Let’s talk about poo, shall we? Most pet owners, whether they want to be or not, are fairly knowledgeable about their animal’s pooping habits, and it can be a real concern when those change. It is natural to be concerned if your cat seems unwell, and it can be difficult to tell whether your cat needs veterinary treatment or not. Diarrhoea is a distressing (and messy!) symptom, but what causes it and when is it time to worry? Read on for more!
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What is diarrhoea?
Normal faeces for a cat are brown and well-formed – they stay solid if you pick them up. If your cat is suffering from diarrhoea, these stools become soft or even liquid. The faeces can also change in colour, from a very light mustard colour to dark brown, and can have mucus or blood attached. Cats often show accompanying straining or trouble defecating, may pass stools much more frequently than normal and in varying volumes, from very small amounts to large piles.
What causes diarrhoea in cats?
Most cases of diarrhoea in cats are due to problems within the intestinal tract, although occasionally diarrhoea can be a symptom of other disease, such as liver or kidney problems. Diarrhoea in cats is common, but is usually mild and resolves itself after a short time.
There is more cause to be concerned if the diarrhoea is more severe, is present alongside other symptoms such as vomiting or weight loss, or goes on for a long time. In these cases, there may need to be some diagnostic tests run to determine a cause in order to provide more specific treatment.
Diet
The sudden introduction of a new food, or the eating of something novel, can cause a temporary reaction of the intestines leading to mild diarrhoea. The intestine usually adapts quickly and the diarrhoea resolves without intervention or other symptoms. Common examples include cats scavenging food from bins, cats being given milk (they are mostly lactose intolerant) or cats being changed suddenly over from one commercial diet to another.
Dietary allergy
This is not hugely common, but genuine food allergies can be found in cats. They are often allergic to a specific protein source, such as chicken, and are not usually associated with a recent change in diet.
Infection
More common in younger than older cats, diarrhoea can be due to infectious organisms, and therefore may spread between multiple cats in a household – and sometimes even to people. Bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, parasites such as Giardia or Tritrichomonas or viruses such as feline parvovirus can all cause diarrhoea of varying severity. Good hygiene is essential to prevent spread. Some of these infectious agents can be caught from other cats, some from the environment and some from raw food or prey.
Intestinal cancers
Intestinal tumours, more common in older cats than the young, cause problems in two ways: they cause obstruction of food through the bowel, and reduce absorption of nutrients from the food.
Inflammatory bowel disease
This disease is complex, but is associated with severe inflammation of the walls of the intestines, leading to poor absorption of food and therefore chronic diarrhoea. It can also cause vomiting and weight loss.
Non-intestinal diseases
Health problems in other areas of the body, such as the liver or thyroid, can have diarrhoea as a symptom. Pancreatic insufficiency, where the pancreas fails to produce enzymes which are needed to digest food, can also be a trigger for diarrhoea. These are less common causes of diarrhoea, but still important.
Do I need to take my cat to the vet?
Most cases of diarrhoea are mild, and resolve within a few days.
Here are some reasons that your cat with diarrhoea may need a vet.
- Severe diarrhoea
- Other symptoms such as vomiting, not eating or lethargy
- Diarrhoea that persists for more than a few days
- Blood in the diarrhoea, especially if in large amounts
Treating diarrhoea
Many cases of diarrhoea will resolve by themselves over a couple of days. In more severe cases, treatment can be either supportive or specific.
Supportive treatment includes feeding a bland, easily-digestible diet to allow the gut to recover from inflammation. This can be done at home using plain boiled chicken or white fish alongside a small amount of plain rice. Or your vet can give you some pre-prepared tinned food. Some cases may require probiotics to help settle the intestinal tract, and if your cat becomes dehydrated they may require fluid therapy.
More specific treatments may include antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with diarrhoea in cats, so this may need to be supplemented. If a tumour is found, surgery or chemotherapy may be discussed if appropriate.
Diarrhoea in cats is sadly common, but is often mild and easily cleared. More serious disease can be a cause, often with other symptoms alongside such as vomiting, poor appetite or weight loss. If you are worried about your cat’s stools, contact your veterinary surgery for advice.
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