I am an avid animal lover and I love writing about cats in particular.
This guide will help you figure out why your kitty might have diarrhea and how you can help get her digestive system back on track.
kittens and diarrhea
When our kittens get sick, we need to feed them the right foods so they don’t have to suffer from bowel discomfort, dehydration, growth retardation, and pain.
While a simple case of running may seem like a minor problem, it can actually be a sign of something more serious. If it only happens once in a while and lasts for a short time, then it may just be an upset stomach. But if it happens frequently or over long periods of time, it could mean anything from a sensitive stomach that requires special foods to serious gastrointestinal upset.
To help your kitty, you need to identify why the GI tract is producing diarrhea instead of normal stool. If environmental and dietary factors are ruled out, you should see a veterinarian to identify any underlying problems. While you wait for tests and diagnosis, a change in diet could bring quick relief and comfort to your cat.
How adorable is this hungry baby kitty?
What to feed a cat with diarrhea
You should adjust your kitty’s diet to help soothe her digestive tract and reduce diarrhea as best you can.
natural and raw diet
In all honesty, the best food for diarrhea is natural, raw food. Of course, this type of diet can cause potential problems, such as foodborne illness. But it’s natural for cats to eat raw meat, and prepackaged kibble can also cause foodborne illness. You can cook the meat if you’re really worried, but many people who feed their cats raw meat encounter very few complications.
Why this diet is good
Feeding your kitty raw or natural food removes harmful preservatives and chemicals from her diet, helping you determine whether or not the food is causing the diarrhea. Raw foods also provide taurine, a vital vitamin that many prepackaged foods leave out. If the loose stools go away with a change in diet, you know for sure that the unhealthy, processed food was the cause.
If you’re interested in sticking to readily available foods, opt for natural, “fresh” foods instead of dry kibble. These formulas are kept in the refrigerator and are perishable. They generally do not contain preservatives. They are also convenient if you don’t want to prepare anything but want to feed your cat the least processed diet available.
Canned Food vs. Dry Food
Here’s a quick breakdown of the common differences between canned and dry foods.
Canned food
- These can be healthy depending on how processed they are. You must remember that they can contain as many preservatives as dry foods.
- Cans containing whole chunks of meat are better than those with mystery mash.
- Check the ingredients to make sure you’re getting more meat and fewer preservatives.
Dry food
There are some problems with dry food.
- Many argue that cats should not, under any circumstances, be fed dry food. The problem with dry kibble is that they don’t contain enough meat but are packed with carbohydrates.
- The main complaints are that they contain too much protein from plants instead of meat, and that the large amount of preservatives that are required to give this food its long shelf life is extremely harmful.
- You can still find decent dry foods, but you should do your research and compare different brands, ingredients, and preservatives.
- On the plus side, dry food brands offer many more options, such as formulas for sensitive stomachs, indoor formulas, and age-specific formulas.
Check the litter box frequently for unusual feces.
I Changed Diet: What Else Could Be Causing My Cat’s Diarrhea?
- If switching to a healthier diet didn’t help your kitty get better, then there’s a much more serious problem at hand. If the diarrhea continues, you should take your cat to the vet for a checkup.
- Chronic loose stools can be a symptom of an irritated bowel, poisoning, cancer, parasites, or another health problem.
Why do some foods cause diarrhea?
- Unfortunately, many store-bought formulas are only good for keeping animals fed and alive, but not designed to keep them healthy. They may be cheap and your kitty may even like the smell and taste, but this does not mean that these foods are good for her.
- If you take a look at the ingredients, there are many names that you can’t pronounce or even recognize. These chemicals and preservatives are really harmful to your cat’s health. They can cause vomiting, skin problems and, of course, diarrhea.
- In addition to containing harmful ingredients, these formulas do not contain enough of the foods cats need, such as high-quality animal protein. They also have vegetables and grains, such as corn or wheat, that are high on the ingredient list. Cats do not graze on vegetation. They are carnivores.
- This combination of inappropriate ingredients, preservatives, and chemicals can easily cause your kitty to make uncomfortable poops.
Causes of short-term diarrhea
There are many different reasons why your kitty has diarrhea for a short period of time.
- Stress. It could come from the introduction of a new pet into your home, a move, or some other event that causes your kitty’s digestive tract to react to her stress.
- The disease could also cause diarrhea. Watch for other signs of illness as well.
- If your cat has recently been around stray animals or your neighbors’ pets, it may have contracted a parasite.
- A sudden change in diet could cause an upset stomach.
This article is accurate and true to the best knowledge and belief of the author. It is not intended to replace the formal and individualized diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription or advice of a veterinary medical professional. Animals showing signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
ptcgod on August 16, 2013:
Very nice and informative center. I have a few homemade cat food recipe hubs if you’d like to check them out.