Diarrhea that appears once in a cat is not always a sign of the development of pathology. The reason may be an incorrectly selected food set (for example, incompatible products with natural feeding). If a cat develops diarrhea with bloody streaks, accompanied by a change in the general condition of the animal, this is a reason to immediately consult a doctor.
In addition to bloody diarrhea, the pet vomits and the body temperature rises, which indicates serious changes, such as intoxication of the body or exacerbation of chronic diseases. The appearance of bloody diarrhea is a reason to immediately consult a veterinarian for advice. Otherwise, the cat may die from extensive hemorrhages or dehydration.
Causes
Normal cat feces are dark brown in color and have a thick consistency. The frequency of bowel movements in a healthy animal is no more than 3 times a day. In small kittens that feed on milk, the feces are light and mushy.
The main reasons for the appearance of blood and mucus in the stool:
- internal non-communicable diseases;
- foreign body in the intestine;
- infections;
- parasites;
- eating disorder.
When making a diagnosis, accompanying symptoms must be taken into account. They can be vomiting, lethargy, and anxiety in the animal. In an older cat, diarrhea is often a sign of a malignant tumor.
Internal diseases
Intestinal upset in a cat is always accompanied by loose stools. Appetite decreases, lethargy and fever appear.
Internal diseases:
- Poisoning. The feces do not have a pungent odor and have a liquid consistency with blood streaks. Accompanied by vomiting, shortness of breath, and weakness of the animal.
- Gastroenteritis or inflammation of the animal's intestines. There is a large amount of mucus in the stool, but there is no unpleasant odor or blood spots. Vomiting may occur.
- Enterocolitis. The cat's feces are liquid and have a foul odor. Body temperature rises.
- Colitis. Stool mixed with small amounts of blood and mucus. Painful sensations appear when pressing on the lower abdomen.
Diarrhea occurs suddenly and can disturb the animal and cause discomfort. A single attack is not a cause for concern.
Foreign body
If there is a foreign body inside the cat's intestines, diarrhea most often appears after prolonged constipation; the feces contain mucus and blood streaks in large quantities.
Associated symptoms:
- slight bloating;
- animal anxiety;
- increased body temperature;
- pain after eating.
In this case, the help of a surgeon is required.
Infections and parasites
Infectious diseases and helminthiases lead to disruption of intestinal function and worsen the general condition of the animal.
Signs of infections and parasites:
- Worms. Feces contain mucus, putrefactive inclusions, and helminth eggs. There is a strong odor. The cat is losing weight and his stomach is bloated. Appetite is most often absent.
- Toxoplasmosis. An infectious disease in which diarrhea has a semi-liquid consistency. Accompanied by vomiting, discharge from the eyes, and frequent sneezing.
- Bacterial infection. The cat's stool is red in color and has a fetid, putrid odor. The pet's body temperature rises and appetite disappears.
- Protozoan parasites. Diarrhea is irregular, with mucus and blood. The cat is losing its fur. A rash appears on the skin.
To diagnose, you need to contact a veterinarian and get tested. Timely treatment will help save the animal from suffering and abdominal pain.
Making a diagnosis if your cat has bloody diarrhea
To determine the main reason that caused bloody diarrhea in a cat, a veterinarian must examine the animal and collect history data - how the animal behaves, what it has eaten recently, whether there have been any special situations or stress. Lab tests
and
examinations
will help diagnose all the features of the disease, its severity and the magnitude of intestinal inflammation.
An indispensable method will be radiology using a contrast agent , which will help identify the presence of foreign objects, tumors, and damage to the intestinal walls .
Suspecting helminthic diseases, the doctor will prescribe a stool examination.
The veterinarian should also check the cat for infection.
bacterial, viral infections, toxoplasma and other protozoan parasites.
Associated symptoms
Diarrhea and vomiting indicate problems with the digestive system. The reasons may be different; to establish them, you will need the help of a veterinarian.
Factors that provoke diarrhea and vomiting:
- tumor;
- bacterial infections;
- poisoning;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- sunstroke.
An unpleasant odor in loose stool indicates inflammatory processes in the animal’s body. It is also important to pay attention to the color of the diarrhea and its consistency .
Predisposing factors
Diarrhea in an animal is a protective reaction of the body to toxins, thus releasing them.
