Diarrhea in cats is a pesky and very annoying problem. Many reasons causes diarrhea in cats.
It needs to be cured as early as possible.
Infections, dietary sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease and lack of digestive enzymes are reason for diarrhea to affect a cat.
What Causes Diarrhea in cats
The cause of Diarrhea in cats vary from one cat to another.
It is important to analyze what could be the actual reason for causing Diarrhea in Cats.
Herein below you shall find the possible reasons which cause Diarrhea in Cats:
Food poisoning:
- Cats suffer from food poisoning when they eat something which they should not.
- Cats are naturally exploratory animals, they are often more prone to food poisoning by consuming insects, pests.
- Symptoms of food poisoning include any appetite change such as over eating, under-eating.
- Drinking less water, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, excessive saliva production, abdomen pain and panting. These are signs of food poisonings.
Foods that can cause Diarrhea in cats:
- Raw eggs.
- Bones of chicken (both cooked and uncooked)
- Raw meat
- Chocolate and caffeine drinks
- Alcohol
- Raw yeast dough
- Lactose intolerance: Cats love to drink milk but the milk we consume is intolerant for Cats and Kittens therefore it ends up in Diarrhea.
- Garbage: Table scraps, kitchen garbage, leftover foods.
Food allergy
- Some foods can be allergic to particular cats, change of food,.
- New food, should be introduced to our cat in small quantities.
- A new brand of food with different ingredients can cause an allergy for your cat.
- Keep cats away from eating fleas, cockroaches, insects, pests. If a cat eats the insect, it might upset the stomach and lead to vomit and diarrhea.
Medications
- An adverse reaction to a medication: Medication for cats for any other ailment, can be a factor for Diarrhea. Certain antibiotics have a strong effect on their gut and lead to chronic Diarrhea.
- Medications/toxins: There are certain antibiotics which can upset the gastrointestinal tract.
- Diarrhea can occur due to some medications and toxins .
Infections
- A viral infection: Viral gastroenteritis, feline coronaviruses (S), feline leukemia virus (FeLV; V,S,M,L), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV; V,S,M,L), and feline panleukopenia virus.
- A Bacterial infection: The primary bacteria associated with gastrointestinal tract disease in cats include Salmonella spp. (S,M,L), Campylobacter jejuni (M,L), Clostridium perfringens (L,rare), Helicobacter spp, bacterial overgrowth syndrome (S), bacterial peritonitis (S), and bacterial cholangiohepatitis (S).
- A parasitic infection: Parasitic infection with worms or single celled parasites such as Giardia or Tritrichomonas.
Other Factors
- An intestinal disease: Inflammation of the colon (called colitis) may be short or long term.
- Constipation: Constipation may seem counterintuitive. Older cats are prone to developing motility problems in their colons leading to constipation. In these cases, the cats often manage to only pass a small amount of more liquid stools around the obstruction.
When Diarrhea in cats a cause of major concern
Diarrhea that lasts for 24 hours probably won’t cause a problem unless you have an older cat or a kitten.
If it lasts longer, your cat can get dehydrated, which can be dangerous.
If your cat has Diarrhea for two days or more, the diarrhea needs to be treated.
Cat Diarrhea is an emergency if the feces are black or bloody, or accompanied by other signs of illness—like fever, vomiting, lethargy or sluggishness, or lack of appetite. Call your Vet immediately.
If those symptoms occur and persist, call your veterinarian immediately.
Content reference : https://pets.webmd.com/cats/the-scoop-on-cat-poop | https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/health-care/cat-conditions/cat-diarrhea
Photo Courtesy: https://pixabay.com/
Very helpful information.
Thank you.