How many days of diarrhea warrant a vet visit for your cat? A veterinarian explains in detail the symptoms and timing that indicate when to seek treatment for soft stools.

While you might imagine cat poop to be firm and pellet-like, cats are also prone to diarrhea and loose stools.

Normal cat poop is well-formed and firm enough that it doesn't break apart when picked up. Diarrhea is defined as stool with a higher water content than this. Diarrhea includes both soft stools that are not completely liquid and entirely liquid stools (liquid, watery, or muddy stools).

This article explains when to take your cat to the vet for diarrhea.

How many days of cat diarrhea warrant a vet visit?

How long should you wait to see if diarrhea improves? There is no set guideline. Please take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

The main causes of diarrhea are stress, diet, and illness. Most cases are due to illness, and for kittens and elderly cats with weaker constitutions, it can be life-threatening.

Stress

Environmental changes (moving, change of seasons, visitors, etc.) can cause temporary stress. This can disrupt the balance of intestinal bacteria due to a weakened immune system, making diarrhea more likely. If diarrhea occurs at such times, considering your cat's stress can help improve their stool.

Diet

If diarrhea occurs when you change food types or switch to a food with specific ingredients, it could be a food allergy. Additionally, food that has been open for a long time can deteriorate and cause diarrhea.

Also, cats cannot break down the lactose found in human milk. Giving human milk can also cause diarrhea.

In cases of diet-related diarrhea, it may resolve if you switch back to the original food. It can take about two weeks for the allergic reaction in the intestinal tract to subside. If you indiscriminately change foods, diagnosis can become difficult, so consult a vet to help you choose a food that suits your cat's constitution.

Illness

Most cases of diarrhea are caused by illness. Major illnesses include parasitic infections, viral infections, kidney disease, immunodeficiency, neoplastic diseases, and inflammatory diseases. Diarrhea caused by illness rarely resolves on its own, and without treatment, it can lead to dehydration or malnutrition, potentially resulting in death. Kittens and senior cats, with their weaker resistance, are particularly vulnerable and can quickly face life-threatening situations if they develop diarrhea.

In cases of illness-related diarrhea, other symptoms often appear in addition to diarrhea, such as vomiting, loss of appetite, emaciation, lethargy, and pain. If there are other symptoms besides diarrhea, take your cat to the vet immediately.

What causes long-lasting diarrhea in cats?

In cases of stress- or diet-related diarrhea, it very often resolves quickly once the cause is removed. If diarrhea persists for a long time, it could be due to an underlying illness. Also, even with diet-related diarrhea, if the food doesn't suit your cat's constitution, diarrhea will recur.

If diarrhea persists, always take your cat to the vet. At that time, if you have a fresh stool sample, tests for parasites, bacteria, and viruses in the stool can be performed immediately. Be sure to also inform the veterinarian about the food your cat usually eats. Vaccination history is also important. In particular, parvovirus, which is included in some vaccines, is a highly contagious disease with a very high fatality rate if infected. If treatment is not started quickly, it can be fatal.

In older cats, diarrhea is often caused by tumors or chronic kidney disease, which impairs proper fluid regulation. In these diseases, symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, and emaciation appear in addition to diarrhea. Starting treatment early can extend the time you have with your cat. For prolonged diarrhea, visit the vet as soon as possible.

How to stop cat diarrhea

The treatment for diarrhea varies depending on its cause. While diarrhea can sometimes be stopped with anti-diarrheal medication, it is usually stopped by thoroughly diagnosing and treating the underlying cause.

For example, if parasites or bacteria are the cause, dewormers or antibiotics are used. If diet is the cause, changing the food can lead to improvement.

In cases of enteritis, intestinal regulators or steroids may be used. If a tumor is the cause, surgery or chemotherapy will be performed.

Over-the-counter pet anti-diarrheal medications are available and can temporarily stop diarrhea, but remember that they do not treat the underlying disease.

What to feed a cat with diarrhea? Is fasting acceptable?

In dogs, fasting can sometimes stop diarrhea by giving the intestines a rest. However, cats are vulnerable to fasting, and not eating can strain their liver.

Especially for obese cats, fasting can lead to a liver disease called hepatic lipidosis, so it's best not to intentionally fast them. Also, a loss of appetite in addition to diarrhea is a danger signal. Visit the vet immediately.

Giving a large amount of food at once when your cat has diarrhea can put a heavy burden on their intestines. Offer easily digestible food in small, frequent portions. Also, since cats tend to lose moisture when they have diarrhea, wet food or rehydrated kibble can be a good choice.

Summary

Cat diarrhea is often caused by illness, so if your cat has diarrhea, do not wait or try to self-diagnose; always take them to the vet.

Especially for kittens and senior cats, diarrhea can deplete their strength. Early detection and early treatment are key to resolving diarrhea quickly.