Gas & Diarrhea in Cats

Most cats suffer with an occasional bout of diarrhea. Occasionally this is accompanied by flatulence and it's nothing to worry about except a little upset stomach. However, persistent diarrhea and gas can indicate more serious medical issues. In this case, take the cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

  1. Dietary

    • Your cat's gas and diarrhea may be caused by its diet. If the cat drank cow's milk or ate a new food, it may have diarrhea and flatulence.

    Stress

    • Shock or stress, such as a new pet, a move to a new house or even a visit to the veterinarian can cause cats to develop diarrhea. If this is the cause of your cat's illness, it should be resolved within a day or two.

    Home Care

    • If your cat has a few bouts of diarrhea and you have no reason to suspect anything serious, you can treat it at home--as long as the illness responds to your care.
      The cat should not be allowed to go outside while it is sick. You need to monitor its health and its litter box.
      A 24-hour fast may help an adult cat set its digestive system right. (Kittens should not be fasted.) Ensure the cat has fresh water at all times. Dehydration is always a worry for a cat with diarrhea. After the fast, re-introduce food with a bland diet in four to six very small meals--about half of what the cat would normally eat. Slowly increase food to the normal amount.

    Parasites

    • Parasites--hookworms, roundworms and giardia--often cause gas and diarrhea in cats. Your veterinarian can do a fecal exam to see if any parasites are present and will prescribe a wormer, such as Panacur. However, some parasites, including giardia, are hard to find even under a microscope. If a cat has persistent diarrhea, a wormer might be prescribed even if the fecal exam shows nothing.

    Veterinary Care

    • There is a point at which diarrhea in a cat becomes a serious medical issue and your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Because diarrhea means a cat is losing nutrients, electrolytes and fluids, it's especially important to watch for signs of dehydration. Diarrhea and gas accompanied by certain symptoms may indicate an underlying medical issue in your cat. These symptoms include blood or mucus in the stool, feces staining around the cat's bottom, the cat excessively cleaning its bottom, high fever, change in appetite, abdominal pain or swelling, weight loss, lethargy or vomiting. If these symptoms are present, take your cat to the veterinarian.

    Serious Illness

    • Diarrhea and gas can be symptoms of serious illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease, a fungal or bacterial infection, hyperthyroidism, pancreas disease, bowel or intestinal cancer, feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus.