Problems with stool often bother four-legged pets, regardless of the breed variety. If a cat loosely goes to the toilet, this is an alarming sign indicating problems with the functioning of the digestive system. Therefore, if your cat’s stool has become unformed, mushy, and the condition does not return to normal within 2-3 days, it is better not to risk it and show your pet to a veterinarian.
Normal color and consistency
Normally, the feces of an adult cat and kitten are well formed, looking like a smooth, dense sausage without additional inclusions and impurities. The normal color is brown. If the animal's diet is dominated by meat, the stool will have a more saturated dark hue. When a cat prefers to eat dairy and fermented milk products, as well as vegetables, the excrement will become lighter. Kittens at 2 months old have this exact color of stool because they continue to feed on their mother’s milk. Too loose or hard dry stool is considered a deviation from the norm.
An adult pet that does not have health problems should visit the litter box on average once a day. Kittens poop more often - 2-3 times a day.
Young cat. Feces are hard as stones. Constipation.
Write all tests according to laboratory standards (there are different measurement systems) Have you taken biochemistry? On what basis is adenovirus diagnosed? There is no viral hepatitis in cats. Did you do an ultrasound? X-ray?
For constipation, Duphalac (or Lactusan) 2-3 ml 2 times a day (can be taken with food) or Vaseline oil in case of prolonged constipation 5 ml every 4 hours until stool appears
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Attention! Pay special attention to the document “Symptoms of Animal Diseases”. Perhaps in your situation you cannot expect an answer on the forum, but you need to urgently call a doctor or take the animal to a veterinary clinic!
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Reasons for changes in stool
Changes in the color and consistency of feces in a kitten or adult cat are often associated with errors in nutrition. When eating unsuitable food, the load on the digestive organs increases. The stomach does not completely digest food, and the intestines cannot fully absorb it. The result is unformed feces in which mucous particles can be found.
Other common causes
Intestinal dysfunction can lead to a change in the color of stool, as a result of which food stagnates in the intestines.
But in addition to poor-quality food, the following diseases and disorders can affect the consistency of excrement:
- Intestinal dysfunction. Insufficient secretion of digestive juices and weak peristalsis contribute to stagnation and fermentation of eaten food in the body. Soon, pathogenic microflora begins to actively multiply, causing increased gas formation and flatulence. The cat's feces turn out to be green.
- Insufficient enzymatic activity of the pancreas. The consequence of this disorder is poor digestion of food, resulting in yellow feces remaining in the tray.
- Hepatitis. As the disease progresses, the functioning of not only the liver, but also the gallbladder is disrupted. As a result, the cat's feces become discolored, but the urine becomes dark brown.
- Internal hemorrhage. If the cat passed liquid black feces onto the tray, this means that bleeding has occurred in the stomach, or more precisely, in the upper section. When bright red blood is present in the stool, this indicates that damage has occurred in the intestine itself.
Orange dry feces often appear in pets when they eat food colored with dyes. If the stool is not soft, but hard, like a goat's, this means that the animal's diet does not have enough fluid. In this case, it is enough to adjust the menu and change the brand of food. If, even after changing the diet, the cat poops liquid or too dry, it is better not to hesitate to visit the veterinarian.
Why is a cat constipated?
There can be many reasons:
- Incorrect feeding regimen. You can't keep a cat on one fish. It contains too many minerals, which contributes to poor kidney function. The diet of cats, like people, must be balanced.
- Insufficient physical activity. If a cat moves little, he has poor blood circulation and intestinal motility suffers. By nature, this predator needs to move a lot. Provide your fluffy with the opportunity to run and climb a lot - arrange shelves with beds at different levels, scratching posts, various toys on strings or springs. The pet will move more and will amuse the owners with its antics.
- The cause may be the formation of tumors, prostate disease in cats, foreign bodies entering the intestines, for example, the cat ate some small object. This can only be diagnosed in a clinic.
- Constipation can also be a consequence of a large number of helminths. They clog the intestines and stool does not pass through. If your cat often goes outside, you just need to give her deworming medication every three months.
- Hairballs clogged the intestines. Usually occurs in long-haired breeds. You need to comb your cat on time. There are ready-made foods that help remove hairballs, as well as special products. They can be bought at a veterinary pharmacy.
Symptoms for which you should visit a doctor
If the color of the bowel movements deviates from the norm, and your pet is losing a lot of hair, you should consult a specialist.
Cat feces that differ from the norm in color and consistency are already a pathological sign, indicating that not everything is in order with the pet’s body. Other symptoms that require immediate action:
- violation of general condition;
- nausea accompanied by vomiting;
- weakness, drowsiness, apathy;
- increased gas formation;
- persistent constipation or, conversely, diarrhea;
- increased body temperature;
- abdominal pain on palpation;
- blanching or yellowing of the mucous membrane;
- dullness and excessive hair loss;
- lack of appetite;
- rapid weight loss.
