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Why cats get diarrhea
Diana Hutchinson is a pet lover- especially dogs and cats- and believes a home without a pet is just a house. For these reasons and others, she founded Tinpaw.com, a wonderful resource for keepers of companion animals everywhere. Pets in Omaha is glad to present this helpful information below thanks to Diana and her site. For more on feline health and many more topics relevant to pet ownership, click to above link!
Just like people, cats can get sick and have diarrhea too. Cat owners, like you, could also be wondering why.
If your cat is currently having diarrhea, you need to pay more attention to its litter box. While diarrhea is normal, there are emergency cases where you need to call the vet right away!
Alarming symptoms include:
- Blood in kitty’s poop
- Tarry or black stool
- Diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting
- Your kitty has fever, is dehydrated, lethargic or is suffering from pain
- Feline’s gums are yellow or pale
- You suspect your kitty ate something poisonous or toxic
In cases like this, do not give your cat any type of medicine unless directed by the vet. Now, let’s go into the causes of your cat’s diarrhea.
There are many reasons why your cat is pooping more than usual. We will cover the most common reasons in this post.
1. You changed your cat’s usual cat food.
When you change your cat’s food, diarrhea is normal. Transitioning to a new brand or flavor should always be done gradually so your cat won’t get sick. If you recently changed your cat’s food and there are no other symptoms present –the cat food might be to blame.
2. Your cat has a food allergy or sensitivity.
Cats are picky eaters and it’s not unusual to come across one which cannot tolerate certain ingredients. In fact, some brands have cat food for diarrhea which is designed for felines who are allergic to grains and similar ingredients.
Cats are allergic to different ingredients; some cannot tolerate grains while others suffer from diarrhea when they eat anything with milk.
Kristen from Friendly Claws advises us kitty caregivers with felines that are particularly picky eaters or have sensitive stomachs to opt for a special formula instead of just buying any run-of-the-mill option.
3. Your feline has worms
No one wishes to see their little pet looking miserable. When it comes to your feline family member, you simply cannot take any chance. There is a common misconception among many that cats do not need deworming (or, worming, technically speaking). However, nothing can be further from the truth.
Your cat, even the ones that stay indoors, can pick up a variety of worms through various means. In small kittens the worms can pass on from the mother through the milk. In adult cats an infected vermin can be the cause of them picking up worms. The worms that are found in cats and kittens are tapeworm, hookworm, roundworm, and heartworm. Deworming will take care of all types of worm that your pet is infected with.
Your cat needs deworming done at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age. Thereafter it is necessary to carry on the treatment every 3 months for effective treatment. Looking for the best over-the-counter deworming products? Best1x.com has a comprehensive product review post here that is exhaustive and will help you find the best options available.
Keep visiting your vet at regular intervals. It is important for your cat’s health. Some symptoms might be noticed by a vet that an untrained eye might never notice. Over the counter medicines are good, but only if you are certain of the issue AND if the medication you are administering is safe for animals.
4. Your cat ingested toxic materials.
Cats are curious creatures and when there’s something new to their sight, they will be attracted to it right away. That could prove to be harmful for them especially when they eat something.
Diarrhea can also be caused by poisonous plants and heavy metals. If your cat ingested either of the two, your cat might have abdominal pain. Your vet should provide the right treatment depending on what toxin your cat had contact with.
If you noticed your cat scavenging or eating garbage, it’s also likely that your unsupervised cat ate something that didn’t sit well with its stomach. In this case, withholding food and keeping kitty on a bland diet helps.
5. Your cat is stressed or anxious
When people have stage fright or they are scared of something, there are some who suffer from diarrhea. Cats can also react this way when they face a stressful situation. Vomiting might also be observed when this happens.
In this case, you need to increase the soluble fiber in your cat’s diet. You also need to provide a stress-free environment for your feline.
6. Diarrhea be caused by bacteria, viral or fungal infection
Diarrhea is also a symptom of an infection. This is often observed in felines that have not received their vaccinations yet. Young cats face the greatest danger in these circumstances.
The best person to prescribe the medication in the event of an infection is your vet.
What to Do When Kitty Has a Diarrhea
As a cat owner, you need to pay attention to your cat. If your cat is suffering from diarrhea pay attention to the color, appearance, odor, frequency, and the amount of kitty’s poop. This might sound gross but it could help your vet know what your cat is suffering from.
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