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Diarrhea in cats

Hi there! We are sorry you are here but happy to help. When your cat has diarrhea life can be no fun. Frequent trips to the litter box, lots of cleaning, stained carpets and not to mention the sad look on their face! Most episodes of diarrhea are short lived. However, diarrhea can be a sign of something more serious and if the episode is prolonged, can lead to serious dehydration. Here is how to tell if it is serious and what can be done.
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Symptom checker

Here are some signs that you should be paying close attention or seeking advice:

Dark black stool often with a tar like consistency.

This can mean that there is bleeding in the gut. That black color can indicate digested blood. This is a serious concern.

Bright red blood in the stool.

While this can be upsetting to see, a small amount of bright red blood on the stool can be minor. Bright red blood that accompanies mucous is commonly from inflammation in the colon and will resolve on its own. However, if you note a large volume of blood, the stool is watery, or it gets worse with time, this is a problem.

Is your pet a kitten and not up to date on vaccines yet?

Or have they just finished a series of vaccines in the last week? Kittens are at risk for serious infections before they are fully immune. Even when they have all of their shots it can take time for their bodies to develop the right amount of immunity.

What about worms? Have you seen any in the stool?

Are they taking a dewormer that was prescribed by a veterinarian? Some over the counter products are ineffective against certain types of worms. Sometimes you won’t see the worms in the stool until much later in the process of infection or not at all. If you are not sure if your pet is on an appropriate deworming routine, make sure you ask a veterinarian!

Have they also stopped eating and drinking?

If so, they can quickly become dehydrated and need supplemental fluids and/or electrolytes.

Are they also vomiting?

This is another risk of serious dehydration and also makes it much harder to treat your pet at home. 

Dark black stool often with a tar like consistency.

This can mean that there is bleeding in the gut. That black color can indicate digested blood. This is a serious concern.

Bright red blood in the stool.

While this can be upsetting to see, a small amount of bright red blood on the stool can be minor. Bright red blood that accompanies mucous is commonly from inflammation in the colon and will resolve on its own. However, if you note a large volume of blood, the stool is watery, or it gets worse with time, this is a problem.

Is your pet a kitten and not up to date on vaccines yet?

Or have they just finished a series of vaccines in the last week? Kittens are at risk for serious infections before they are fully immune. Even when they have all of their shots it can take time for their bodies to develop the right amount of immunity.

What about worms? Have you seen any in the stool?

Are they taking a dewormer that was prescribed by a veterinarian? Some over the counter products are ineffective against certain types of worms. Sometimes you won’t see the worms in the stool until much later in the process of infection or not at all. If you are not sure if your pet is on an appropriate deworming routine, make sure you ask a veterinarian!

Have they also stopped eating and drinking?

If so, they can quickly become dehydrated and need supplemental fluids and/or electrolytes.

Are they also vomiting?

This is another risk of serious dehydration and also makes it much harder to treat your pet at home. 

Does your pet need Urgent Care?

If it’s just one minor episode, probably not today. But if it is prolonged or there are any of the serious symptoms mentioned above, yes! Remember also to trust your gut too. If you think it’s serious it probably is. Scout is here to help!
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Here’s what you can do at home...

If the diarrhea is not too severe, there are several things you can do at home to avoid a visit to the veterinarian and make your pet more comfortable.
1

Hold off feeding one meal.

We know it’s hard not to feed your sad baby when they are feeling crumby. But sometimes the gut needs to rest. Make sure you still allow access to plenty of water!
2

When you start feeding again, choose a bland diet.

We like boiled chicken breast and white rice. However, some cats may prefer turkey or chicken flavored baby food (without additives). If your pet has food allergies, choose a different low-fat meat and/or bland carbohydrate source. You can also find pre-made bland diets at the pet store. If this trick works, that's great! Just make sure that you slowly add back in your pet’s normal diet over the next 3 days so they don’t go right back to where they started!
3

Avoid using over the counter diarrhea aids for humans.

Many of these are unsafe for pets or require specific dosing.
4

Don’t supplement electrolytes with sugary drinks.

This can throw off their system further.
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What can you expect from your visit?

Cats get diarrhea for a multitude of reasons. Come prepared to answer some questions! The Scout team will want to know their vaccine and deworming history, normal diet and any unusual foods eaten recently, if they go outside, if they get into things they shouldn’t at home, and more. History taking can give your Scout veterinarian the right background information to narrow down tests and get you help more efficiently.

Many people will bring a sample of the stool with them. It’s also ok to take a picture of the stool and let the Scout team collect a sample if needed. It’s up to you!

Your Scout veterinarian may recommend:

Bloodwork

Some of the consequences of diarrhea such as severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances require bloodwork to detect. There are also some blood tests that can help determine causes of diarrhea.

Fecal Testing

There are some parasites and infections that are best tested with looking directly at the stool.

Treatments

Your Scout veterinarian wants your pet to feel better just as much as you do! They may recommend fluids under the skin to help with dehydration, medications to directly treat the cause or symptoms and/or a specific diet to help your pet get back on track.

Follow up appointments

Most visits to Scout for diarrhea won’t require a follow up appointment. However, if the diarrhea does not resolve or there were any other issues uncovered during the visit, they may recommend a checkup to ensure your pet is back on track. If you have a primary care veterinarian that you normally see, you can choose to see them or come back to see Scout.
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