Diagnostics
If the owner has noticed that his cat has pooped more than once with feces that are significantly different in color, smell and consistency from the norm, it is necessary to find out the causes of this pathological condition as soon as possible, so a visit to the veterinarian and a comprehensive diagnosis is indispensable. At the first appointment, the doctor will examine the pet, ask the owner what symptoms are bothering his pet and how long the problems with bowel movements have been observed. If it is not possible to immediately establish an accurate diagnosis, a referral is given to such additional research methods as:
- general clinical analysis of blood and urine;
- fecal analysis for the presence of worms, as well as blood, mucous and other inclusions;
- biochemistry;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.
What treatment is prescribed?
To stabilize the situation, it is recommended to adjust the animal’s diet by including steamed food in its diet.
If stool that is too liquid or too hard is a consequence of poor nutrition, the first thing you should do is review your pet’s diet. When feeding natural food, it is recommended to diversify the menu with steamed vegetables and fruits, to teach the cat to eat special cat grass, which not only normalizes digestion, but also saturates the body with vitamins and essential elements. If your pet is accustomed to dry food, it is important to ensure that clean and fresh water is freely available.
For constipation, medications with a laxative effect are prescribed, for example:
- "Duphalac";
- sodium picosulfate;
- lactulose.
The feces will become soft if you give the animal Vaseline oil. For hepatitis, a course of antibiotics and hepatoprotectors is prescribed. If there is a dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, antacids, probiotics, and medications that improve peristalsis are used.
If there is excessive internal bleeding, the veterinarian will recommend surgery. The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia, after the operation there will be a rehabilitation period, during which the cat will be prescribed a special diet, a course of drug therapy and other restorative procedures. At this time, it is important to monitor the nature of your pet's stool. It should be moderately soft, without foreign inclusions or unpleasant odor. It is important for the owner to remember that the earlier the disease is diagnosed and treatment prescribed, the better the chances of a full recovery.
How to help a cat at home
In the first stages, when the problem has not started, the owner can help his pet himself.
Ways to combat constipation in cats at home:
- Abdominal massage
The essence of the procedure is to lightly press your fingers on the stomach and massage clockwise. To achieve results, you need to massage regularly and for a long time. If after a massage your stomach gurgles, this is a good sign. If a day has passed and the cat has not gone to the toilet, they resort to laxatives.
- Condensed milk
Many owners write in their reviews that condensed milk can loosen the intestines. All you need to do is dilute condensed milk with raw water (1:1 ratio) and give it to your cat.
- Oil
Vaseline oil lubricates the intestinal walls, softens its contents, and improves peristalsis. The product is given at the rate of 20 ml per 5 kg of animal weight using a syringe without a needle. If after 4 hours the situation does not change, another 5 ml of oil is injected.
The drug can be given every hour. However, the total dose should not exceed 40 ml. The fact is that Vaseline oil envelops the intestinal walls, and the resulting film interferes with the absorption of nutrients.
What to do for prevention?
Preventive measures involve systematic treatment for worms.
Liquid or dry feces, which are constantly observed in a pet, in any case, are evidence of some kind of internal progressive disorder. To prevent consequences dangerous to the cat’s health and life, it is important to follow preventive rules. First of all, it is important to monitor the cat’s nutrition and provide it with fresh and clean water. Do not forget to carry out preventive anthelmintic treatment.
If viral infectious diseases develop, do not self-medicate, but take the animal to a veterinarian, who, based on the diagnostic results, will select an effective treatment. In order for the cat’s body to more actively resist various diseases, it is useful to strengthen the pet’s immunity. To do this, it is recommended to give courses of vitamins and various biologically active supplements, which are selected by the veterinarian, taking into account the individual characteristics of the cat.
Laxatives
These are medications that increase intestinal motility. In our country, lactulose-based products (Lactusan) are very common. But other, cheaper, substances also have a similar effect. These include, for example, Vaseline oil. It mechanically stimulates the release of accumulated feces, lubricating the feces and simultaneously stimulating peristalsis. But still, Vaseline is not a complete laxative.
True mild laxatives (Microlax) act on different principles. They can normalize peristalsis, or impair the absorption of moisture from the intestines, preventing feces from drying out. In veterinary medicine, medicines created on the basis of plant raw materials (Senade) are especially popular. They gently enhance peristalsis and do not lead to spastic spasms of the intestines.
Important! We deliberately do not provide specific dosages, since these drugs must be prescribed carefully, taking into account the physiological state, age, and other factors. This should be done by a veterinarian!
