These parasites have the potential to become life-threatening to small children, elderly adults and those with compromised health. Some microscopic parasites ( Giardia and toxoplasmosis) can cross species boundaries and can be difficult to eliminate. Important note: If anyone in your household also has diarrhea, take your cat to the vet and the person to the doctor right away. Because there are so many causes of diarrhea, the treatment will vary. If you see no emergency signs, call your vet and ask about over-the-counter medications or options for at-home treatments for your cat. Learn more signs of a true cat emergency. A fever, is depressed or seems dehydrated, or if your cat’s gums are pale or yellow.You suspect your cat may have eaten something toxic or poisonous.Blood in the diarrhea or the poop is black or tarry.Call you veterinarian immediately if your cat has diarrhea and: It's important to know the signs of an emergency. Black blood in the poop usually indicates a more serious problem higher up in the digestive tract. Red blood in the poop usually indicates a problem with the lower intestine/colon or rectum.
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If your cat is passing blood in their stools or if you notice any weakness or other signs of debilitation along with the diarrhea, contact your veterinarian immediately and have your cat seen as soon as possible. If your cat seems fine but has recurrent episodes of diarrhea that do not seem to be resolving, call your veterinarian for a non-emergency appointment. However, if you notice any lethargy, fever or change in behavior, call your veterinarian for an appointment as soon as possible. If your cat seems OK after a single bout of diarrhea, it may be safe to simply monitor them. Use these guidelines to determine if you need to rush to your veterinarian. Senior cats, along with kittens and small-sized adult cats, are at special risk of becoming dehydrated from even a single episode of diarrhea. If your cat is producing loose, watery stools and it persists for more than a day, take a sample to your veterinarian. If your cat goes outside, you’ll have to observe them go, or look for their poop after.
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The following signs of illness often accompany diarrhea:Ĭheck your indoor cat’s litter box if you suspect diarrhea. And a cat who has a bout of watery poop and then continues to strain is not suffering from constipation it truly is diarrhea. Frequent, urgent pooping of loose, watery stools are the classic signs that your senior cat has diarrhea. The signs of diarrhea can be quite diverse in any age cat. A cat food with fewer allergens or treatments for a disease might reduce or eliminate the diarrhea.
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Obtain veterinary assistance if the cause isn’t apparent or it is an ongoing problem. Overactive thyroid, food allergies, kidney failure, cancer, poisoning (from houseplants, rat poison, human medications, parasites and infectious disease, among other things), can all result in diarrhea. Knowing the cause of the diarrhea is the first step to preventing any recurrence. You and your veterinarian might have to play detective to determine the cause of your elderly cat’s diarrhea. Think about anything that might have changed recently in your cat’s life. Stress can be triggered by a recent move, new pets in the house, the loss of a pet and many other things. When a senior cat has diarrhea, it’s most likely a sign of another ailment, such as pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism or stress. I don’t like to see any cat suffering from diarrhea, but it can be especially difficult for senior cats (age 11 and older) to handle. These cases have ranged from something simple, like a cat eating too many cat treats, to something more complex, like a senior cat with an overactive thyroid condition. After practicing as a veterinarian for more than 20 years and being chief of staff at Animal House of Chicago, I have treated my fair share of old cat diarrhea.