If you are a cat parent in UK, you have probably experienced an upset stomach or diarrhea in cat. It is more common issue than you presume, but it is not always easy to know why it is happening and how serious it could be. Sometimes it is just a matter of a day or 2, but other times it could be life threatening.
Cat diarrhea is basically loose, or watery stools more often than usual. It’s not a disease itself, but a symptom of various complicated diseases. In this blog, we will talk about the common causes of cat diarrhea, when is it alarming, how you can treat it and how you can prevent it at first place.
Common Causes of Cat Diarrhea in the UK
Cats usually chronic diseases and injuries. If your cat has diarrhea, it is actually a sign, there is something wrong with their health. The causes of cat diarrhea can range from harmless to deadly. Kittens, senior cats, cats with chronic disease, and pregnant cats are all at increased risk of severe diarrhea that could be fatal if untreated. Here are the most common causes:
Dietary Changes
Your cat can have diarrhea if you recently have changed their diet.
Sudden changes in diet can upset your cat’s digestive system. For example,
- You recently switched from one cat food brand to another. Even a single ingredient can go against the digestive system of cat leading them to diarrhea.
- You just offered them rich treats like milk. Many cats are lactose intolerant and may have temporary diarrhea.
Food Intolerance or Allergies
Some cats develop allergies and intolerance to proteins, grains, or additives. The symptoms of the allergic reaction may include diarrhea with severe symptoms like itchy skin, swelling of the tongue, vomiting, hives, trouble breathing, or low blood pressure.
Infections
Several infections can cause diarrhea in cats. They could be related to viruses, bacteria or parasites. We are now listing most common ones:
Viruses
Common viruses that can upset your cat’s digestive system are:
Feline Panleukopenia (FPV)
It is a serious illness and more common in kittens. It can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and extreme tiredness.
Feline Coronavirus (FCoV)
This virus is usually mild but can lead to soft stools. Sometimes it modifies into FIP, which is much more dangerous.
FIV and FeLV
They don’t directly cause diarrhea but weaken the immune system. That increase the chance to get infected.
Bacteria
These bacteria can cause cat diarrhea:
Salmonella and Campylobacter
These bacteria are very dangerous. They can cause sudden diarrhea which could show blood sometimes. These can also spread to humans, so you have to be very careful.
Clostridium and E. coli
These bacteria normally live in the stomach but can sometimes cause problems, especially if your cat is stressed or sick.
Parasites
Parasites are another common cause, especially in kittens:
Giardia
This parasite is often picked up from dirty water or shared litter boxes. It can cause soft and stinky diarrhea.
Coccidia
It can cause watery or sometimes bloody diarrhea in young cats.
Tritrichomonas foetus
It is a less common parasite that causes severe diarrhea. It is mostly found in cats from shelters or breeders.
Worms
Worms like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms are common in UK cats, especially those who stay outdoor. These worms can cause upset stomach, bloating, and diarrhea.
Fungal Infections (Rare)
Fungal infections are not much common cause of cat diarrhea. But, they should be considered if diarrhea is chronic and not recovering even after treatment.
Histoplasmosis
It is a fungal infection that is caused by inhaling bacteria from the soil that is contaminated with bat droppings specially bat. It can affect the digestion and cause cat diarrhea.
Toxins and Poisoning
Eating toxic or poisoned things like lilies, antifreeze, certain houseplants can cause diarrhea. Spoiled food can also cause stomach issues including diarrhea. In UK, antifreeze poisoning is at high risk in winter.
Stress or Anxiety
Cats are sensitive animals that can feel stressed and anxious easily. If your kitten has diarrhea, stress and anxiety can be the reason. The most common reasons of stress and anxiety in cats can be:
- Environmental Changes like moving to a new house or rearranging furniture.
- Loud Noises including parties, constructions, fireworks.
- New people or pets in the house
- Changes in routine
Underlying Health Conditions
Sometimes chronic diarrhea is an indicator to some serious health conditions, such as:
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kidney disease
- Liver issues
- Cancer
Types of Cat Diarrhea: Color and Texture
Since kitten diarrhea has so many causes, it is good to understand some types of diarrhea. The appearance of your cat’s stool can give you a hint about the real problem and may help you addressing the issue early. Let’s simplify this:
- Watery diarrhea: This could be a sign of infections or toxins.
- Greasy stool: Your cat may have digestion issues or pancreatic issues.
- Yellow or green stool: It can be due to bacteria or liver related illness.
- Bloody diarrhea: The reason could be parasites, poor eating habits, or something more serious like IBD or cancer.
- Mucus in stool: It is generally related to some issues in colon.
- Black or tar like stool: It shows bleeding in upper area of digestive system. It is definitely a medical emergency. See a vet fast.
When to See a Vet for Cat Diarrhea
Cat diarrhea is usually harmless if it is occasional. If your cat is not showing many symptoms or recovers itself within 24 hours, it is considered safe. However, consult your vet if you notice signs including:
- Diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours
- Extreme lethargy
- Unusual behavior like sleeping longer than usual or frequently going outside
- Blood in stool
- Vomiting with or without diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
Note that kittens, old cats and cats that already have a history of illness are more affected by diarrhea.
When you take your cat to the vet for diarrhea, they may recommend:
- Stool tests to check parasites or bacteria
- Blood tests to evaluate organ function
- X-rays or ultrasound if needed
- Allergy tests or food trials to identify intolerance
Treatment Options for Cat Diarrhea
Once the vet completes the diagnosis procedure, he may recommend more than just medicines. Just like humans not all cat diarrhea needs medications. Only precautions and food changes are enough to cure mild cases.
