Our feline friends hide disease and injury incredibly well, so cat parents should be aware of subtle signs of illness. As a cat parent, you need to pay attention to your cat’s circadian rhythms, energy levels, eating and drinking interests, and urination and defecation habits.
When it comes to defecation, consistency, color, and frequency are factors that you should pay close attention to—even if it feels slightly awkward to bring up, your veterinarian wants to hear about your pet’s poop!
And if your cat has diarrhea, you should definitely take notice. Here’s what you need to know about diarrhea in cats.
Is Cat Diarrhea Normal or Serious?
Diarrhea in cats is a common symptom of many diseases, and it is never normal. The causes range from harmless to deadly.
Kittens, senior cats, cats with chronic disease, and pregnant cats are all at increased risk of death related to complications from untreated diarrhea.
If diarrhea is not self-resolving within a 24-hour period, especially in these populations, you should seek out veterinary care.
Stool consistency suggests the degree of severity to your veterinarian. Liquid diarrhea is concerning because it dehydrates and malnourished an animal quickly. The soft, formed stool is generally less severe but should still be assessed by a veterinarian.
What Causes Diarrhea in Cats?
Cat diarrhea can be acute or chronic, and there are different sets of possible causes for each.
Acute means that diarrhea just happened suddenly or doesn’t go on for a long period of time. Chronic diarrhea is characterized as lasting for two to three weeks or longer.
Chronic diarrhea is of particular concern because it can cause life-threatening complications. Long-lasting diarrhea that is resistant to treatment can often be multifactorial, with multiple treatments needed for complete resolution.
If no improvement is seen in your cat’s diarrhea within two to three days of initiating therapy, you should contact your veterinarian to check for potential complicating factors.
