Diarrhea in Cats: Meaning, Symptoms and Treatment Process
Diarrhea in cats is a condition of frequent and watery defecation that occurs as a result of irregular functioning of the intestines. This health problem can occur for many reasons and can sometimes be a sign of a serious underlying problem.
What is Diarrhea in Cats?
Diarrhea in cats, just like in humans, is a disorder originating from the gastrointestinal tract and usually manifests itself as abnormal shape, color, consistency and frequency of stool. Diarrhea may occur as the cat's bowel movements become more frequent and the stool becomes watery or runny. The causes and consequences of diarrhea may vary. Therefore, a specialist should be consulted for a correct diagnosis and treatment.
Diarrhea can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Acute diarrhea usually goes away on its own within a few days and can be controlled with simple treatment. Chronic diarrhea may indicate a serious underlying cause and may require serious treatment because it is important.
Causes of Cat Diarrhea
What is Diarrhea in Cats?
Diarrhea in cats, just like in humans, is a disorder originating from the gastrointestinal tract and usually manifests itself as abnormal shape, color, consistency and frequency of stool. Diarrhea may occur as the cat's bowel movements become more frequent and the stool becomes watery or runny. The causes and consequences of diarrhea may vary. Therefore, a specialist should be consulted for a correct diagnosis and treatment.
Diarrhea can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Acute diarrhea usually goes away on its own within a few days and can be controlled with simple treatment. Chronic diarrhea may indicate a serious underlying cause and may require serious treatment because it is important.
Causes of Cat Diarrhea
Diarrhea in cats can be a common symptom of many diseases and should not be taken lightly. Causes range from harmless to fatal. Especially kittens, older cats, chronically ill cats, and pregnant cats are at higher risk of death due to complications from untreated diarrhea than other cats.
Acute and chronic diarrhea have different causes.
Acute diarrhea describes situations in which diarrhea occurs suddenly and does not continue for a long time, while chronic diarrhea is defined as diarrhea that lasts two to three weeks or longer.
Acute Diarrhea in Cats
- The underlying causes of acute diarrhea in cats can be examined in six main categories.
- Infectious diseases (parasites, protozoa, bacterial and fungal diseases, viral diseases)
- Inflammatory (such as food allergies)
- Metabolic and Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes and hyperthyroidism)
- Cancer cells
- Obstructive causes (blockages)
- Toxic substances
Chronic Diarrhea in Cats
Chronic diarrhea can be a sign of worrisome situations because it can lead to life-threatening complications. Long-term treatment-resistant diarrhea can often be multifactorial and require more than one treatment for complete resolution. Conditions that can cause chronic diarrhea are as follows:
- Resistant infections
- Chronic inflammatory diseases
- Congenital diseases
- Metabolic and endocrine disorders
- Cancer cells
Red or Bloody Diarrhea in Cats
Bloody diarrhea is always worrying and should be controlled by a Veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Dark red or black discoloration of stool may be a sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
- A bright red color in the stool or a red coating of the stool may be a sign of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Mucus-covered stools may indicate possible dehydration or parasitic infection.
Yellow and Green Diarrhea in Cats
Discolored stool can sometimes be related to something your cat recently swallowed. For example, grass or green-colored material can cause green stool. Yellow or green diarrhea may also be observed as a symptom of the following conditions:
- Liver diseases (Ex: liver failure)
- Zinc poisoning
- Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
- Overgrowth of bacterial pathogens
What are the Symptoms of Cat Diarrhea?
Diarrhea in cats may be indicative of an abnormality or imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea can occur for many reasons and can have serious effects on a cat's overall health. The most frequently observed symptoms are as follows:
- Change in Stool Consistency: The most distinctive feature of diarrhea is that the stool has a liquid or semi-liquid consistency. When diarrhea occurs, the stool may be watery, gelatinous or foamy.
- Increased Defecation Frequency: The cat may defecate more frequently than usual. This is an indication that bowel movements are speeding up.
- Blood or Mucus in Stool: Fresh, bright red blood in stool or black, tar-like stool may be a symptom of diarrhea. The presence of mucus is also an indication of irritation or inflammation in the intestine.
- Bad Odor: The feces of cats with diarrhea usually smell worse than normal.
- Abdominal Pain and Bloating: In some cats, diarrhea can cause abdominal pain. The cat's abdomen may feel tight or swollen to the touch.
- Lethargy: Cats with diarrhea usually lose their energy, become lethargic, and their motivation to play decreases.
- Loss of appetite: Another symptom of diarrhea is loss of appetite. The cat may begin to eat less than usual or refuse to eat altogether.
