Over-feeding Cats only have small stomachs (about the size of a ping-pong ball). Weigh your cat and weigh the food to ensure the correct daily volume is being fed. A small reduction may resolve the problem if you are feeding a little too much. Don’t forget to factor in any other foods given in addition to the main diet as these supply calories too. Outdoor cats may be supplementing their menu by hunting, so even if they are energetic, they may need a little less of their main diet to accommodate this extra nutrition. Whilst free feeding suits many cats who like to graze, measured portions 2-3 (or even 4)times per day may be more appropriate if your cat is prone to eating too much in any one sitting and / or has no daily limit on the quantity of food available.
Sudden change of diet Changing over to a new diet too quickly, without giving the cat’s digestion sufficient opportunity to adapt to the new ingredients or nutrient balance can cause diarrhoea. Revert to a food that is known to agree with your cat. Once things have settled down, try reintroducing the new diet gradually over the course of 7-10 days. New treats or additions to the main diet can also be provocative, so offer them in tiny quantities until you know how well-tolerated they are. Only offer one new food at a time so that it is easier to identify the culprit if there is a problem. Monitor your cat to check whether he or she is helping him or herself to items which could be causing an upset, and keep an eye on what other members of the household are feeding too, if applicable.
Stress, anxiety & over-excitementWhen a cat’s fight or flight mechanism kicks in, extra stomach acid and digestive juices are produced and stomach muscle tension increases in order to quickly digest and eliminate food in the digestive system. This helps to prepare the body for immediate action, but can result in loose stools. Our tips for anxious cats fact sheet may be of help if you suspect this is causing or contributing to diarrhoea.
Change of water sourceThis is a more common problem in kittens, but can affect adult cats too. It’s certainly worth considering if you have just acquired your cat or kitten or moved recently. Change to filtered water and gradually start introducing tap water once the symptoms have completely abated. If the symptoms come back when tap water is reintroduced, you may need to give filtered water indefinitely. Ingestion of contaminated pond / puddle water can cause more serious problems, and it is recommended that you seek veterinary advice if this is suspected.
Infectious causes may include:
- Bacterial infection such as Salmonella and E.Coli.
- Viral infection such as Rotavirus and Astrovirus.
Parasitic causes may include:
- Worm infestation such as roundworm and tapeworm.
- Protozoan parasites such as cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis and tritrichomoniasis.
Other causes may include:
- Intoxication.
- Pancreatitis.
- Intestinal foreign body causing an obstruction.
- Neoplasia (cancer).
- Intussusception (where one segment of intestine “telescopes” inside of another, causing an obstruction).
- Secondary to liver or kidney disease.
- Adverse food reactions (allergies and intolerances to various foods / ingredients).