Cats are the most lovely pets in the house. As a cat owner, you must keenly observe the daily routine of your lovely cats. Cats usually poop twice daily in the litter box or a specific quiet place. The cats may show symptoms of loose feces or frequent watery feces in many cases. Diarrhea in cats is not a disease; instead, it is a sign of many infectious and non-infectious diseases.
Why is Diarrhea in Cats Important?
Cats’ normal stool is like a small ball or elongated mass which is moist. Usually, a cat defecates twice a day. Diarrhea is the condition when your cat defecates loose, watery feces and more frequently. You must be identified as early as possible the abnormal behavior of your cats and, if required, consult with your vet as soon as possible.
Causes of Diarrhea in Cats
Diarrhea is not a disease; instead, it is the effect of many diseases. The usual causes of diarrhea in cats are:
- Parasitic diseases like the infection of roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
- Bacterial diseases like Salmonellosis.
- Viral diseases Rotavirus and FIV.
- Protozoal diseases like coccidiosis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis.
- Sudden change in food.
- Chemicals or toxin ingestion.
- Ingestion of cockroaches or lizards.
- Deficiency of essential minerals like phosphorus and cat eats soil or unusual material like wood, bedding, or grass.
- High and humid environment.
- Dirty litter box contaminated with cat’s food.
Clinical Signs of Diarrhea in Cats
The clinical signs that are observed during diarrhea in cats are:
- Loose feces that is different from usual.
- Frequent defecation that is two or three times than average.
- Soiled litter box.
- Filthy tail with feces.
- General weakness.
- Lethargy.
- Disturbance in bowel movement.
- Accumulation of gas in the stomach.
- Cats may vomit sometimes.
- Lack of urination or less, scanty, and yellow-colored urine.
When Do You Call A Vet During Cat Diarrhea?
In the initial condition and most cases, diarrhea combes normally. You can correct the causes, and cats become normal. The following condition you must call your vet:
- Severe and profuse watery diarrhea.
- Feces contains blood and mucous.
- Cat becomes too weak, lazy, and complete off feed.
- Frequent vomition and pain in the stomach.
Diagnosis of Cat Diarrhea
Your help and information will help a lot to veterinarians with a proper diagnosis of diarrhea in cats. The diagnostic procedure starts from:
- A complete history of the cat’s feed, housing, behavior, and living condition.
- Clinical signs of loose feces, frequency, consistency, presence of blood, mucous, parasites in the feces.
- Presence of vomition, abdominal sounds, and growling.
- Microscopic examination of feces for parasites, protozoa, or bacteria.
- Blood test for CBC.
- Serological test for the presence of viral antibodies.
What Do You Give a Cat for Diarrhea?
The majority of treatment and medication depends on the clinical signs and symptomatic. The usual treatment of Cat Diarrhea are:
- Initially off feed for 24 hours and offer saline water.
- Give fibrous, soft, and nutritious food.
- Antidiarrheal drugs like Metronidazole, Tylosin may be given.
- If the diarrhea is due to intestinal parasites, give a broad-spectrum anthelmintics like Piperazine.
- Change the feed that causes diarrhea.
- Probiotics can be given after the recovery of diarrhea to improve the environment of the cat’s stomach.
Final Advice on Diarrhea in Cats
Diarrhea is a common condition in house cats. This condition can be prevented by following strict biosecurity measures, clean and healthy cat’s house, regular cleaning of cat’s litter box, regular deworming, and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet regularly. If you prevent diarrhea in your cats, your cat will be free from many diseases.
