Every so often, most cats will suffer from a short bout of diarrhea. Although this may be quite unpleasant for the both of you to deal with (requiring frequent litter box changings), chances are it will pass naturally on its own in a day or so. If you would like to help your feline friend feel better sooner, though, there are a few things you can do to help speed up nature's work.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh water
- Rice, potatoes or pasta
- Hamburger or chicken
- Psyllium powder
Instructions
Make sure your cat has plenty of fresh water to drink so she does not become dehydrated. Scrub out all of her bowls, in case the diarrhea has been caused by some type of water-borne parasite. If your cat does not like to drink water from a bowl, make sure you add a little water to her regular food.
Try a little gentle exercise. Take your cat for a walk if possible, and if not, try to make sure he moves around a bit inside the house, although in uncarpeted areas that are easy to clean up in case an accident should happen. Make sure that he stays calm and is not overly stressed, though, as stress can lead to or prolong a bout of diarrhea.
Feed your cat a bland diet. Cooked white rice, pasta, or boiled potatoes will all be easy on her digestive system, as will a little boiled chicken or hamburger meat for the protein. If the diarrhea is really serious, you may need to withhold food for a day, then gradually introduce the bland foods, mixing in a bit of her regular food as she improves until her intestines are back to normal.
Add a little bulk-forming laxative, such as psyllium powder, to your cat's food. About half a teaspoon sprinkled into her food bowl for a few days should help to firm up her stools.
Call your veterinarian if the diarrhea is severe and continues for more than 24 hours, if the cat is vomiting, or if he exhibits other symptoms such as excessive thirst or extreme lethargy. If you notice any blood in your cat's stool, you should also call the vet right away. While diarrhea on its own may not mean too much, if accompanied by other symptoms it may turn out to be indicative of another, more severe condition that will require immediate medical treatment.