Options for Treating Cat Diarrhea
- Change Your Cat’s Food. There is no need to withhold food from cats who have diarrhea.
- Fiber. Some types of cat diarrhea get better with a low-fiber (highly digestible) diet.
- Encourage Water and Electrolyte Intake.
- Probiotics.
- Anti-Diarrheal Medications.
Is wet or dry food better for kittens with diarrhea?
It is best to feed wet food to ensure your cat stays hydrated, but this food can also be quite rich. Offering the water you boil chicken or fish in can encourage increased water intake. Feeding a ‘sensitive’ stomach diet for a few days can also help.
Is it common for kittens to have diarrhea?
No, it’s not normal for kittens to have diarrhea. Diarrhea may be a common response to stress or changes in diet, and it may be a symptom of common illnesses, but that does not mean it’s normal. It’s always worth checking with your veterinarian if you notice any sign of illness in your new kitten.You may try treating your cat’s diarrhea by feeding a bland diet of the following options with added probiotics:
- Low fat cottage cheese and boiled white rice.
- Boiled chicken or boiled hamburger and boiled white rice or pasta.
- Beef or chicken broth over boiled white rice.
What can I give a kitten for diarrhea?
If your kitten does get diarrhea and you want to try a home remedy, you can try adding a little canned pumpkin to their food. The pumpkin increases the fiber in their diet and can balance out their GI tract. A powdered fiber supplement can also be mixed into their food.
What causes kittens to have diarrhea?
Kitten diarrhea can be caused by food allergies, parasites, and bacterial and viral infections. As diarrhea itself is a symptom of illness, it’s essential to consult with your veterinarian if your kitten is exhibiting signs of diarrhea along with other symptoms.
How can I harden my kitten’s poop?
Adding half a teaspoon of Metamucil into your kitten’s food, especially if he has soft poop, often firms up the stool. A kitten with diarrhea needs more water by whatever means possible.
What home remedy can I give my cat for diarrhea?
In many cases of simple diarrhea in adult cats, it is recommended to withhold food for 12-24 hours, and provide small amounts of water frequently. Then, a bland diet such as boiled (fat-free) chicken and rice is offered in small amounts.
Why is my kitten pooping liquid?
Roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms are some of the most common parasites that affect cats and kittens. Worms are so common, that almost every cat will contract them at least once. Roundworms are the most frequently occurring and can be passed from the mother cat to her kittens through her milk.
Does wet food give kittens diarrhea?
Kittens can develop diarrhea when there is a change in diet, so if you’ve recently started the kitten on a new formula, that may be the issue. Premature weaning onto wet food may also cause diarrhea, as the body may not be ready to absorb the new proteins and complex nutrients found in meat.
Can I give my cat Pepto Bismol for diarrhea?
Similar to Tylenol, both aspirin and Pepto Bismol are highly toxic when used in treating cats. Both medicines contain salicylates which can cause respiratory failure and hyperglycemia.
What cures diarrhea fast?
A diet known as BRAT may also quickly relieve diarrhea. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. This diet is effective due to the bland nature of these foods, and the fact that they’re starchy, low-fiber foods. These foods have a binding effect in the digestive tract to make stools bulkier.
Will cat diarrhea go away on its own?
Though most cases of cat diarrhea resolve in a matter of hours or days without intervention, cats who have it for more than a few days, or that show more severe signs (such as vomiting, appetite loss, bloody stools, watery stools or tiredness), should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
What can I feed my cat to harden his stool?
Adding half a teaspoon of unflavored Metamucil into your cat’s food once or twice a day for 5-7 days may help firm things up. Canned plain pumpkin may do the same thing. Both Metamucil and canned pumpkin are high in fiber.
Should I not feed my cat if he has diarrhea?
Cats need nutrition to heal their intestines. Therefore, cats are not fasted when they have diarrhea (unlike dogs, which often are). If they begin vomiting, however, you should withhold food and contact your veterinarian.
Should I give my cat rice for diarrhea?
As mentioned earlier, rice works wonders when it comes to treating diarrhea in cats. Both brown and white can be offered for this purpose as long as they’re cooked properly and served unseasoned. A small addition of cooked rice into your kitty’s usual food can improve digestion by hardening the stool.
How long should you withhold food from a cat with diarrhea?
How is diarrhea treated? For otherwise healthy adult cats, your veterinarian may advise you to withhold food for up to 24 hours or to feed small quantities of a veterinary diet for gastrointestinal problems.
What should I feed a cat with diarrhoea?
Feed small, bland, frequent meals – there is no need to starve your cat – instead, offer them small, bland, regular meals such as boiled chicken or white fish (without skin or bones). Alternatively, for convenience, your vet is likely to sell a tinned food specifically for upset stomachs.
What to do if my cat has diarrhea and is not eating?
If your cat is losing weight, vomiting, experiencing diarrhea or constipation as well as refusing to eat, it’s time to see your vet. Gastrointestinal problems such as those listed above are serious and may require emergency care.
Should cats with diarrhea eat wet food?
Cats get a lot of water from wet food and are at increased risk of becoming dehydrated if it is suddenly withdrawn – remember diarrhoea also causes increased loss of water. Therefore, it is best to ‘feed through’ diarrhoea, even if it means you will have a bit more to clean .
How long should I wait to feed my cat after diarrhea?
Generally, you will keep your cat on a bland diet for one or two weeks. During that time, continue feeding small amounts every 3 to 4 hours. If the diarrhea goes away, then over another one to two weeks, you will slowly transition them back to their regular cat food diet.
Should I stop feeding my cat if they have diarrhea?
Change Your Cat’s Food
There is no need to withhold food from cats who have diarrhea. In fact, doing so can hinder the intestinal tract’s ability to heal itself and put cats at risk for a potentially fatal type of liver disease called hepatic lipidosis. It is best to simplify your cat’s diet, however.
How many days does diarrhea last in cats?
In some cases, diarrhea can last up to several weeks or months. In many cases, however, milder diarrhea may resolve in a day or two. The longer diarrhea lasts, the more important it is that you get your cat professionally seen by a veterinarian.