Your senior cat's diarrhea may just be the result of an upset stomach. But inflammatory bowel disease is a common illness among older cats. Symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease are diarrhea, vomiting, mucous in the stool, increased frequency of defecation and defecating outside the box. If your cat's diarrhea is accompanied by any of these symptoms, you should take her to a veterinarian. But there are home treatments you can use if there are no other symptoms accompanying the diarrhea and she responds within a couple of days.
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Indoors
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Keep your cat indoors if you suspect he is sick. This will allow you to monitor his condition more closely and to see exactly what is happening in the litter box. Keep the box especially clean while he has diarrhea--this will reduce the likelihood that he will defecate outside the box. Keeping him inside also allows you to know exactly what he is eating and to eliminate the possibility there is something in his diet causing the condition.
Water
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It's especially important your cat drink lots of water while suffering from diarrhea--the greatest risk is dehydration. Some cats prefer to drink running water, so leaving a faucet running or offering her water in an electric water fountain may encourage her to drink more. Some cats prefer to drink out of a long narrow dish rather than a bowl. Try offering water in a couple different types of containers.
Fast
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A fast may be effective in treating your cat's diarrhea, but fasting a senior cat should be undertaken with caution. If a cat goes too long without eating, a life-threatening liver condition can occur. You can fast your cat from solid foods for 24 hours, offering chicken broth to ensure he is getting some calories and to keep him from feeling too deprived. At the end of the fast, offer cooked chicken breast and rice. The following day, offer him half of his regular food and half chicken and rice.
Veterinarian
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If you take your senior cat to the veterinarian because of her diarrhea, the vet will rule out the possibility that your cat is sick as the result of worms or other parasites. The doctor may use fluids, electrolyte replacements, anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics to treat the illness, depending on the cause of the diarrhea. The veterinarian may also prescribe a therapeutic diet.
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