diarrhea in cats is a relatively common he alth problem, in fact, this stomach disorder can occur for different reasons: change of food, internal parasites, consumption of toxic plants… In any case, when we talk about diarrhea in baby cats or diarrhea in adult cats that does not stop in more than 24 hours, it will be essential to go to the veterinarian to find out what is happening and how it should be treated.
That's right, in no case will we medicate the cat with drugs for human use or drugs that are not prescribed for this specific he alth problem by our veterinarian, since the reasons for the alteration may be completely different from those that occurred previously and may seriously harm their he alth.
For all these reasons, in this article on our site we will talk in detail about diarrhea in cats: possible causes, symptoms that your pet will experience, the treatment to apply and some home remedies. Keep reading and learn how to take care of your cat right now!
Why does my cat have diarrhea?
Any alteration in the cat's diet can cause a stomach upset and this can cause the appearance of diarrhea and discomfort in the feline. Some of the most common Causes of diarrhea in cats are:
- Toxic food for cats: onions, chocolate or sausage can become toxic to a cat, so it is It is important that you know the prohibited foods for cats and that you avoid them completely.
- Plants harmful to your he alth: As with food, there are also some plants that are not good for cats (apple tree, poinsettia, eucalyptus, tulips, sago palm, ivy, etc.). If you discover that you have any of the toxic plants for cats in your house, do not hesitate and take measures to prevent your cat from accessing them.
- Food in bad condition: many cats tend to go to the garbage to eat leftover food and it may be that these are in bad condition Or they start to rot. In this case, the most common is to observe some vomiting, apart from the diarrhea itself, so we recommend you inspect your home.
- Changes in its diet: if you have changed the feed or you have introduced new foods into its diet, it is possible that the animal's stomach will not has assimilated well, so this may be a cause. Remember that the change of diet must be done gradually, mixing the food (and following certain percentages) for 7 or 10 days.
- Changes in their routine: Cats are creatures of habit so if you've moved house or introduced a new animal It is possible that he has been stressed and for this reason he has diarrhea. Observe your feline to see if it shows any of the typical symptoms of stress in cats.
- Viruses, parasites or bacteria: many pathologies cause the appearance of diarrhoea, although they are always accompanied by other symptoms. If you suspect that your cat may be sick, do not hesitate and go to the vet as soon as possible.
Whenever we observe the appearance of diarrhea in cats, it is highly advisable go to the vet to promptly detect any disease and be able to start treatment as soon as possible, thus improving the prognosis of our feline.
Diarrhea in baby cats
Puppy cats are very sensitive, especially up to four or five weeks of age, when the progressive weaning of mother's milk begins (or its commercial substitute), therefore, we must know that in the event of any anomaly, such as the appearance of diarrhea in the kitten, we will go to the vet urgently
At this sensitive stage, kittens can easily become dehydrated, leading to certain death if not treated promptly. So, if you see diarrhea in kittens, don't think about it for a second and visit a specialist quickly to find out what's happening and how to act to improve your he alth.
Symptoms of diarrhea in cats
Detecting diarrhea in cats is not particularly complicated, since the main symptom is liquid feces which can also be from Other colors. But this is not the only symptom that can determine that your cat has diarrhea, it may also experience other symptoms:
- Abundant flatulence
- Weightloss
- Anorexia (doesn't want to eat)
- Fever
- General discomfort
- Elusive attitude
- Aggressiveness
- Try to hide
- Nausea and vomiting
If you also notice the appearance blood in the cat's stool don't hesitate and go to the vet immediately, as it could be a internal bleeding. Remember that in no case can you medicate him, even if you think that will help him. By not knowing the type of diarrhea that the cat is suffering from and its true cause, giving it medication can cause the intestinal flora to become even more unbalanced and the diarrhea to worsen. It is important that if you want to give him any medication, you first have the opinion of a specialist.
My cat has diarrhoea, what do I do?
As soon as you detect diarrhea in your cat, the first thing you have to do is stop feeding it for at least 12 hours The fasting period is essential for the intestinal cells to regenerate and for the bacterial flora (which is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food) to develop properly. Keep in mind that the usual feed that we give to animals does not allow the flora to replenish itself, so we will not eliminate the imbalance.
During these 12 hours you cannot feed the animal but it is important that you give it water otherwise it could become dehydrated due to to diarrhea. When these hours have passed, you should gradually introduce foods into their diet, but we always have to follow the rules of a bland diet for cats with diarrhea so that the The cat's stomach is not affected. So the best ingredients you can give her are:
- Boiled chicken without bones, without s alt and without spices.
- Boiled white rice (never brown!) that does not contain s alt.
- Boiled potato without s alt.
- Boiled white fish and also without s alt.
During the 48 or 72 hours following the first diarrhoea, your cat will have to follow these soft diet premises and, little by little, you can give him new ingredients so that his stomach assimilates them. In addition, it is best to give it small portions and divide them into different doses a day, so digestion will be easier and your pet will feel better.
Afterward, you can start giving him his usual food, but always keeping in mind the basic premises for your cat to enjoy good digestive he alth.
Treatment of diarrhea in cats
If after fasting and introducing a bland diet your cat continues to have diarrhea or its condition worsens, do not wait, after a maximum of 24 hours, for a visit to the vet it is mandatory, so we advise you to go to the nearest veterinary clinic or hospital and explain to the specialist all the symptoms you may have observed, as well as the steps you have followed to try to improve your condition.
The professional will carry out the tests that he considers necessary to reach an accurate diagnosis and may include a urinalysis, a blood test blood or an ultrasound, for example. He can also prescribe the use of an internal dewormer, usually by pill, to help eliminate possible worms or parasites that may be causing the symptoms in the feline.
In other cases will prescribe the medication that he considers appropriate, always taking into account the cause that has caused the appearance of diarrhea in the cat. In the most serious cases, when the origin of the diarrhea is unknown or the cat presents very serious symptoms, especially in a case of diarrhea in kittens, you can also request hospitalizationof the feline.
Home remedies for diarrhea in cats
Below we suggest some foods that you can use as home remedies to treat and eliminate your cat's diarrhea:
- Foods rich in fiber: rice, oatmeal or bran are a good example of this. However, being carnivorous, cats do not usually accept these foods well, so we recommend you mash them together with boiled chicken or some fish. Offering foods rich in fiber is a good home remedy to help your cat solidify its stool.
- Natural yogurt: the bacteria present in the yogurt will help improve your cat's intestinal flora, so once the fasting you can supplement food by mixing it with yogurt. Of course, avoid those that contain sugar.
- Kéfir: Like yogurt, kefir is an excellent natural probiotic that will help your cat improve the intestinal flora that is altered. To offer it, use the same procedure: mix it with your diet food.
- Ginger: we can use ginger to treat digestive problems, as well as to stop vomiting. We will only need to boil and grind it, as if it were a spice to enrich your diet.
- Aloe vera: it is a product (and in turn food) with great qualities and properties, but among all of them we must highlight its powerful effect to treat diarrhea. You can buy this product directly at a he alth food store or get a plant and make aloe vera gel at home.