Important! If a cat goes to the toilet outside, it is necessary to monitor its behavior and accompanying manifestations. Often such pets do not survive, since the owners cannot see in a timely manner that the kitten has bloody diarrhea.
Severe diarrhea always leads to dehydration. The animal begins to weaken, its eyes become hollow, and its fur becomes dull. The cat constantly lies down and loses interest in outdoor games.
Bloody diarrhea in a kitten may be accompanied by severe vomiting. The animal suddenly loses weight and is constantly tormented by thirst. The cat will refuse food.
If such symptoms are detected in a pet, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian to determine the reasons why they appear. When dehydrated, the risk of death in animals is very high, especially if we are talking about a small kitten. He needs urgent veterinary help.
Diagnostics
If a cat is diarrhea, diagnosis begins with a visual examination of the animal by a veterinarian and asking the owners about the pet’s life. Then laboratory tests and ultrasound are performed.
Diagnostic measures:
- Examination of the mucous membranes and abdomen.
- Taking blood and urine tests.
- Contrast radiography to detect foreign bodies in the intestine.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
If further examination is necessary, the cat is left in the clinic until a diagnosis is made and treatment is prescribed.
Signs of dehydration
Diarrhea causes loss of fluid in the body. The animal becomes weak and lethargic.
The first signs of dehydration:
- pallor of the mucous membranes;
- lethargic state;
- eyes sunken into their sockets;
- refusal of food.
If the cat is not vomiting, it must be given clean water using a syringe. You can inject a 0.9% chloride solution in an amount of 5 ml under the withers.
When to see a doctor
You need to contact your veterinarian urgently if:
- the cat is in pain;
- increased salivation;
- the appearance of blood in the urine;
- stool has a black tint mixed with blood;
- vomiting appears.
Treatment
Drug treatment for an adult cat and a kitten differs. If you have diarrhea, follow a diet and exclude dairy products.
How to treat diarrhea in adult cats:
- Analgin and Diphenhydramine. Used once to relieve pain.
- Aminocaproic acid. Used for rat poisoning.
- Loperamide. Use only as prescribed by a veterinarian. Helps with diarrhea. It is allowed to give the animal 0.5 tablets until the loose stools completely stop.
- Activated carbon, Enterosgel. The drugs are aimed at removing toxins from the intestines. Coal is given 1 tablet. Enterosgel – 0.5 tsp.
- Smecta. It is allowed to give 1 sachet per day to a cat weighing over 2.5 kg.
- Anthelmintic drugs for the presence of worms and parasites.
All medications are given to cats 30 minutes before meals. This allows you to enhance the effectiveness of treatment. To make it easier to water the animal, use a syringe.
To improve your pet's condition, you can use a folk method. For this, 1 tsp. oak bark pour 500 ml of boiling water and leave for 1 hour. Strain and give the cat 3 ml at least 3 times a day.
How to stop loose stools in kittens
For kittens, the dosage of drugs is much less than for adult animals. Some medications are prohibited at an early age.
Kitten treatment:
- Loperamide no more than ⅛ tablets per day.
- Activated carbon – ⅛ tablet three times a day.
- Enterosgel – ¼ teaspoon.
- Anthelmintic drugs - dosage prescribed by a veterinarian.
At the clinic, the animal can be given IV drips aimed at cleansing the intestines and maintaining water-salt balance. After diarrhea stops, probiotics are prescribed to restore microflora.
Why is the cat vomiting?
By the type and nature of vomiting, you can determine what caused the disease. Before taking a kitten to the veterinarian, the owner should observe him and determine the nature of the ailment - this will serve as an important diagnostic sign that will make it easier to identify the causes of the disease. What do bile or mucus impurities in vomit indicate?
Vomiting bile
Vomiting bile is a symptom of severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract. In appearance, the vomit is yellowish, oily, and contains practically no gastric contents; instead, bile is present.
The presence of bile in vomit is usually a symptom of severe damage to the liver, small intestine, gallbladder, or obstruction of the bile ducts. The animal develops cholemia, a pathological condition in which bile acids accumulate in the body. It occurs due to a violation of the outflow of bile due to the presence of a mechanical obstruction or the consequences of infectious diseases.
