Cat diarrhea can lead to dehydration and even death if left untreated!

On the other hand cat diarrhea can result from a simple upset stomach which resolves itself in no time! As cat owners, I would imagine we all have experience of this. It is a common aspect of the ups and downs of cat health, and thankfully there is often little to worry about.

But if cat diarrhea continues, it can become a serious cause for concern, and it can also be a symptom of an underlying disease. So we need to know when we should get them to the vet for some professional cat care.

Diarrhea means that your cat is passing loose, watery faeces. This means that it is loosing fluids, and along with that fluid, they are also loosing vital nutrients such as salts and sugars called 'electrolytes'.

This is why it is important to deal effectively with cat diarrhea. If it is allowed to continue, your cat can quickly become dangerously ill from dehydration. This is especially the case if your cat is not drinking water, or if it is vomiting at the same time.

Signs associated with cat diarrhea that we should watch out for:

• Frequently passing loose, watery faeces.
• Blood or mucus in the faeces.
• Faeces staining around bottom / cat keeps excessively cleaning around bottom.
• Bad smell.
• High fever.
• Change in appetite.
• Dehydration.
• Abdominal pain, tenderness or swelling
• Weight loss.
• Tiredness and lethargy.
• Vomiting, or any other signs of poor cat health.

What should I do if my cat has diarrhea?

Don't feed them any solid food for 24 hours from when you first suspect they are having diarrhea. (This is another reason to keep them indoors until they are well again, so you can prevent them from getting scraps of food from elsewhere that may be upsetting their stomachs).

Give them fresh water only. (Very important to help prevent dehydration).You are trying to give their digestive system a rest so it can recover from whatever upset it.

After 24 hours, you can then slowly start to re-introduce a bland diet. Try white meat only or plain fish. Give them only small amounts 4 to 6 times a day, but in total only about half of their usual daily amount.

If no further cat diarrhea occurs, you can then increase the food slowly. Continue in this way until your cat has been passing normal faeces for 48 hours or so.

If the diarrhea persists or returns, or if there are other symptoms present such as blood in the faeces, then get them to your vets promptly for a professional assessment. Always remember that it is better to be safe than sorry!

What possible causes are there for cat diarrhea?

A recent shock or stress can lead to an upset stomach as well, such as a change of home or a new pet or family member arriving.

Such causes will usually resolve themselves with time or have common sense remedies.

Other causes that need a trip to the vets include:

• Intestinal and stomach parasites or viruses
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Fungal or bacterial infections
• Hyperthyroidism or other hormonal disorder
• Disease of the pancreas
• Bowel or intestinal cancer
• Feline leukaemia virus
• Feline immunodeficiency virus

There are many others, so if the reason is not obvious and the diarrhea does not clear up quickly, always consult your vet.

How will my vet diagnose the correct cause of my cats diarrhea?

Your vet will do a physical examination of your cat including taking their temperature, feeling their abdomen for signs of tenderness and swelling, and looking for signs of dehydration. They will want to ask you lots of questions including:

• When did the cat diarrhea start and how often are they going to the toilet?
• What are you currently feeding your cat, and has their diet changed recently in any way?
• Does your cat show any signs of pain or straining when it goes to the toilet?
• Has there been any blood or mucus in the faeces?
• Has the cats appetite changed?
• Are they showing any other signs such as tiredness, weight loss, or vomiting?
• Are they on any medications including worming tablets and flea control?

Your vet may want to take a specimen of faeces for analysis or do some abdominal x-rays. Blood, thyroid, and other tests may be required and possibly even biopsies or exploratory surgery in serious cases.

What treatments might my vet give for cat diarrhea?

• Fluids and electrolytes replacement
• Anti-inflammatory drugs and medications to control the movement of the stomach and intestines
• Antibiotics
• Treatments for worms or other parasites
• Specially recommended diet

Any further treatment obviously depends on a correct diagnosis, so it is not really helpful to go into specifics here.

Important!

Watching out for cat diarrhea is an important part of cat care, and knowing what to do about it and when to take them to the vets will help ensure your pet remains a healthy and happy cat!

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Digestive Upsets is used for gas, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. It will also help relieve bad breath and repeated gas by cleansing the system. It will also work for cats who vomit 20 minutes after they eat their food, this condition is called starch intolerance.