Diarrhea is not uncommon in cats. Mild diarrhea often goes away on its own. If the diarrhea lasts longer than a day, the cat must be examined by a vet . When should you go to the vet and which cat food is suitable for diarrhea? Find out here.
Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that manifests itself due to a wide variety of causes. As a rule, diarrhea in cats - as is often assumed - is not caused by something the cat has eaten, but is often triggered by bacteria, viruses and parasites such as worms, giardia or coccidia.
It is also possible that the cat's diarrhea is a side effect of infections, inflammation, hormonal disorders or chronic renal insufficiency. In addition to the reasons for diarrhea mentioned above, it can sometimes also be caused by something the cat has ingested.
Finally, there is also the possibility that the cat's diarrhea is caused by stress. Stress factors for the cat can be changes in the household, e.g. moving house, a new person moving in, new furniture or a different position for the litter tray. Or perhaps the cat is constantly being harassed by another cat.
Normally a cat's poop is well formed. If it is a little softer, this is no cause for concern. However, if the stool is mushy or even liquid, this is called diarrhea. This is also known medically as diarrhea . The cat goes to the litter tray more often than it normally does and the amount of stool may also be higher than you are used to.
It is possible that the cat can no longer control its bowel movements well, goes to the litter tray quickly or wants to be let outside straight away.
It may also be in pain. It may then meow loudly. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, it may also be tired. The problem: If the cat suffers from diarrhea for a longer period of time, it must be taken to the vet urgently .
In general, the reason for the diarrhea should be found in order to avoid it in the future. First of all, it is important to keep an eye on the cat's general condition. However, it may also be a symptom of a serious illness. This may be indicated by vomiting, abdominal pain, apathy or complete exhaustion.
If a kitten or a young cat has diarrhea, you should consider whether to go to the vet within a day. Only if the condition improves within 24 hours can you do without, otherwise you should not wait any longer. This is because young animals can dehydrate very quickly. This also applies to weak, old or sick cats, whose organism is more susceptible.
Basically, you can say that the more liquid the diarrhea is, the higher the risk of dehydration. If the cat is not willing to drink enough fluids, you should go to the vet immediately. Other reasons are blood in the stool, fever, weight loss or very conspicuous behavior.
You can help the vet to find the cause if you bring him a sample of your cat's stool. An analysis of the stool can show, among other things, whether parasites are responsible for the diarrhea. A blood count can also help to find out the reason for the diarrhea.
You can also provide helpful tips by giving the vet as much information as possible about the course of the illness : When and how often does the diarrhea occur? Has the consistency changed? Have there been similar cases before?
The sick cat's gastrointestinal tract recovers best if it is spared. Cats with diarrhea should therefore not be given any food for the first 24 hours. However, it is important that the cat consumes small amounts of liquid.
Outdoor cats should - if possible - stay indoors during this period. Once the diarrhea has disappeared after 24 hours, the cat can be offered food again in small portions. It is advisable to divide the food rations into at least five small meals.
We recommend feeding a special food that is tailored to the needs of cats with diarrhea . animonda INTEGRA PROTECT Intestinal is suitable for feeding after acute diarrhea. The food provides highly digestible animal proteins on the one hand and well-tolerated carbohydrates on the other. A moderate fat content facilitates rapid gastric emptying.
To ensure good digestibility of the diet food , the fiber content (crude fiber) has been reduced as much as possible. In contrast, the electrolyte content (sodium and potassium) has been increased to compensate for the loss caused by diarrhea.