What Causes Diarrhea In Kittens?

Kitten diarrhea can be caused by various factors, including food allergies, overfeeding, and ingestion of inedible items. Food allergies, overfeeding, and ingestion of bones, fabrics, or kitty litter can create intestinal blockages if swallowed. A poor diet is one of the most common reasons kittens suffer from diarrhea, but other possible causes include bacterial infections, parasites, infections, digestive disorders, environmental stress, and ingestion of toxic substances.

Kittens have sensitive stomachs, and simple changes to their environment or diet can easily lead to diarrhea. Changes in diet, such as starting a new formula, can trigger diarrhea. Premature weaning and consuming biologically incompatible foods, such as cheese or chocolate, can also cause diarrhea.

Intestinal parasites, bacterial infections, viral infections, malformed colon and rectum, and environmental changes can also contribute to diarrhea in kittens. Cow’s milk, which is difficult for them to digest, can also cause diarrhea in cats and kittens. Additionally, kittens may eat non-food items, such as cheese or chocolate, which can also cause diarrhea. It is essential to consult a vet when a kitten experiences diarrhea to ensure their health and well-being.

How do you fix a kitten with diarrhea?

Home Remedies for Diarrhea in KittensOffer a bland diet, like two parts cooked white rice mixed with one part boiled, boneless, skinless chicken breast. Typically, it is best to offer small, frequent meals when feeding a bland diet. Add a probiotic to your kitten’s diet to promote digestive health.

At some point, most kittens will experience diarrhea. It may range from a mild case with one or two incidents to a more severe case with multiple, frequent episodes of watery diarrhea.

Diarrhea can be a serious medical condition for kittens because their bodies aren’t as well-equipped to handle diarrhea as adult cats. They can quickly become dehydrated and malnourished.

It’s important to monitor your kitten closely and work with your veterinarian to determine the most appropriate steps. Here’s what you need to know about diarrhea in kittens.

Why does my cat have diarrhea but is acting normal?

Mild bouts of diarrhea can be quite common in our feline friends and may be caused by mild intestinal distress caused by our kitty either eating something that doesn’t agree with them such as table scraps, or just from the act of switching to a new brand or flavor of food.

With that being said, there are also a number of more serious health conditions that may be contributing to your cat suffering from diarrhea.

What causes diarrhea in pets?. Below are some of the most common reasons for cat diarrhea:

Can wet food give kittens diarrhea?

If your kitten is not eating much dry food, you may have to compensate with extra canned food. Just don’t overdo it! Again, too much canned food can cause diarrhea, which can lead to serious dehydration.

Can too much wet food cause diarrhea in kittens?

If your kitten is not eating much dry food, you may have to compensate with extra canned food. Just don’t overdo it! Again, too much canned food can cause diarrhea, which can lead to serious dehydration. By the time your kitten is approximately 11-12 months old, it is ready to switch to an adult food.

Should I stop wet food if kitten has diarrhea?

1. 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.

However, it’s best to simplify your cat’s diet. Don’t feed them any treats or table scraps and focus only on the core, nutritionally-complete cat food that you offer every day.

If you have recently changed your cat’s diet, go back to what you were previously feeding and see if your cat’s diarrhea resolves. One or more of the ingredients in the new food may not agree with your cat.

Can cats diarrhea heal itself?

In healthy adult cats, mild diarrhea that is not accompanied by other symptoms can resolve on its own within 24-48 hours. However, seek vet care right away if:

• Diarrhea lasts longer than 24 hours
• Other symptoms, such as vomiting, lethargy, or loss of appetite, accompany it
• Your cat has an underlying health condition
• There is digested blood or a large amount of fresh blood in the stool
• A young kitten is experiencing severe diarrhea

After consulting a vet, you can help your cat with diarrhea at home in a few ways. Provide access to plenty of clean, fresh water to combat dehydration. A vet may recommend fasting your cat, offering a bland diet, or changing their diet. Note: fasting a cat should only be performed under the guidance of a veterinarian, as it can be dangerous for the pet. Finally, vet-approved anti-diarrheal medications may help relieve the symptom. Never give a cat medications your vet has not approved.

