Effective Cat Diarrhea Treatments: What To Give Your Cat For Relief

July 12, 2024

Discovering diarrhea in your cat's litter box or finding that your cat hasn't made it to the litter box in time can be a cause for immediate concern. What steps should you take in such a situation?

Some cats may only exhibit diarrhea without any changes in their behavior, while others might show additional symptoms.

You can try to give some home remedies to ease your cat's upset stomach.

Here's how you can respond when your cat has diarrhea.

When To Visit The Veterinarian For Cat Diarrhea

Assess the severity of your cat's diarrhea and overall condition to determine if a visit to the veterinarian is necessary.

If your cat has mild diarrhea without other symptoms, you can try some home remedies first.

Contact your veterinarian immediately if:

Your cat is young, elderly, or has a pre-existing health condition that could increase their risk of dehydration.
Your cat is vomiting, depressed, lethargic in pain, or showing other concerning symptoms.
The diarrhea is excessive, watery, explosive, or occurs frequently.
Diarrhea contains blood or is tarry and dark.

Cat Diarrhea Treatment Plan:

Once you've determined that your cat is suitable for home treatment, you might wonder what you can give them for diarrhea. Here are some at-home remedies for cat diarrhea:

Change Your Cat's Diet

Do not withhold food: Withholding food can delay intestinal healing and risk hepatic lipidosis, a severe liver disease.
Simplify the diet: Avoid treats and table scraps, focusing solely on their regular, nutritionally-complete cat food.
Revert diet changes: If you recently changed their food, switch back to the previous one to see if diarrhea resolves.
Check for contamination: A new batch might be contaminated even with the same brand, so try a different lot number.
Consider food intolerances: Chronic food reactions can develop, so hypoallergenic or low-antigen diets might help. Consult your Veterinarian before making any diet changes.

Add Fiber

Low-fiber diet: Cats with occasional diarrhea and large stool volumes might benefit from a highly digestible, low-fiber diet.
Fiber supplements: For frequent but small stools, unflavored psyllium or canned pumpkin can help. Start with 1-2 teaspoons mixed into food daily.

Ensure Adequate Water and Electrolyte Intake

Prevent dehydration: Ensure your cat can access fresh water and consider adding diluted chicken or beef broth.
Use a water fountain: This can encourage more drinking.
Switch to wet food: Transition from kibble to wet canned food, preferably the same brand and flavor, to avoid further stomach upset. You can also mix warm water in a tablespoon or two into the wet food.

Use Probiotics

Restore gut bacteria: Probiotics can help normalize intestinal bacterial populations disrupted by stress, disease, or antibiotics. Choose a probiotic labeled for cats from a reputable company.

Administer Anti-Diarrheal Medications

Use with caution: Most anti-diarrheal medications should be used only under vet supervision. However, kaolin-pectin supplements are generally safe for cats.

These steps can help manage your cat's diarrhea at home, but always consult your vet for personalized advice.