food won’t mix with the new ones. Contrary to what cartoons show, milk and dairy products shouldn’t be given to your cats, especially older ones since they lack the necessary enzymes to digest the lactose found in these products. The lactose won’t just give your pet diarrhea but also uncomfortable and smelly gas.

If you are planning to use a new brand of cat food, then introduce it to your cat’s diet in small amounts at first. Your cat’s digestive system will start getting used to the new brand and won't act up when you finally remove the old cat food from your pet’s diet. You should also regularly have your pet groomed to prevent hairballs from clogging up and irritating their digestive tracts. This is especially crucial for long-haired cats.

Ali is the creator of FortunateCat, a blog about proper feline care and nutrition.