A cat’s digestive system is an important part of their bodies, and one of the most common digestive problems cats can encounter is diarrhea. While it can sometimes be a minor issue, such as a slightly upset stomach, it can sometimes be a sign of something much more serious.

Signs of Cat Diarrhea

It’s important to catch the signs early on to know the next steps to take. Our vets will need all the information to provide the most appropriate treatment options for your cat. In the meantime, here are the signs of cat diarrhea so you’ll know what to expect:

Loose and Watery Stool

The loose and watery stool is the signature sign of diarrhea. Your cat’s still will look much more softer than usual, while sometimes being too watery and loose. This comes with a semi-liquid consistency that is hard to not notice. You can also notice that this is much more difficult to scoop as it barely holds any shape, especially in a litter box.

Increased Bowel Movements

If you notice your cat taking too many trips to the litter box, it could be another sign of diarrhea. While consistency plays a part, the frequency of of the trips can also be a huge giveaway. It would look like your cats urgently wanting to relieve themselves or struggling to control their bowel movements.

Accidents Outside the Litter Box

Even well-trained cats can fall victim to diarrhea, and accidents outside of a litter box can happens while they’re dealing with this issue. If you notice wet stool around your house, even if your cat usually goes in the litter box, it might be a sign of gastrointestinal distress.

Changes in Color

In other cases, you could also look at your cat’s stool and observe its color. The stool can range from a variety of different colors, depending on your cat’s condition. Here are some common examples:

• Brown: Brown stool is considered as a healthy, normal poop. It’s a good sign to have.

• Black: Black stools usually indicate that there is bleeding in your cat’s digestive tract.

• Yellow: Yellow stools can mean that your cat is experiencing liver or bile problems.

• Green: Green stools indicate a gallbladder issue.

• White: White stools can mean very serious health conditions relating to digestive tract blockage.

Presence of Blood or Mucus in Stool

The presence of blood or mucus in your cat’s stool can also be a huge sign of underlying health issues, such as diarrhea. The blood can appear light or dark red, and this gives hints as to where the problem usually is. If the blood is bright red, the bleeding is usually fresh, possibly coming from the end of a cat’s digestive tract.

Mucus, on the other hand, can look like a slimy coating on the stool of your cats and often indicates inflammation or infection in the intestines.

Causes of Cat Diarrhea

Diarrhea in cats can result from a wide variety of causes, some of which are relatively harmless, while others may need immediate veterinary care. Knowing the causes allows us to understand our cats’ even more, helping us deliver the care they need. With that, here are some of the causes of diarrhea in cats:

Dietary Changes

The diarrhea your can is facing can be due to digestive problems brought up by changes in its diet. Cats love a good routine, and this is applicable when it comes to their meals. A slight change in their meal routines could cause an upset in their sensitive stomachs, leading to diarrhea.

Food Intolerances and Allergies

Cats are known to be picky eats, and their digestive system proves this. They mostly need a diet of proteins and only need a minimal amount of other kinds of food. When feeding cats, you’re always told to avoid certain types of food, as this can lead to an upset stomach. Among the following are milk, cheese, and grains.

Unlike food intolerances, food allergies are responses from the immune system of a cat, not their digestive system. Once your cat consumes food that it is allergic to, it can experience a lot of symptoms that could lead to diarrhea, such as an inflammation of their digestive tract.

Infections

Bacteria and viruses can also cause the diarrhea your cat is experiencing. These pathogens can be picked up from spoiled and contaminated food, dirty water, and uncooked meat. Viral infections like feline enteric coronavirus or feline panleukopenia can also affect the gastrointestinal tract, causing diarrhea.

Parasites

Internal and intestinal parasites are one of the most common causes of diarrhea in cats. Parasites such as hookworm, roundworms, and tapeworms are among the major culprits in causing cat diarrhea. Giardia, a common troublemaker for cats, can cause diarrhea in addition to the other symptoms it can cause such as weight loss and dehydration. 

If you cat has parasites, it’s important to get it to the clinic immediately. Our vets will administer treatments and medications to kill the parasites before they can deal any more damage to your cat’s body.

Stress and Anxiety

Cats are super sensitive creatures, and their mental health is very important to them. If they experience changes in a routine or a diet plan, they can sometimes fall apart, needing a lot of time to recuperate. During this process, your cat will be visibly troubled, with diarrhea as a result of the disturbed digestive system.

Toxins

Lots of food is toxic to cats and should never be eaten. These include chocolate, garlic, onions, and alcohol. If your cat has ingested these toxins, diarrhea can appear as one of the symptoms, as its body is trying to expel these toxic foods. 

Aside from food, lots of household chemicals such as cleaning products, pesticides, and medicines can also cause irritation to your cat’s gastrointestinal system, making them have diarrhea in the process.

Treatment for Cat Diarrhea

The treatment for your cat’s diarrhea will vary, as treatments can overlap and go together to bring the best results. Here are some of the common treatments we recommend for cat diarrhea:

Improved Diet

If the changes in diet are what caused your cat’s diarrhea, be sure to improve your cat’s diet plan with the help of our vets. We can recommend a concrete diet plan to follow to make sure your cat will slowly recover from diarrhea, possibly something bland to keep things safe. It’s also a good idea to consider specially formulated foods from Royal Canin and Hill’s, as they provide a variety of options to cater to your cat’s diarrhea.

Hydration

Because of diarrhea, your cat may be dehydrated. As part of the treatment process, we’ll have you give it plenty of water to help them with recovery. Make sure it has access to clean and fresh water every day. In serious cases, we will have to administer IV fluids to help get your cat back to normal hydration levels.

Medications

To fight off the pathogens, we will provide medications right from our vet pharmacy. We have anti-parasitic medicines and antibiotics to help kill the pathogens and avoid any more damage. To help them recover, we’ll offer probiotics to help with gut health. If your cat’s digestive tract is inflamed, we’ll also provide anti-inflammatory medicines.

Preventing Cat Diarrhea

Preventing diarrhea is not always possible, but you can take a couple of steps to help significantly minimize the chances. Here are some tips to prevent cat diarrhea:

Create a Consistent Diet

When feeding your cat, make sure to stick to a routine. Cats love a good routine and when changes happen, this can usually upset their sensitive stomachs. To help, our vets will usually recommend a prescription diet. This includes using specially formulated foods, as these are super nutritious and easy to prepare. 

Reduce Stress

Just like with their food, cats need a consistent routine to make them feel safe. Simple changes in their bedding, litter box, and water bowl can mean a lot to them. It’s important to be there for them physically so they won’t be alone when these small changes inevitably happen. 

Keep Toxins Away

Keep toxic food away from your cat and its reach. Foods such as chocolate, garlic, and onions, can be very dangerous to its health and digestive system. Aside from toxic food, chemicals such as bleach, cleaning substances, liquid detergent, and other toxins around the house can be very dangerous if they ingest these. Make sure to store these toxic food and chemicals safely as they might explore the house and find them.

Visit the Vet

A routine visit to the clinic can help detect any potential issues before they create stress and discomfort for your cat. Regular health screenings and checkups can identify problems such as infections, parasites, and allergies, with treatments readily available for most cases. Seeking professional help is a great way to keep your cat’s health in check. 

Conclusion

Cat diarrhea is caused by a number of reasons, some of which can be easily prevented. With the right knowledge, you can help shield your cats from diarrhea and save them from a ton of discomfort. Plus, our clinics can give your cats the care and treatments they need to continue being happy and healthy!