Diarrhea is a symptom that all animals can suffer and while not necessarily a very serious condition, diarrhea can be the sign of a more serious illness. Moreover, left untreated, diarrhea can also be dangerous as it leads to dehydration and malnourishment. Acute diarrhea is less of a concern. Perhaps your cat eats something that doesn’t agree with her stomach, she may have a sudden bout of diarrhea that lasts a few hours or at most a few days. A change in diet like increased consumption of milk is the most common cause of acute diarrhea.
On the other hand, chronic diarrhea is usually a symptom of a more serious illness. The difference between chronic and acute diarrhea is that in chronic cases, the diarrhea persists for a longer stretch of time. Generally speaking, with acute diarrhea there are no other symptoms. Your cat is eating, playing, sleeping, and doing everything it would normally do. However, chronic diarrhea is almost always accompanied with other symptoms. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should visit a veterinarian:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Pain
- Blood in the stools
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Loss of appetite
- Foul smelling stools
- Fatigue
- Straining during bowel movements.
Chronic diarrhea should be treated by a veterinarian because it will usually require identifying the underlying cause to treat the diarrhea. Alternatively, there are some precautions you can take to prevent acute diarrhea. Carefully control your cat’s diet and ensure that it includes all of the necessary nutrients for your cat. Also, remember that cheap cat food is often full of inexpensive vegetables and carbohydrates which may lead to loose stools. In most cases of acute cat diarrhea, the problem will be resolved once the normal diet is resumed.
