hi, my cat was very sick with tummy problems as a kitten...he's fine now, eats, sleeps, is a joy to be around.....the only problem is he gets (to use the term loveingly) the squirts.....he makes the most doodies and runniest poops with the worst smell ever.....anyone else have this before?
thanks
2007-01-12 06:18:59 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there.....kittens are very fragile if they have diarrhoea as they can become dangerously dehydrated quickly. Diarrhoea in cats can be caused by multiple things:
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
Please keep in mind that also sudden changes in food brands, types will also contribute to diarrhoea symtoms as well. So as soon as your new kitty starts on the cat food she may have lingering symtpoms. For more on this: http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/diarrhea . Again any vet can confirm this fact. 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. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=99
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.
2007-01-12 09:01:57 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Could be him getting into something in your house. Do you give him people-food? If so, stop! Milk is a big cause for diarreah amongst cats. Just because they love the stuff doesn't mean they should have it. He could be getting into the trash, or into your kitchen sink where you may have some dirty dishes...see if he does those things.
Another possibility is the food you give him. Even if it's vet approved, it could make your cat sick. Have you changed his food lately? Changing ANY animal's food within a bowl-fill up can result in diarreah. Their tummies are sensitive, any vet will tell you that if you're going to change your pet's food...do it slowly. 75% old brand 25% new for a week, then mix more towards the new brand gradually.
Do you give him wet or dry food? (Going with the paragraph above) Some cats just can't handle wet food.
2007-01-12 14:27:43 · answer #2 · answered by Athena 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have the little dude checked for worms.. They can be very small and hard to detect but would cause just this problem. If the Vet says, no worms, then change his food. In my mind he should only be dry food like IAMS or Eukanuba, these products do not have "ash" in them.. Other store bought cat foods are chalk full of ash, which often reeks havoic on a kitties tummy.
Good Luck
2007-01-12 14:25:40 · answer #3 · answered by Aunt Henny Penny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he's had a parasite since birth. Get him to the vet with a fecal sample.
2007-01-12 14:28:09 · answer #4 · answered by KL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a parasite or worms. Take kitty to the vet.
2007-01-12 14:23:35 · answer #5 · answered by gizmo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What does he eat?????
2007-01-12 14:22:40 · answer #6 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