Diarrhea in Cats
Written by Small Door's medical experts
Diarrhea in cats and kittens may occur from a multitude of underlying causes, ranging from benign to more serious reasons, and involve mild to severe symptoms. Read on to learn what signs and symptoms to watch out for, and when seeking medical treatment for your cat may be necessary.
In this article:
Diarrhea refers to when your cat experiences a loose or liquid (meaning more watery than normal) bowel movement. This occurs when fecal material moves so quickly through the gastrointestinal system that the body cannot properly absorb its water, nutrients, or electrolytes (which supply your cat with the naturally occurring minerals calcium, sodium, and potassium). When this happens, your cat or kitten may also have an increased frequency or urgency to pass a bowel movement.
Diarrhea can vary in composition, ranging from being formed but soft, to a “soft-serve” ice cream consistency, to even completely liquid. Diarrhea can also be abnormally colored and have a foul odor.
There are many different underlying causes that can lead to your cat’s diarrhea, such as:
An infection (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic)
A food intolerance or sensitivity
The ingestion of something that shouldn't be eaten (such as a toxin, table scraps, or trash)
Metabolic changes/internal organ dysfunction
Signs and symptoms of diarrhea in cats may include the following:
Stool that is loose or liquid in consistency
Visible mucus within the stool
Increased amount, increased frequency, or urgency of bowel movements
Abnormally colored stool (In some cases, when a cat has diarrhea, the color of the stool appears abnormal. Any variation from the “normal” brown—i.e., yellow, orange, gray, green, black, or red stools—may indicate an underlying medical issue.)
Gas (also called flatulence)
Cramping or abdominal pain, discomfort (which may be accompanied by stretching, meowing, or abnormal behavior)
Abdominal bloating or swelling
Diarrhea in cats can have various underlying causes. According to Canine and Feline Gastroenterology, episodes of diarrhea are either acute (meaning that it is either occasional or self-limiting and usually resolves either on its own or with minimal treatment within approximately 14 days) or chronic (lasting longer than 14 days and requiring long-term treatment).
Diarrhea may be caused by inflammation of the small intestine, or the lower large intestine (colon). Causes of intestinal inflammation may include:
An overgrowth of intestinal bacteria
Viruses (like feline distemper or feline leukemia)
Intestinal parasites (such as roundworms, tapeworms, or Giardia)
Dietary indiscretion (the ingestion of something abnormal, such as a toxin, poison, table scraps, etc.)
Change in diet or overeating
Stress or anxiety
Diarrhea may also be caused by inflammation of the pancreas, which is called pancreatitis.
According to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the most common cause of chronic diarrhea in cats.
Other causes of chronic diarrhea in cats may include:
Food sensitivity or allergies
Kidney disease
Vitamin deficiencies, including B12 and folate
Medicines, such as antibiotics
Cancers, such as lymphoma
How serious diarrhea is in cats is dependent on the underlying cause. In some cases, it may be a minor, transient issue due to something benign, such as stress from moving, or accidentally eating a piece of human food. However, diarrhea may also be a symptom of something more serious going on, such as an autoimmune or inflammatory issue.
Some red flags to watch out for include:
Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice your cat has no appetite and has stopped eating, has concurrent vomiting in addition to the diarrhea, or if there is blood in the stool.
The Cornell Feline Health Center recommends that you contact your veterinarian if your cat’s diarrhea continues past 24 to 48 hours, becomes more severe in frequency, or changes color.
How serious is diarrhea in kittens?
Diarrhea may become a serious situation in kittens because they are more susceptible to dehydration, as well as secondary blood sugar and electrolyte imbalances, due to their small size and stature. Therefore, it is imperative to seek immediate medical attention if your kitten is experiencing any of the aforementioned signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal upset.
One method of diagnosing an underlying cause of diarrhea in cats is through analysis of a fecal sample. This is when a small sample of stool is analyzed for the presence of any microscopic organisms, such as bacteria or intestinal parasites. In some cases, a more advanced fecal test called a PCR (which stands for polymerase chain reaction) may need to be performed. A diarrheal PCR test analyzes the genetic makeup of a stool sample to check for more organisms that are not typically detectable with normal fecal testing.
Other testing your veterinarian may perform includes bloodwork, such as a complete blood count (CBC) or serum chemistry, which measures your cat’s blood cell and organ function. This can be an important tool to determine the underlying cause of your cat’s diarrhea, as well as whether there is an electrolyte imbalance resulting from the diarrhea.
Your veterinarian will also check your cat’s skin turgor (elasticity) to assess their hydration status. The tighter the elasticity of the skin, the more indicative that is of proper hydration. If by pinching a small area of your cat’s skin (usually performed around the back of the neck or “scruff” area) it does not quickly “snap back,” this can indicate fluid loss and dehydration.
Abdominal radiographs or an abdominal ultrasound may be performed to visualize intestinal gas patterns, as well as to check for any possible obstructions from a swallowed foreign object or a structural abnormality, such as an intestinal mass.
In more severe or chronic cases of diarrhea, an endoscopy, colonoscopy, gastrointestinal biopsy, or exploratory surgery may be needed in order to determine the underlying cause of inflammation.
Treatment for acute cases of diarrhea in cats will usually include an oral antibiotic containing anti-inflammatory properties, such as metronidazole, tylosin, or sulfasalazine.
Other treatments include rehydration through either subcutaneous or intravenous (IV) fluids, oral protectants (like bismuth or kaolin-pectin), and probiotics (such as Forti-Flora or Proviable).
When intestinal parasites are the underlying cause of diarrhea, your veterinarian will prescribe deworming treatments to specifically address the parasite infection, such as Panacur.
In cases of chronic diarrhea due to causes like IBD or lymphoma, oral corticosteroids (such as budesonide) or immunosuppressants (cyclosporine) may be recommended for treatment.
Depending on the underlying cause of the diarrhea, your cat or kitten may require hospitalization for continuous treatment of IV antibiotics, fluids, and gastrointestinal medications until they become stable enough to return home.
Never administer any medications (over-the-counter or otherwise) to your cat without first consulting with your veterinarian.
In cases of acute diarrhea, your cat will most likely be on the mend within a few days after initiating treatment. You will want to ensure your cat finishes all medication as prescribed.
What to feed your cat when they’re recovering from diarrhea
Your veterinarian may recommend your cat eat a bland diet while they are recovering from diarrhea. A prescription bland diet is a gentle, low fat, low-residue, easily digestible diet that can help alleviate gastrointestinal inflammation. Prescription bland diets are available in both canned and dry formulas.
If your cat has been diagnosed with a food sensitivity or allergy, your veterinarian may prescribe a special diet containing what is known as a novel protein, such as a hydrolyzed protein, duck, or whitefish.
While not all causes of diarrhea are preventable, there are a few things you can do to prevent acute cases from occurring:
Make sure your cat or kitten stays away from trash, human food, toxins, poisons, or any other potential items they could ingest.
Do not suddenly change your cat’s diet. Instead, perform a slow transition from the old food to the new food.
Keep your cat up to date on all core and recommended vaccinations to ensure they are protected from viruses, such as feline distemper or feline leukemia.
Most cases of diarrhea in cats are acute in nature and self-resolve quickly. However, when signs and symptoms persist for longer than a day or two, be sure to contact your veterinarian for medical assistance. There are many possible causes of diarrhea, and your veterinarian can perform testing to diagnose the cause and recommend prompt and proper treatment for your cat.
