I've got a new kitten and has started to get diarrhea after a couple of day, any suggestions?

Question

First couple of days his poos were fine but then he started to get diarrhea. I've heard that if you change their food it gives them an upset tummy so i'm wondering if he had different food before i got him.

I've also heard that whiskers is bad for them but i don't want to change it now incase that makes his tummy worse!

Anyone experience the same thing or know what to do?

Answer 1

Hi there...there are several possibilities which cause kittens to suffer from diarrhoeal symptoms...itestinal parasites is one of the leading causes, however sudden changes with diet can also contribute to this as well. When changing preparing to change foods it's best to do this gradually by mixing the two. Switching foods should be done gradually over a course of several weeks. For example the first week would consist of 3/4 of old food mixed to 1/4 of new food then the next week 1/2 to 1/2 then the following week at 1/4 old to 3/4 new before completing the switch. Here's a schedule by Drs. Foster and Smith on how to best make the transition: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&aid=100

For more on sudden dietary changes: http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/diarrhea .

Other causes for diarrhoea:
Diary products: cats do not have the proper enzymes to properly break down the sugar in milk which is called 'lactose.' You may have heard of people who are lactose-intolerant. They are also missing these digestive enzymes. If the proper enzymes are not present, the lactose remains undigested and tends to ferment in the intestine and cause diarrhea.
For More on Milk and cats: http://www.cat-world.com.au/CatMilk.htm

The other culprit that could contribute to the diarrhoea may be various parasites/worms (coccidia, giardia, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, etc). There are different types of dewormers for each of the types of parasites. Therefore consider a vet visit to have her dewormed since some of the over the counter treatments do not eliminate all the types of parasites. For more on feline parasites:
http://www.peteducation.com:80/category_summary.cfm?cls=1&cat=1357

For more on causes of Diarrhoea: http://www.fabcats.org/diarrhoea.html

Contrary to what people believe canned food is helpful for cats with diarrhoea as this is a symptomatic of dehydration. Canned diets can supplement the intake of moisture so having both dry and canned are helpful. Any vet can confirm this fact.

Canned pumpkin (without spices) will also help firm up the loose stool symptoms: http://www.pets.ca/pettips/tips-75.htm

The above are just only a few causes as there are many more that can also cause diarrhoea such as diseases, illnesses, etc. Therefore, it is always recommended to consider contacting a vet and discussing if a visit is necessary for treatment.

Answer 2

Diarrhea for a kitten can be fatal and you need to stop feeding it whatever it is you have been giving it. Obviously it doesn't agree with its tummy. Do not give it any milk, only water. If a kitten gets diarrhea is can become dehydrated which, if ignored, can lead to a very quick death for a young cat. For the time being and until you get this sorted out, try giving it some pablum, made with water. Not milk.

It's true that you should slowly introduce a new food to a kitten. You don't just start feeding it a different food. Some of this may depend on how old this kitten is. If you know where it came from, call them and find out what they fed it. Then you can start all over and slowly try some other foods.

You may also want to telephone a local vet and ask them for some suggestions. Most of them will be willing to help you out.

Good luck. Let us know how things work out.

Answer 3

first, if you're giving the kitten any dairy products, stop. milk is actually bad for felines of all ages. second, for the proper nutritional value, your kitten should be getting a kitten formula dry food. lots of cats have sensitive stomachs and the kitten formula allows for that. Whiskers is considered to be a "low end" cat formula. any pet foods that you can get at grocery and department stores are full of the garbage the other pet food companies don't want. you will pay a little more at a pet supply store for a better food, but it'll save you the time and money at a vets office later. you should also pick up some wormer at a supply store.

Answer 4

There are a few things that may be happening here.

Your kitten may be reacting to a diet switch and the diarrhea may resolve on its own once his intestine becomes accustomed to the food. My mantra for pet food is "You get what you pay for". If it's super cheap, it's because the ingredients used to make it are super cheap, too. Do you go to the grocery store and pick the cheapest, lowest-quality food you can find for yourself to eat? Why do it to your new kitten or puppy? Good quality pet food is gold in my opinion.

He may also have a sort of parasite that is causing the diarrhea. To know for sure a stool sample needs to be brought to a vet clinic for testing. They will also be able to provide you with a dewormer if he needs one.

A third option is that the stress of a new owner, new home, and new environment are causing stress colitis. It is far more common in sensitive pets than most people think. For this, a bland diet and some medication from the vet may help to clear it up quickly.

Bottom line (no pun intended): bring him in to see your vet, bring a fresh stool sample (try to get as little litter on it as possible), and make sure the little guy is healthy.

Have lots of fun and take lots of pictures... they grow up WAY too fast!

Answer 5

This happened with my cats too... it's most likely the food. Whiskas is very bad and caused one of my cats to develop food allergies. The best thing you can do for your kitty if find a high-protein kitten food and check the label. Many cats are allergic to corn and surprisingly corn is the main ingredient in cheaper cat foods.
Find a food that does not have corn as on of it's top 5 ingredients. You can find some great foods made from chicken and rice, which is the best food you could feed your cat. It's a bit more expensive but it will enhance your cat's health and prolong their life.
But if your kitten is less than 10 months old, he/she needs a food made specially for kittens so he/she can grow.
It wouldn't hurt to check with the vet though, if it's not the food it could be a parasite.

Answer 6

Yes Whiskers is baaaaaaad!! It's notorious for causing diarrhea in kittens! You don't really need to race off to the vet - first change the diet. Get a food specifically for kittens. If the sh!ts don't clear up after about two days - THEN rush kitty to the vet.

Answer 7

When a kitty goes to a new home it is very stressful for them and this happens alot. Also a fast food change can cause it and is not good to do. You need to find out what kind of food they were feeding it and slowly change it if you desire.
The best thing to do is take the kitten to the vet for a wellness check to be sure it is not something else.

Answer 8

It depends on how old the kitten is. And if he has been wormed or not. Check with the the person you got him from if his medical records are current, then, if you're worried about dehydration, you can give him a little *Gatorade* that's been diluted. And keep him on the *Whiskas* for the time being. It should clear up in a couple days. If not, take him back to the vet.

Answer 9

1st. Don't give them milk
2nd. Give her Hill's feline i/d or Royal canin "ntestinal". Don't worry about the change, these foods will help her with the problem, what she is eating now is obviously upsetting her.
3rd. Get her dewormed.
4th. Make sure she drinks water, in order not to be dehydrated
5th. If this persists for more than a couple of days, when you give her special food for diarrhea, take her to the vet for tests.

Answer 10

Hi..
I had this same problem & after asking the vet & reading online I knew it had to do with the canned food I gave her,
If you feed her canned food, she'll probably get diarrhea, so try switching to dry food & not feed her too much, read the label, it says how to feed her depending on her age & weight.
Also, if you feed her milk, try giving her twice a week, some cats vomit & get diarrhea from cows milk, & if you still insist on giving your cat milk, go to a pet shop & buy milk for cats there.

Good Luck.