What can I feed my cat with loose stools

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Cat Diarrhea Treatment: What to Give Cats With Diarrhea

When To Go To the Veterinarian for Cat Diarrhea

Evaluate the severity of your cats diarrhea and their overall condition when trying to decide if they should see a veterinarian.

If your cat has relatively mild diarrhea and isnt showing other symptoms, try some at-home treatment first.

Call your veterinarian immediately if:

Your cat is young, old, or has an underlying health problem that could make them vulnerable to the effects of dehydration.
Your cat is:
The diarrhea is abundant, watery, explosive, or frequent.
The diarrhea contains blood or is dark and tarry.

Cat Diarrhea Treatment Plan

Once youve determined that your cat is a candidate for home treatment, you may wonder what to give cats for diarrhea.

Lets look at a few at-home remedies for cat diarrhea.

1. Change Your Cats Food

There is no need to withhold food from cats who have diarrhea.

In fact, doing so can hinder the intestinal tracts ability to heal itself and put cats at risk for a potentially fatal type of liver disease calledhepatic lipidosis.

However, its best to simplify your cats diet. Dont feed them any treats or table scraps and focus only on the core, nutritionally-completecat foodthat you offer every day.

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

Even if you are feeding the same brand and type of food as before but have just opened a new batch, it might be worth buying a new bag or case from a different lot number to rule out the possibility of contamination.

More chronic adverse reactions to food can develop at any timea cat may have been eating the same food for years or recently been switched to something new.

Many cats with food intolerances or allergies will experience relief from their symptoms when they eat a hypoallergenicor low-antigen diet.

The best low-antigen foods are only available through veterinarians, but over-the-counter options do work for some cats. Look for diets that are made from novel protein sources. All diet changes should be approved by your vetthey know your pets health history and can ensure a change in food is a safe choice.

2. Fiber

Some types of cat diarrhea get better with a low-fiber (highly digestible) diet. A low-fiber diet may be worth it if your cat doesnt have diarrhea often but when they do they produce a lot of stools. Look for foods that are advertised as being highly digestible or good for cats with sensitive stomachs.

Certain types of cat diarrhea tend to respond to fiber supplementationparticularly conditions that make cats defecate frequently but produce only a small amount of feces.

Unflavored psyllium and canned pumpkin or pumpkin powder are available fiber supplements.

No hard and fast rules for how to dose psyllium or pumpkin in cats exist. Starting with one to two teaspoons of either mixed into your cats food over one day is a reasonable place to start.

3. Encourage Water and Electrolyte Intake

Cats with diarrhea need to take in sufficient amounts of water to prevent dehydration.

Keep your cats water bowls filled with fresh, clean water and consider adding an extra bowl that contains diluted chicken or beef broth. A water fountain is also something you can use to encourage your cat to drink more water.

Another easy way to increase your cats water intake is to switch them from kibble to a wet canned diet. It's best to stick with the canned food equivalent (same brand and flavor) to avoid further stomach upset. Temporarily, you can even mix an extra tablespoon or two of warm water into your cats wet canned food.

4. Probiotics

Healthy bacterial populations within a cats intestinal tract are necessary for normal digestion. Sometimes when they are disrupted, a cats diarrhea will continue even after the initial insult (stress, disease, antibiotic therapy, etc.) has resolved.

Probiotic supplements can help return a cats intestinal bacterial population to normal. Pick a probiotic that is labeled for use in cats and made by a reputable company.

5. Anti-Diarrheal Medications

Because some are dangerous to cats, most anti-diarrheal medications should not be used without your vet's supervision. However,kaolin-pectin supplements can be used safely in cats.

Monitoring Your Cats Condition

If home remedies for your cat's diarrhea dont work within 48 hours or other symptoms develop or get worse, call your veterinarian.

Cat Diarrhea Treatment FAQs

Can you give cats Pepto Bismol?

What can I give kittens for diarrhea?

Diarrhea in kittens can be caused by many different things thus the treatment is variable. Probiotics and fiber supplementation can help kittens with diarrhea to bulk up the stool.

If a kitten has diarrhea lasting more than 24 hoursor if they have any other symptomsthey see their vet for an exam.

Will yogurt help a cat with diarrhea?

While yogurt might help humans with diarrhea, it'snot helpful for cats. Yogurt doesnt contain the bacteria that a cat needs to help support their digestive system.

Probiotic supplements should be used instead. The dairy and sugar in yogurt can also make your cats upset stomach worsecats are not designed to eat human food.

WRITTEN BY

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary...

Diarrhoea in cats

If you notice that your cat is going to the litter tray more often than usual, their stool is more liquid, or it has an increased volume compared to normal, then they may have diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea in cats is an increase in the frequency, volume, or liquid content of faeces, leading to unformed or loose stools. The consistency of your cats diarrhoea can vary from soft but formed through to liquid/watery, and the colour can be darker or lighter than normal stools or even green, red or yellow.

