Cat Stool Color, Bacterial Imbalance & Colitis

Cat colitis is a condition that affects the large intestine or colon of the cat, causing painful inflammation of the lining of the colon. This results in diarrhea, frequent elimination, stomach discomfort and pain when defecating.

  1. Causes

    • Cat colitis can be caused by a variety of factors, including viruses, bacteria or fungi infecting the large intestine; intestinal worms; or ingestion of a foreign object. These conditions result in an imbalance of the beneficial bacteria present in the intestinal tract, leading to improper digestion of nutrients and an increase in harmful bacteria.

    Symptoms

    • Colitis in cats causes very loose, liquid stools that in advanced cases contain mucous or blood. Black stools indicate bleeding in the upper part of the intestinal tract, yellow or orange stools indicate an imbalance of bacteria, and gray stools indicate liver problems, according to Holistic Pet Info. A large volume of stools indicates poor absorption of nutrients, according to that website.

    Treatments

    • Depending on the underlying cause of the colitis, your veterinarian will prescribe a treatment of antibiotics, antifungal drugs or deworming medication. Your vet might also recommend a higher-fiber diet to solidify the feces, and might suggest probiotic supplementation and a reduction of any stress in the cat's environment.