1. Diet Management
If the diarrhea is diagnosed as mild and could be treated at home, the vet may recommend a plain diet for a few days. In UK, vets usually suggest:
- Boiled chicken without bones or skin
- Boiled white rice
- Mashed potatoes
- Prescription gastrointestinal diets like Hill’s i/d, Royal Canin Gastrointestinal
After 48 hours, you can gradually offer their regular food.
2. Medications
After observations and detailed check-up, your vet will prescribe medicine depending on the diagnosis. The medication will be according to the cat breed age and the type of disease that caused diarrhea. They may prescribe:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Anti-parasitics for worms or parasites
- Probiotics to repair good bacteria in gut. Pro-Kolin is the most recommended and easily available from UK pet pharmacies
- Anti-diarrheal agents. These should be used under veterinarian supervision.
3. IV Fluids
Cats with severe diarrhea may become dehydrated. In such cases, vets may recommend IV fluids, to cover up the water and mineral loss. This mostly happens with kittens or old cats.
How to Treat Cat Diarrhea at Home?
If your cat’s diarrhea is no longer than 24 hours and it is looking alright otherwise, it means the diarrhea is mild. You can start home treatments or remedies if you want, before calling the vet. Just make sure your home treatment proves affective in next 24 hours and the diarrhea is getting better. What you can do for a cat with diarrhea is:
Offer bland food
It is important to feed your cat during diarrhea. Just change the items and portion. Offer them small, bland, regular meals such as boiled chicken or white fish without skin or bones. Call your vet for advice if your cat refuses to eat.
Fresh and clean water
Cats drink more water than usual to deal with the water loss in stools. Ensure constant access to fresh and clean water throughout the day.
Allow plenty of rest
If your cat has diarrhea, it needs rest to recover. Allow them to sleep a little longer, avoid play and routine activities. However, observe if they are excessively tired or lethargic, seek vet advice if needed.
Use probiotics
Some of the early remedies include probiotics. They enhance gut friendly bacteria and absorb toxins in the intestines. Probiotics like Pro-Kolin, usually help cats during diarrhea and are easily available in UK pet pharmacies.
Maintain clean environment
Keep the litter tray clean, make sure a friendly and clean environment for your kitten. Keep monitoring stool consistency.
Don’t give medicine without prescription
You can use home remedies but never initiate medication by yourself. Do not give human medication like Imodium, these are toxic to cats.
If the conditions persist or get worse make an appointment with your vet immediately.
How to Prevent Cat Diarrhea
Prevention is better than cure. Always try to take safety steps to avoid illness. Here are a few steps UK cat owners can take to reduce the risk of cat diarrhea:
1. Introduce new diet gradually
If you are trying a new food item. Offer small amount with the routine diet. Check if they are showing any signs and then increase the portion gradually. Take 5–7 days to give your cat’s digestive system time to adjust.
2. Regular Deworming
For the cats that have outdoor exposures, regular worming is important. They help in eliminating parasites and are available in different forms like injections, tablets, liquids etc. Use dewormers recommended by your vet every 1–3 months. Kittens may need dewormers by age of 2 weeks.
3. Vaccinations
Vaccinations protect against certain viruses that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Make sure to discuss with your vet the vaccinations that could be beneficial to your cat.
4. Avoid Human Food and Toxic Plants
Don’t give them whatever you eat, every creature is different. Keep chocolate, onions and dairy out of reach. Also keep houseplants like lilies, aloe vera, oleander etc. away from them.
5. Reduce Stress
Avoid activities that cause stress or anxiety in cats. Provide a soothing, calm and relaxing environment. Keep healthy activities and safe spots for cats to hide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Cat Diarrhea
1. What to do for a cat with diarrhea?
You can start some home treatments in first 24 to 48 hours like offer bland food, give fresh water, allow rest, use probiotics and reduce stress. See the vet if condition stays or get worse.
2. How long is it ok for cats to have diarrhea?
If the cat diarrhea starts improving within 24 hours it is usually considered ok. A diarrhea that continues for more than 24 hours, accompanied with other symptoms or health conditions needs medical attention.
3. What stops diarrhea fast naturally?
To cure kitten diarrhea naturally, keep them hydrated, give bland food and avoid stressing activities.
4. Can I give ORS to my cat?
Yes, generally ORS is good to deal with dehydration during cat diarrhea. However, ask your vet for the right formulation and doses.
5. What can I give my cat for diarrhea in the UK?
Boiled bland chicken or fish without skin and bones, mashed potatoes and boiled rice are safe food options for cat diarrhea in UK.
6. What to do if a cat has diarrhea but is acting fine?
If your cat is not showing any other symptoms along with 1 or 2 episodes of diarrhea. It’s not a serious issue and can go by itself.
Final Thoughts
Cat diarrhea is most common health issue for your pet. The reason behind it can range anywhere from a minor stomach upset to a symptom of a deadly illness. For UK pet owners, it is so important to understand the common causes of kitten diarrhea. knowing what to do and what to expect when your cat has diarrhea, is crucial. Learn how the first 24 hours with mild discomfort can be handled at home. Take preventative steps to minimize the chances of diarrhea and keep your cat happy and healthy. Remember your local vet is always there to clear your doubts about your cat’s health.
Want to know more tips about your UK pet? Read our blog Pets Lover UK.
Read more:
Vet Near You: Best Vet Hospitals and Mobile Vets in UK Major Cities
Posts
0 Comments