If you think your cat has diarrhoea, its important not to panic. Most of the time the condition is temporary and not serious, and is usually solved quickly with a simple change of diet or appropriate medical treatment from your vet. The severity and the duration of diarrhoea episodes vary depending on the underlying cause.

Diarrhoea in cats is usually classified as either:

Acute (sudden onset and short lived) or chronic (more than 2-3 weeks duration)
Persistent (constant) or intermittent (i.e. comes and goes)

As you can imagine, the most serious of cases are chronic and persistent.

Causes of diarrhoea in cats

Diarrhoea in cats can occur for a wide variety of different reasons. Some possible causes include:

What Do You Feed A Cat With Loose Stools?

A cat with loose stools may need a change in diet. Some possible causes of loose stools are eating too much, eating too fast, or a change in food.

Cats with loose stools may also have an intolerance to certain ingredients in their food.

How can I firm up my cats stool?

There are a few things that you can do to help your cats stool become firmer. First, try adding a small amount of canned pumpkin to their diet.

Pumpkin is a natural fibre that helps to keep things moving, which will help to prevent constipation. Secondly, try adding fresh ginger to their diet.

Ginger is a natural remedy for constipation, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract. Finally, make sure they are getting enough exercise.

A lot of cats benefit from a daily walk, and kitty toys can also provide a little stimulation.

Why is my cat having loose stools?

Your cat may be having loose stools because they are not eating enough. If your cat is not eating enough food, they may not have enough energy to digest their food properly, which can lead to loose stools.

Why is my cats poop never solid?

There are a few reasons why an individual cats poop may never solidify. Cats have a high degree of water in their system, which keeps their stool soft.

Additionally, their intestines are very short, which helps them to absorb nutrients quickly. Finally, their stomach is very small, which means that their food and water consumption is low.

Is wet or dry food better for cats with diarrhea?

It depends on the individual cats diet and health condition. Some cats may benefit from a diet that is predominantly wet, while others may be better off eating dry food.

Ultimately, the best way to determine what food is best for your cat with diarrhea is to consult with a veterinarian.

Can wet food cause diarrhea cats?

There is no definitive answer, but there are a few theories. One theory is that wet food can upset the balance of the cats gastrointestinal system, leading to diarrhea.

In some cases, wet food may also contain harmful bacteria that can cause diarrhea. Another theory is that wet food can increase the amount of moisture in the cats intestinal tract, which can lead to diarrhea.

Does wet cat food cause soft stool?

It is still a matter of scientific debate. Some experts believe that wet cat food can cause soft stool because it dilutes the cats natural bacteria and fiber content, while others believe that the wet food itself is not the cause of the soft stool, but rather that the changes in a cats diet may lead to softer stool.

There is no definitive answer, but it is generally recommended that cats eat dry food only.

Can dry food cause diarrhea in cats?

There is some debate as to whether or not dry food can cause diarrhea in cats. Some experts contend that the food can cause a change in the intestinal flora, which can lead to diarrhea.

Others say that the actual food itself is not the cause, but rather the lack of water that is often included in dry food diets. It is important to be sure that your cat is getting enough water, both wet and dry, to avoid diarrhea.

What does unhealthy cat poop look like?

A healthy cats poop will be firm and have a consistent shape. Unhealthy poop will be loose, have a lot of Messy bits and pieces, and may have a strong smell.

How often should a cat poop on wet food?

A cats natural inclination is to defecate on a daily basis. However, depending on the cats age, diet, activity level, and other factors, a cats poop may come out more or less frequently.

A general guideline is to expect a cat to poop once every two to three days.

Is Tuna good for cats with diarrhea?

It depends on the individual cats diet and health. Some cats may do well on a diet that includes tuna, while others may not tolerate it well.

Ultimately, it is up to the cats owner to decide whether or not tuna is a good food choice for their cat.

Should you withhold food from cat with diarrhea?

Food withholding is one possible treatment for cats with diarrhea. It is generally recommended to withhold food for two days in cats with diarrhea caused by bacteria, and for one day in cats with diarrhea caused by viruses.

After withholding food, cats should be re-fed a bland, low-fat diet.

Are carrots good for cats with diarrhea?

There is no clear consensus on whether or not carrots are beneficial for cats with diarrhea. Some experts believe that they may help to reduce the amount of diarrhea, while others believe that they may not be effective at all.

Some anecdotal evidence suggests that cats with diarrhea may enjoy the taste of carrots, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. Ultimately, it is up to the individual cats veterinarian to decide if carrots are appropriate for their pets diet.