Diarrhea is a common symptom of many conditions and cannot always be prevented. However, there are steps cat owners can take to reduce potential causes. Avoid sudden food changes or offering table scraps to your cat. Keep other foods and tempting non-food items, such as houseplants, away and out of reach. Always keep parasite prevention and vaccinations up-to-date and discuss potential side effects of medications with your vet. Finally, taking your cat to receive regular wellness exams and testing can help catch any underlying conditions before symptoms begin. If your cat is experiencing diarrhea, or you have questions about the causes of diarrhea in cats, you can make an online virtual care appointment to discuss your cat’s health with a Vetster online vet.

Why is my cat’s poop runny and smelly?

Very smelly stools usually mean that something’s out of balance in the digestive system. This can range from not tolerating the diet well to inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, parasites, stress, or other systemic disease.

Metallic smells usually indicate that iron is in the stool, which can be a sign of blood in the stool.

Is it normal for a kitten to have 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. If you’ve recently started to wean kittens and you see diarrhea for more than 2 bowel movements, scale back and put them on a simple diet of formula to see if the body just needs more time to adjust. Watch my video on the dangers of premature weaning!

Supportive Care for Diarrhea. Treating the cause of diarrhea is essential to ending it. But regardless of the cause, you’ll also need to treat the most deadly symptom of diarrhea: dehydration. Dehydration happens quickly with kittens exhibiting diarrhea, and it can lead to a domino effect of medical issues.

One way to help address hydration in kittens with diarrhea is to provide an electrolyte solution in place of water. Rather than mix the kitten’s powder formula with water, you can switch to using unflavored Pedialyte.** Pedialyte contains an optimal balance of glucose and electrolytes that will help rehydrate the kitten and keep the muscles and organs functioning properly. Be sure to use a flavorless product and to keep it fresh according to the label’s instructions.

Will cat diarrhea go away on its own?

In most cases of acute diarrhea, the body’s own healing mechanisms (such as the immune system) can help cats heal in addition to conservative treatment—such as probiotics and other supplements —or even a short-term diet change.

Some cases of acute diarrhea might need short term oral medications.

Chronic diarrhea will need to be investigated with diagnostic testing and even hospitalization. Typically, chronic diarrhea often results in a medical diagnosis or long-term treatment plan.

Why is my kitten’s poop runny and smelly?

Worms. Parasitic worms are another of the most likely causes of foul-smelling faeces in kittens. As well as smelly stools, intestinal worms can also cause excessive gas, diarrhoea, weight loss and inflammation in the gut. In severe cases, you might also see a swollen belly, known as abdominal distension.

However, there will not always be obvious symptoms of intestinal worms. It’s very common for kittens to pick up worms. Some types can be transmitted through their mum’s milk, or even through the uterus while they’re still in the womb. This is why it’s very important to regularly treat kittens and their mum for worms. Speak to your vet about worming treatment if you’re unsure.

Infection. Gastrointestinal infections are another potential cause of foul-smelling faeces in kittens. Your vet may suspect this as the cause if your kitten also appears generally unwell.

Can overfeeding a kitten cause diarrhea?

Overfeeding kittens, especially those who are underweight or malnourished, is a common cause of diarrhea. Therefore, for the first 24 hours of feeding a bottle baby, dilute the kitten milk replacer formula. Use 1 part formula to 3 or 4 parts water. This will help kittens adjust to their new, rich diet. Oral electrolyte formulas can be helpful to stop diarrhea, but always make sure you use a kitten-specific brand, like Kitten Lyte, or an unflavored Pedialyte for children. The formula should be given at body temperature to prevent stressing the gut or chilling the kitten.

Switching brands of kitten milk replacer formula is another potential cause of diarrhea. If you are switching between brands, gradually introduce the new one over several days. Always use kitten milk replacer; never use cow’s milk. It causes diarrhea because kittens are intolerant to lactose, the sugar in cow’s milk.

Weaning can also cause diarrhea, as the gut adjusts to new food. Begin weaning at around 4 weeks of age. Choose a high-quality, wet kitten food where possible, as this has more calories and nutrients that kittens need.