Diarrhea Problems in Aging Cats

Diarrhea problems in an aging cat are common and generally indicative of an underlying illness. Although certain things such as dietary changes and vitamins can help ease a cat into its senior years, age-related diarrhea is most likely unavoidable.

  1. Causes

    • Chronic diarrhea is often a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease/failure or liver disease. Kidney disease is particularly prevalent in aging cats because the filtering units, or nephrons, in the kidneys wear out over time and die off. Inflammatory bowel disease, known as IBD, also chiefly targets middle-aged to senior cats, reports Cornell University.

    Symptoms

    • If IBD is primarily present in the colon, the aging cat suffers from chronic diarrhea; however, IBD may also cause vomiting. Diarrhea accompanied by increased thirst and urination, vomiting and bad breath suggests kidney disease. Liver disease is trickier to diagnose, and the cat's vet may not be aware that it is causing the diarrhea until the aging cat becomes jaundiced.

    Treatment

    • Treatments range from dietary changes to antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment to bring IBD-related diarrhea under control. A specially formulated diet and fluid therapy help reduce the workload on the kidneys and should also keep kidney disease-related diarrhea at bay. Liver disease, and its accompanying diarrhea, are also treated with special diets, fluids and medication.

    Considerations

    • Diarrhea is serious at any age but is particularly dangerous to aging cats. These older felines are more susceptible to dehydration and its related complications. Therefore, any older cat suffering from diarrhea should be taken to the vet immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.