Cat diarrhea can be a symptom of something as common as a dietary change or as serious as an underlying health condition. It’s important to know that this condition can be more serious than just being messy; hence, it should not be taken lightly.

In this blog, we’ll break down this health condition, from the different types, causes, and symptoms to the diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea in cats. Moreover, we have also included practical measures to prevent cat diarrhea and keep your feline friend healthy and purring.

Let’s get started!

What is Cat Diarrhea?

Diarrhea in cats is a condition in which your cat experiences a loose or poorly formed bowel movement. The stool consistency may vary from soft to completely liquid and it can be abnormally colored with a foul odor. This happens when fecal material moves so quickly through the cat’s digestive system that the water and nutrients are not absorbed by the body. This leads to runny, loose stool, resulting in cat diarrhea.

Diarrhea is also a common symptom of several diseases and health conditions, making it absolutely crucial to get it checked. Therefore, if the condition is not self-resolved by the cat’s immune system in 24-48 hours, consider veterinary assistance immediately.

What are the Types of Diarrhea in Cats?

Before we move forward to the causes of cat diarrhea, let’s understand the various types.

Red or bloody diarrhea

Bloody diarrhea is concerning, as it indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Typically, the stool is dark red in color. If it’s bright red, it’s a sign of lower intestinal tract bleeding from the colon or rectum. However, if you notice the feces covered with mucus, it’s probably due to inflammation in the digestive system.

Yellow or green diarrhea

Discoloration of feces is not always alarming, as it can be due to something your cat recently ate. For instance, it can be green because of veggies or something green your feline had the previous day. However, yellow feces can be related to liver disease, bacterial overgrowth, or zinc poisoning and call for prompt veterinary attention.

What are the Common Causes of Cat Diarrhea?

Cat diarrhea can be acute or chronic, which is determined by the severity and duration of diarrhea.

Acute diarrhea is when the diarrhea happens suddenly and doesn’t last for more than about 2 weeks. It usually gets better with the body’s natural healing mechanisms or with conservative treatment.

Chronic diarrhea is when the diarrhea lasts more than 2–3 weeks. The cat will need to be properly diagnosed or even hospitalized for long-term treatment.

Causes of acute and chronic diarrhea are different. Let’s understand them in the segment.

Causes of acute diarrhea

  • Infectious (parasitic, protozoal, bacterial, fungal, or viral infections)
  • Inflammatory (food allergies)
  • Metabolic or endocrine (diabetes or hyperthyroidism)
  • Cancerous (tumors of the GI tract)
  • Obstructive (physical blockages in the intestines)
  • Poisonous/toxic
  • New food or treats

Causes of chronic diarrhea

  • Resistant infections
  • Chronic inflammatory disease (long-term inflammation due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD))
  • Poorly managed metabolic or endocrine disease (not controlled diabetes or hyperthyroidism)
  • Congenital disease (defect or virus present at birth)
  • Cancer

What are the Common Signs of Cat Diarrhea?

Look out for the following signs to identify diarrhea in cats and get them the help they need:

  • Struggling to defecate
  • Loose or liquid stool consistency
  • Blood or mucus in stool
  • Increased amount or frequency of bowel movements
  • Urgency to defecate
  • Abnormally colored stool
  • Gas/flatulence
  • Cramping or abdominal pain
  • Abdominal bloating or swelling

Along with these signs, if your cat vomits, it can indicate other serious conditions such as infections, different types of allergies in cats, or kidney disease. So if you notice some or all of these signs, take your cat to the vet.

Diagnosis of Cat Diarrhea

The diagnosis begins with a physical examination and an inquiry about the symptoms. For further diagnosis, the vet will run some fecal tests, including antigen tests, fecal flotation, cytology, or culturing to screen for infectious or inflammatory disease.

They may take blood tests to find the fundamental cause of diarrhea. Plus, abdominal ultrasound, radiology, and endoscopy can be used to check for foreign body ingestion or cancer.

Treatment of Diarrhea in Cats

Here are a few steps you can take at home to help relieve the condition if they’re experiencing mild diarrhea:

Stop feeding the cat: Put feeding on hold for a short period, as it’ll give the gut some time to settle. However, don’t do this for more than 24 hours, and reintroduce food slowly in small amounts.

Hydration: With diarrhea, your cat loses a lot of liquid, so make sure you provide them with fresh drinking water to help restore lost fluids. You can also add an electrolyte supplement to help replenish their body with important minerals.

However, for serious and prolonged cases of diarrhea, other treatment options may be suggested by the vet, such as:

IV fluids: To replenish the lost fluids or for dehydration, the vet may give your cat fluids and electrolytes intravenously.

Pre- and probiotics: These will help balance the cat’s bacterial microbiome by increasing the gut-friendly bacteria.

Highly digestible recovery food: Diarrhea can also lead to malnutrition, so the vet may recommend feeding small portions of highly digestible food to support recovery.

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Preventing Diarrhea in Cats

Here are some measures you can take to help prevent diarrhea in cats:

  • Maintain a consistent feeding schedule.
  • Avoid sudden changes in their diet.
  • If any dietary change is required, do it gradually.
  • Keep your cat’s environment clean and stress-free.
  • Regularly groom your pet.
  • Visit the vet for regular checkups.
  • Administer diarrhea relieve treatment recommended by the vet.
  • Consult your vet and take preventive measures for underlying diseases.

The Bottom Line

Well, this was the messy truth of diarrhea in cats. Keep in mind the preventive measures discussed here. In case of any doubt, it’s best to consult your vet, as they will offer professional advice based on your cat’s specific case. Good luck!