What Can You Give A Cat That Has Diarrhea? Ways to Boost Recovery & Prevent Diarrhea
What does diarrhea look like in a cat? And what can you give a cat that has diarrhea in an emergency? The most effective solution to treat cat diarrhea is to take your cat to the vet immediately. But as far as home treatments go, this is what you can do right away to ease your cat’s discomfort.
What Are the Symptoms?
You can ease the symptoms of diarrhea at home depending on the symptoms that your cat is showing. But you can not treat diarrhea using home treatments. Diarrhea involves vomiting, dehydration, pain, and loose and runny stools. Whether it’s mild or severe diarrhea, you have to take your cat to the vet immediately.
Sometimes the wrong type of cat food, lack of fiber, and dehydration can cause diarrhea. You can switch to healthier foods that have more essential nutrients, protein, and immunity-boosting vitamins and minerals.
Here’s what you can do and give a cat that has diarrhea…
1. Probiotics
Probiotics encourage healthier bacteria growth in the intestinal tract. It boosts normal digestion without inflammation. Probiotics in plain yogurt will help ease the symptoms of diarrhea in a cat.
You can also ask the vet about healthy cat-friendly probiotic supplements that you can include in your cat’s diet on a daily basis.
Lots of external and internal factors contribute to worsening diarrhea in a cat. Such as stress, spoiled food, lactose intolerance, dehydration, lack of proper nutrient intake, and any other antibiotic treatment that your cat may be undergoing.
Probiotics are a good way to stop unnecessary digestive discomfort if your cat is not allergic to dairy.
2. Reduce Fiber Intake
Fiber is essential for cats but too much fiber can cause diarrhea. If you notice that your cat is passing a lot of stool, switch to a diet with low fiber. A certain percentage of fiber intake as a part of your cat’s daily diet and nutrient consumption is necessary.
But for cats with a sensitive digestive tract, fiber can produce loose stools. Make sure you visit the vet to determine what variation of diarrhea your cat is suffering from. And what’s the best low-fiber diet to treat cat diarrhea at home?
3. Electrolyte
Electrolyte is an essential thing to give to your cat to prevent and cure dehydration. This, along with sufficient water, relieves digestive discomfort associated with diarrhea.
During this period, keep a separate water bowl for your cat to drink clean water from. You can also place another clean bowl right next to the cat’s water bowl with electrolyte water. Consult with a vet for the correct electrolyte water for cats. You can either add electrolyte water to your cat’s canned food or feed them a few tablespoons of water using a cat feeding syringe.
4. Changing Cat Food
Treating diarrhea also depends on the type of food your cat was previously eating. Nutrition plays a significant role in preventing and curing diarrhea at home.
A vet will strongly recommend switching the cat’s diet as a course of treatment. This means adding foods that are low in fats and fiber and rich in complex carbohydrates with minimal amounts of fiber.
Keep a lookout on your cat’s stool. How often is your cat passing tools? Assessing this can help you decide the best course of treatment for your cat.
Changing your cat’s diet, along with the proper medication, is typically the best way to treat diarrhea in a healthy and effective way. You must feed your cat foods that are highly digestible. Foods with prebiotics and probiotics are therapeutic cat foods that most cats with diarrhea respond positively to.
If you’re worried about your cat’s allergies, ask your vet for the necessary meal plan to avoid further aggravating diarrhea or indigestion.
What Causes Diarrhea In Cats?
There are a few things that you should keep in mind that may cause diarrhea in cats.
1. Diet
Did you recently switch your cat’s diet? Some changes in nutrients, increased or decreased fiber intake, or certain ingredients can cause diarrhea.
It may seem like a simple and inconsequential change but a proper and healthy diet means everything to a cat. So be very mindful of what you feed your cat on a daily basis.
2. Food Allergies
Diarrhea is also caused by food allergies or sensitivities. It could also be that your cat has eaten something that he or she shouldn’t have. There are many things that are harmful to cats that may not be to humans.
Artificial sweeteners and preservatives can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. Take your cat to the vet immediately when you notice a change in stools, vomiting, etc. after feeding your cat something that is new.
3. Bacterial Infection/Worms
Deworming is very important for cats. If your cat is not dewormed regularly, parasites in stool are a common occurrence which may lead to diarrhea.
Kittens are given a deworming shot to avoid worms and unwanted bacteria. As adult cats, you are supposed to deworm your cat once every couple of months. A trip to the veterinarian is enough to know exactly how and when to deworm your cat to avoid any infection.
4. Pancreatitis/Liver Disease
Health diseases like pancreatitis or liver disease can cause diarrhea. Other symptoms such as weight loss, lack of appetite, and watery stools are also common symptoms of these illnesses.
If you notice any unusual changes in your pet, please consult with the vet for the proper treatment.
Final Thoughts
Caring for a cat with diarrhea is difficult but this article will help you. You can try these tips at home to boost your cat’s recovery along with the proper medication prescribed by a vet.
Let us know in the comments below what worked for your cat. And how soon did you see improvements in your cat’s health after trying some of the tips we’ve mentioned above.
