Causes and Management of Diarrhea in Cats

1 Cat Diarrhea

Diarrhea is especially frequent in very young kittens. On one hand, the transition from mother’s milk to solid food introduces the gastrointestinal tract to new proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, causing diarrhea; on the other hand, a kitten’s digestive and immune systems are not yet fully developed, the gut flora is still being established, and resistance is weak, making them more vulnerable to environmental factors, pathogens, and other disease triggers that lead to diarrhea.

Diarrhea in cats aged 2-6 months is fairly normal and can be left to resolve on its own while the cat builds immunity, but if diarrhea persists without improvement, you should take the cat to the vet for a checkup.

In adult cats, or kittens over 6 months old, diarrhea is more likely to be caused by the following reasons:

Improper feeding

Feeding problems are the most common cause of diarrhea in cats. It may be the owner’s fault or the cat eating something inappropriate; analyze the specific situation case by case.

Overeating

Cats often have an excited appetite. If the owner does not control portions and lets the cat binge eat, indigestion and diarrhea can easily result.

Suggestion: Choose well-known brand cat food and feed according to the portion guidance on the package, or refer to previous articles to calculate your cat’s daily intake.

Food – How to calculate your cat’s daily calorie requirement

Treats as staple food

Some owners spoil their cats and give too many treats. Treats are high in salt and fat, which not only triggers diarrhea but can also make cats picky eaters.

Suggestion: During kittenhood, avoid giving treat-like foods; let kittens try several cat-food flavors to make future food transitions easier and broaden their taste profile.

Frequent food changes

When a cat starts a new cat food, intestinal intolerance often causes soft stools and diarrhea.

Suggestion: Change cat food about every 3 months, and follow the 7-day transition method when switching.

Unclean food

Cats are naturally curious and prone to pica, often ingesting rotting or contaminated food from corners, leading to food poisoning and diarrhea.

(Last week our two fur babies caught and ate cockroaches, giving themselves vomiting and diarrhea and ending up with several shots.)

Suggestion: Reseal opened food tightly, and pay special attention to household hygiene during roach or insect season.

Parasitic infection

Intestinal parasitic infection is also a major cause of diarrhea. Be extra cautious if the mother cat or other cats at home have a history of trichomoniasis; parasite-infected kittens more readily show diarrhea.

Viral diseases

Viral enteritis is common in young kittens and can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV)

Nursing kittens are protected by maternal antibodies after birth, but from 6-8 weeks of age these antibodies gradually fade. Vaccinations are not yet complete, so the kitten is in a window with little vaccine protection, and with weaker resistance it is more susceptible to panleukopenia virus!

Feline coronavirus (FECV)

Feline enteric coronavirus is widespread in cat intestines; most cats show no abnormality, but some kittens develop severe enteritis after maternal antibodies fade.

Stress

Cats may develop diarrhea when exposed to new environments or fright, and in severe cases it can be fatal.

The diarrhea situations above are only common ones and not exhaustive. If diarrhea occurs, first determine the cause, then take corresponding action:

(1) If a cat has acute diarrhea but is in good spirits and appetite, first do a fecal test and CBC (add FPV testing for unvaccinated/under-vaccinated cats) to rule out parasitic infection and flora imbalance/proliferation.

(2) Parasitic infection: Use a dewormer, noting that at least 2-3 consecutive dewormings are needed, 7-14 days apart.

(3) With no parasitic infection/bacterial enteritis and the cat in good condition, focus on improper feeding (overeating/spoiled/rotten/hypertonic food) or food intolerance. After removing the trigger by changing the diet, improvement usually appears within 3-5 days.

(4) After ruling out parasites, appropriate antidiarrheal and toxin-adsorbing agents may be given.

(5) Keep water intake adequate to prevent dehydration from diarrhea; if diarrhea is severe, provide supportive treatment.

(6) If the cat has severe diarrhea along with other abnormalities such as vomiting, no appetite, or dehydration, more detailed examination is needed, plus supportive treatment to maintain electrolyte balance.