At first, bile acids have an irritating effect on the body. The cat becomes nervous, aggressive, irritable. Then the whole body is poisoned.
The kitten vomits bile when there are no more semi-digested masses left in its stomach. Vomiting due to severe food or chemical poisoning or intestinal infection is usually very long-lasting and debilitating. After a few hours, there is no food left in the stomach, and the pet vomits bile.
Vomiting white foam
White foam in vomit does not indicate any specific disease. This symptom accompanies many diseases and conditions, both dangerous and relatively harmless.
White foam comes out when the kitten vomits saliva. It happens that a baby eats too large a piece of food, which is difficult for him to digest. In this case, he will vomit profusely, but there is no need to worry about this. This can also be a reaction to stress, severe fear.
Much more dangerous is the white flaky foam that appears as a result of chemical poisoning. The pet should be taken to a veterinary clinic immediately.
This sign may be a symptom of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This is often how helminthic infestation manifests itself.
Vomiting of stomach contents, hair
Cats are very clean animals. They constantly lick their fur, and individual hairs fall into their stomach, forming a ball. From time to time, furry pets need to get rid of formed trichobezoars.
How can you tell if a cat's stomach is full of fur? The animal loses its appetite and eats little. After a few days, the urge to vomit begins, and the lump comes out completely. After this, the pet feels healthy, its activity increases and its appetite returns. To facilitate hair removal, cats are given vitamins and food intended for this purpose, as well as specially grown grass.
Nutrition
The cat should not be allowed to go hungry for more than 24 hours. From the 2nd day of illness, the pet is fed small portions at regular intervals.
Diet rules for diarrhea with blood and mucus:
- Give small portions every 2 hours.
- Use fresh products.
- Steamed or boiled. Add a little salt.
- Do not feed raw meat.
- Be sure to drink enough water.
- Food should be warm.
If the cat has been eating dry food, replace it with wet food. Reduce the portion. You can change your regular food to a diet line.
What you can do:
- boiled lean meat;
- boiled fish;
- baby meat food;
- porridge cooked in water;
- pasta.
What not to do:
- fatty and fried foods;
- raw fish and meat;
- bones;
- dairy products.
The diet is maintained during the illness and 2 weeks after recovery. This is necessary to restore intestinal function.
What to feed a cat with diarrhea
Diarrhea is dangerous due to dehydration. They give the animal water and make sure the cat drinks. If the pet refuses, give it by force from a spoon or syringe.
An intestinal disorder requires changes in your furry friend's diet:
- high-quality, easily digestible foods to reduce the burden on the digestive system;
- to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, limit protein intake;
- during therapy, exclude milk, raw meat, fish;
- provide probiotics that improve intestinal microflora and stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria;
- To improve digestion and maintain water balance, it is recommended to replace dry food with canned liquid food.
Carefully monitor the reaction. For any abnormal symptoms, consult a doctor.
Prevention
Preventative measures help prevent diarrhea in cats at any age. They are aimed at maintaining immunity and normalizing intestinal function.
Prevention measures:
- It is not recommended to give your pet raw meat and fish.
- Do not let your cat roam to avoid the possibility of poisoning from rat poison and chemicals.
- Do not leave medications in an accessible place.
- Follow the rules of nutrition, feed at the same time.
- Give the animal a vitamin complex to prevent vitamin deficiency.
- Wash your paws after walking outside.
- Get your vaccinations on time.
Expert opinion
Burmistrova Alena Valerievna
Breeder, 7 years experience.
Stress can cause diarrhea with mucus. Do not hit or kick the cat - this leads to internal damage.
Preventive actions
First of all, for prevention, regular use of anthelmintic drugs is necessary. The appointment is carried out once a month, if the presence of parasites in the body is not observed. The appearance of worms can always be recognized by the animal's feces, in which they will be clearly visible.
If disinfection work is planned, then it is advisable to give the animal for foster care in a safe place. If rodents or insects are poisoned, and the cat is with you, then you need to limit its movements in the treated area. It is also necessary to ensure that the cat does not eat the dead rodent.
At the first suspicious changes in the animal's feces, tests are taken. This simple procedure will help you quickly identify the problem and prevent unwanted consequences, preserving the health of your pet.
