My cat has diahhrea. Help!?

Question

My cat is five years old. She's a tricolor. Over the last week now she's had diahhrea. I thought it might be her cat food (I had just changed to something different; a really meaty dry variety) and switched once again. It seemed to work for a few days, but today, she's off and running again. I haven't sprayed any weird chemicals, and I keep her water bowl full. She only eats dry food, refuses anything else--and since she was a kitten often threw up often from eating too fast and too much, even though she is a bit overweight. She always seems healthy and alert and in general still does. I've never known her to have diahhrea. I am in financial straits and a vet is out of the question. She is an indoor cat and is not allowed outdoors. I've also tried to see if somehow she's getting into something toxic I'm not considering. I can find nothing wrong. Is it because she's five now and I must adjust to new needs her body might require? Help!

Answer 1

you could go to the pet store, and ask them for some advice- there are some foods, treats, or OTC medications that you should be able to get there.

If it continues for another few days, your cat will get seriously dehydrated, and if that happens you NEED to get her some medical attention.

You'll know she's dehydrated if her gums are dry...check them often over the next couple of days. If that is too difficult, you can pull the skin on the back of her neck up, and if it doesn't fall back down quickly and right away, she is dehydrated. She will need intravenous fluids if she gets dehydrated or she could die.

Answer 2

you cannot just change a cat's food especially you cant do it twice in a row...you MUST do it gradually because cats have very sensitive systems...you have to do it like 25% new food mixed with 75% old food...then you go 50%-50%...then 75%new with 25% old...then you can go 100% all new...this is a gradual process that usually takes approx. 3weeks and lots of patience then you wont be dealing with the runs so the payoff is good...if this doesnt help then you will have to find out the reason for the runs

Answer 3

Though you can't afford an actual vet appointment it couldn't hurt to call one and ask for any advice on feline diarrhea in general.

Answer 4

Calling a vet is free. They will tell you to bring her in, but if you explain you can't afford to right now maybe they will give you some ideas.

Switching food will really upset the GI.  If you switched, and she got sick and started having diarrhea then you switched again (even if back to the old food) you are causing a lot of stress on her GI.  New foods can cause an imbalance in natural GI flora which is often what causes diarrhea from new foods.  (Even humans get a similar response if introduced to an entirely new diet they've never encountered before).  Some probiotics might not be a bad idea.

Probiotics can be bought in paste form from a pet supply or feed store.  It may or may not be available for cats and dogs, but is usually available for livestock.  Not sure the cat will eat it- couldn't hurt to try. (I'd favor probiotics for cats/dogs first since their flora will be a little different than herbivore flora).  

Start looking for possible sources of poisoning.  Plants and chocolate are common, but it may be something else.  I suspect diet, but don't rule out the possibility it ingested something noxious.  Sometimes poisoning will pass on it's own, other times it needs treatment.

Any type of spraying recently? Fertilizer, pesticide, anything even if outside?  Overspray can drift indoors just as you can bring it in if you're exposed to it.  Another possibility.

I really suspect GI upset from changing foods. Always switch foods over 1 week or more, gradually increasing new food to old food ratio.  

Hopefully she is up to date on vaccines. Very important- whether or not you can afford a vet (shot clinics are usually reasonable).  

Keep an eye on her water intake.  Sometimes offering pedialyte or gatorade can be helpful if the problem has been going on awhile.  

Occasionally you'll have to force feed nutrical paste to supplement lost nutrition.  If it gets to this point I really suggest evaluating your financial priorities and doing what you can to get her into a vet.  Also, dehydration and electrolyte balance is much more likely to be an issue sooner.  They can become critical within hours to days, depending on the severity.  Watch for changes in behavior, changes in breathing, restlessness, etc.  

Always consider worms.  Usually these are longer term, have distended bellies, eat a lot but don't gain much weight, vomit, etc. Could be a problem.  There are OTC dewormers but the vet can give Strongel and other Rx which are arguably more effective.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

You can take it into the local ASPCA and they should be able to look at it. They work on "donations" and will ask you for a certain amount, but if you tell them up front you haven't got it, but try to give them something even if it's $20, they will treat your cat and help you. The Humane Society (the other name for the ASPCA) is a non-profit organization and is set up to help people like you if they need it.

I would just walk in with the cat. Don't call. Then tell them how much you can "donate" and explain that you haven't got a lot of money. They won't turn you away.

It's important to take the cat to a vet if she's got diahhrea. That can cause her to become dehydrated and other medical problems like kidney failure. Just like humans.

Good luck to you! I hope the kittie's alright.

Answer 6

try her on some boiled chicken/fish and rice..thats what most vets recommend for cats with dihorea..you can also get some medication from a pet store called kaolin and morph,you can give the cat 3ml twice daily ...but if it still persists after 2/3 days you will need to see a vet for medication.even if you have to beg steal or borrow the fees.

Answer 7

give it 2 tums an call me in the morning

Answer 8

have you been feeding her milk?