- Vomiting: Diarrhea can sometimes be accompanied by vomiting. This may indicate that the gastrointestinal tract is severely affected.
- Dehydration: Frequent defecation can cause the cat to become dehydrated. Symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, prominent eye sockets, and skin that has lost its elasticity.
- Weight Loss: In cases of chronic diarrhea, cats may lose weight in the long term.
How is Cat Diarrhea Diagnosed?
Your veterinarian may perform fecal tests, including fecal flotation, antigen testing, cytology, and culturing, to detect infectious or inflammatory diseases. Blood testing allows evaluation of metabolic or systemic causes of diarrhea.
Diagnosis of diarrhea in cats should primarily be based on physical examination and the history taken from the owner. Then, laboratory tests and advanced diagnostic methods are used when necessary. Generally, the following methods are followed during the diagnosis process:
Physical Examination: A complete physical examination is required to evaluate the cat's general health condition. During the examination, the cat's temperature, pulse and respiratory rate are checked. In addition, a careful abdominal examination is performed to detect signs of dehydration and abdominal pain.
Anamnesis: Detailed information is obtained from the cat's owner, such as the duration and frequency of diarrhea, the color and consistency of the feces. At the same time, information is obtained about the food the cat consumes, internal and external parasite vaccinations, other vaccinations, recent stress factors or behaviors such as eating foreign objects.
Laboratory Tests: Microscopic examination of the stool sample is essential to check for the presence of internal parasites. Biochemical blood tests, complete blood count, and measuring electrolyte levels can help identify underlying causes.
Advanced Diagnostic Methods: In cats with chronic diarrhea or in which there is difficulty in making a specific diagnosis, advanced diagnostic methods such as abdominal ultrasonography, x-ray, and endoscopy can be used.
It may not always be easy to determine the specific cause of diarrhea. However, it is possible to reach the correct diagnosis and treatment with a detailed anamnesis, a careful physical examination and correct laboratory tests.
Treatment of Diarrhea in Cats
Treatment of diarrhea in cats varies depending on the underlying cause. Accurately diagnosing the factors that cause diarrhea is key to creating an effective treatment plan.
- Supportive Treatment: A cat with diarrhea is likely to lose the fluids and electrolytes necessary for the body. Therefore, fluid therapy may be recommended to reduce the risk of dehydration.
- Diet Changes: Temporary use of an easily digestible diet is recommended for some cats. These types of diets are usually high protein and low fat. Additionally, prebiotic and probiotic supplements can also be applied.
- Antiparasitic Treatments: If internal parasites causing diarrhea are diagnosed, appropriate antiparasitic drugs can be applied.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotic treatment may be required in the presence of bacterial infections. However, the use of antibiotics is not recommended without knowing the exact cause of diarrhea.
- Other Medications: Motility regulators, anti-inflammatory and intestinal protective medications may be recommended depending on specific situations.
- Surgical Interventions: In diarrhea caused by a foreign object or tumor, surgical intervention may be required.
- Special Circumstances: If the cat's diarrhea is caused by a food allergy or intolerance, a special elimination diet may be required. The elimination diet helps determine which food the cat reacts to.
What Should Be Done to Prevent Diarrhea in Cats?
A vaccine that prevents diarrhea in cats has not yet been developed. If your cat frequently has diarrhea, it should not be forgotten that there may be underlying diseases such as pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, hyperthyroidism or food allergies. In such cases, attention should be paid to medication use and diet as recommended by your veterinarian.
To prevent cases of acute diarrhea, we recommend that you do not make sudden dietary changes and do not give your cat the foods you use yourself. In case of possible diarrhea, a veterinarian should be consulted without delay.
Can Diarrhea in Cats Be Transmitted to Humans?
While some of the causes of diarrhea in cats may be contagious to humans, some are specific to cats and cannot be transmitted to humans. Some situations that cause transmission to humans are as follows:
- Parasites: Some internal parasites, especially roundworms and protozoan parasites (e.g. Giardia), that can cause diarrhea in cats can be transmitted to humans. Since the eggs or cysts of these parasites may be found in the cat's feces, hands must be cleaned thoroughly after contact with feces.
- Bacterial infections: Some bacterial infections, especially Salmonella and Campylobacter, can be transmitted from cats to humans through feces.
- Viral infections: Most viral infections that cause diarrhea in cats are specific to cats and are not transmitted to humans.
- Contact with Feces: Direct contact with the feces of a cat with diarrhea may increase the risk of transmission of potential pathogens. Therefore, it is important to use gloves when cleaning cat feces or wash hands carefully after the procedure.
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