Diarrhea in cats can cause stomach pain, pretty much the same way as in humans. Although it is not considered a severe illness, diarrhea may be a sign or a result of many diseases. Thus, as their parents, we should know how to properly take care of our furry kitty, especially when they are sick. This article is a complete guide about cat diarrhea treatment: what foods are good for cat diarrhea as well as how to alleviate their pain.
What is diarrhea in cats?
Diarrhea can be easily noticed by unformed or watery stools. In the longhaired cat breeds, you may see some stains around their back and tail. This problem is usually related to the diet of your cat. Indeed, your furry friend may eat unhygienic foods, poisonous plants, or in some cases, he/she may be allergic to some ingredients found in the food.
What should I do if my cat has diarrhea?
In most cases, diarrhea is not a serious health problem, especially if your cat can still eat normally and doesn’t have other symptoms like vomiting for example. However, it is important to supervise your lovely kitty and treat him/her properly. Below are the five home remedies for cat diarrhea that you could try out before seeing a veterinarian:
Check your cat’s food
As we mentioned above, food is always the primary factor that can cause diarrhea. If you have recently changed your cat’s food, your cat may be allergic to it. Thus, you should feed your kitty with the old brand that you previously used and see if it solves the problem.
In addition, if your cat has a sensitive stomach, you should feed them easily digestible food with high nutrients and fibers (we have listed the top-recommended brands a little further in the article). In the case of food intolerance, we recommend special low-antigen cat food that’s normally available in veterinary clinics.
Give your cat more water
As the sick cat has lost a lot of water due to diarrhea, it is advised to get him/her to drink more water to avoid dehydration. That said, every cat owner knows that it is not easy to persuade a cat! Therefore, here are some useful tricks to increase water intake in our pet:
- Always fill your cat’s bowl with fresh water and place it near a food bowl.
- Add a few tablespoons of warm water to your regular cat food.
- Feed your cat with an extra bowl of delicious broth.
- Lastly, wet food is a smart way to increase water intake.
Probiotic supplements
Just like humans, healthy bacteria in an animal’s gut help with digestion. Once the microbiome number is out of balance due to infections or other reasons, this can lead to loss of appetite, indigestion, stool changes, diarrhea, and much more.
Probiotic supplements can effectively fix the problem since they will increase the bacteria percentage in the intestinal tract to regain balance. You can easily find probiotic supplements for cats in pet stores or online shops. Finally, note that you will be able to choose from a variety of products between pills, liquid, or powder.
Anti-diarrhea medicine for cats
Keep in mind that anti-diarrhea medications should be used under veterinary prescriptions only because acetylsalicylic acid and acetaminophen in the pills are poisonous for cats. Nevertheless, there are still some medicines that are quite safe to use, such as kaolin-pectin.
The top 4 cat food brands for diarrhea
Purina ONE sensitive systems
First and foremost, Purina ONE is highly recommended for cats with sensitive stomach and diarrhea syndrome. It consists of many nutrients and a high content of protein that will nourish a cat’s body and strengthen the immune system. Most importantly, Purina ONE is easily digestible.
Royal Canin Response
Royal Canin Response is another highly recommended product. If your kitty is suffering from diarrhea or constipation, the latter should be able to help with its probiotic and special dietary fiber formula which is favorable to the excretory system. Of course, add to that your usual vitamins and minerals, a lot of protein, omega fatty acids, and you got yourself a winner for beating this pesky diarrhea once and for all!
Nulo Grain-Free
Nulo Grain-Free is an ideal food product for overweight cats with its low-carb ingredients and abundance of essential nutrients. As a result, your chubby kitty will become not only stronger but also a little thinner.
Furthermore, Nulo Grain-Free has added its patented probiotic formula to the product to help relieve diarrhea and vomit. And that is not all, the brand claims that it can prevent osteoarthritis and other diseases in cats as well.
Purina Pro Plan Focus
Last but not least, if you are looking for high-quality cat food at an affordable price, Purina Pro Plan Focus may be the perfect answer for you. Of course, it is safe for sensitive stomach cats, thanks to its high volume of probiotics. Also, it contains vitamins and antioxidants that will improve the immune system’s functions. However, one downside of Purina Pro is that the food is high in carbs and this may lead to a potential weight gain.
And these are all our recommended home treatments to treat your cat’s diarrhea. Normally, after a few days, your furry ball should be in top shape. If not, we recommend you consult your nearest veterinarian immediately. We hope your lovely four-legged friend gets well soon. Take care!
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