Just like yours, your kitten’s digestive system converts the food she eats to energy. If she’s poorly, her tummy may be affected, with common problems being diarrhoea and constipation.
Just like yours, your kitten’s digestive system converts the food she eats to energy. If she’s poorly, her tummy may be affected, with common problems being diarrhoea and constipation. If your kitten does have either of these symptoms, then it’s a good idea to get your vet to check her out.
If you see your kitten vomiting occasionally there’s probably nothing to worry about. Like all cats, she’ll do this quite naturally in order to protect herself from harmful substances. However, if your kitten is vomiting regularly, and you’re concerned for her health, then take her to the vet.
Diarrhoea can be caused by changing your kitten’s food, overfeeding, or by an infection. Your kitten should have a bowel movement at least once a day, so watch out for any changes. Diarrhoea causes dehydration, which isn’t good for your kitten. Speak to your vet for advice and reassurance.
Some of the most common causes of cat diarrhoea are:
The biggest tell-tale symptoms of cat diarrhoea include:
Usually, in most cases, the cat diarrhoea will go away on its own in a few days. All you need to do is ensure your fur kid stays hydrated and keep it under observation. However, take your furball to a vet immediately if the diarrhoea lasts long, or if the stool is bloody or black, or if the diarrhoea is accompanied by fever, cat vomiting and diarrhoea, lethargy, or loss of appetite.
The treatment of diarrhoea for your fur baby would depend on the cause. There are two ways to go about treating diarrhoea in cats, and they are:
Depending on the cause, your vet will prescribe medications to stop the diarrhoea. Medications like metronidazole or prednisolone are given to control inflammation. Deworming and probiotics might also be given. For upset stomach caused by inflammatory bowel disease or colitis, a diet change can be advised by your vet.
You can try the following cat diarrhoea home remedy before consulting a vet, if your feline buddy only have mild diarrhoea symptoms or alongside continuing the prescription drugs:
The primary cat diarrhoea home remedy is to make sure their water bowl is filled with clean water at all times. You can also give them broth or canned wet food to ensure they receive enough fluid.
If you notice upset stomach in your kitty right after introducing a new food, stop giving it at once and go back to the food it was used to consuming. Remember whenever you introduce new food to your fur baby, always transition slowly over a week to allow for the cat digestive system to adjust. Follow this simple chart for proper transition and to reduce the chances of diarrhoea caused by a change of diet:
Days 1 & 2: ¾ current food and ¼ new food
Days 3 & 4: ½ current food and ½ new food
Days 5, 6, & 7: ¼ current food and ¾ new food
Days 8 onwards: only new food
If their regular food is causing the diarrhoea, ensure they are getting the proper nutrients. Nutrient requirements of cats change with age and not getting proper nutrition can mess up their digestive system.
Keep their litterbox clean at all times for the benefit of your own as well as the cat’s health.
Let your fur baby rest as much as possible by giving them a safe, quiet, and stress-free environment and not getting them excited with toys or plays.
Constipation in cats can be caused by a number of reasons, such as:
You can tell that you little munchkin is having constipation, if you notice the following:
If your cat hasn’t defecated in 48 to 72 hours and if the above-mentioned symptoms are accompanied by vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, or any other unusual behaviour, make sure you contact your vet immediately. Kitten constipation can be a sign for other underlying health condition which needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
The treatment for constipation in your fur kiddo will depend on the cause. There are two ways to go about treating constipation in cats, they are:
For mild cases, your vet might suggest diet and lifestyle changes such as giving them fibre-rich foods and increasing water intake. Medications along with laxative and probiotics might also be prescribed. Hairball medications can also prove to be effective if hair accumulation is causing the problem. However, if the constipation is severe and your cat hasn’t passed stool for several days, your vet might have to do a de-obstipation, which is manually removing the faeces from the colon. In case your cat has megacolon, it might also need to undergo surgery.
If your fur baby has mild constipation, you can try the following constipated cat home remedy to cure the problem:
Have you recently switched your furry friend’s food? If yes, then most probably the new food is the reason behind the constipation. Try switching back to the old diet as cat upset stomach home remedy.
encourage your little fur baby to drink more water. Give it broth and wet food instead of dry food to increase fluid intake.
Does the food your kitty eat has enough fibre as per their daily requirement? Make sure they eat fibre-rich food.
If your cat food doesn’t contain probiotics, add them as supplements to improve your kitty’s gut health and digestive system.
Cat food rich in fibres and probiotics can be good for cats with constipation. Also, if your cat has constipation, feed it wet food instead of dry food as that will help increase their water intake.
When a cat has megacolon, they can have stool build-up in their colon causing constipation. However, sometime your fur kiddos can leak a little lose stool from around the hard faeces, which an be misinterpreted as diarrhoea. If you notice constipation and diarrhoea at the same time in your furball, take it to a vet without ado.
Depending on the cause, it can take anything between a few days to 12 weeks. Usually, a diet change takes time to show effect, whereas medications can give quick relief.
Diarrhoea is one of the symptoms of intestinal bowel obstruction. Partial obstruction causes diarrhoea while complete obstruction causes inability to pass stool and gas. It is an extremely serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.
If the constipation is mild, regardless of after diarrhoea or in general, it should be fine. But if your cat doesn’t pass faeces for 48-72 hours, consult a vet.
