Cures for Kitten Diarrhea

Kittens have fragile tummies and often get diarrhea for one reason or another. Diarrhea, as with humans, is not a disease itself but rather a symptom of another problem. When your kitten has diarrhea, you'll notice its stool is particularly runny or watery, and your pet may have unexpected accidents due to loose bowels. The real danger with diarrhea is dehydration, and a small kitten with diarrhea can go down that dangerous path faster than you can say "meow."

  1. Causes and Diagnosis

    • Diarrhea is caused by many things, so you'll have to consider several factors to see what's wrong, including the consistency and color of the stool and the duration of the diarrhea. According to Felineexpress.com, kittens will have diarrhea because of parasites, viruses, colitis, food allergies, bacteria, giardia, coccidia, and stress. Acute diarrhea lasts for just two days, while chronic diarrhea is longer lasting and more serious. Take your kitten to the vet if the diarrhea lasts for more than 48 hours and is accompanied by other symptoms or odd behaviors. If this is the case, take the kitten and a stool sample to the vet for examination.

    Caring for a Kitten With Diarrhea

    • The most important thing to remember when your kitten has diarrhea is to keep it hydrated. Provide your kitten with plenty of water, a clean litter box, and a quiet, stress-free place where it can rest. Clean the kitten's rear end using a soft wet cloth to avoid bacterial infection. Obviously you should eliminate or discontinue whatever you suspect is causing the diarrhea. To check for dehydration, pull the cat's scruff up. It should fall easily back to skin, and if not, the animal may be dehydrated. The cat's gums should also be pink, not white.

    Diet

    • It's important to feed your kitten a very mild, familiar diet to avoid aggravating the diarrhea. A little chicken soup can help your kitten normalize its stomach patterns (just make sure the soup does not have onions). Pumpkin and sweet potato help cure mild diarrhea, according to All-about-cute-cats.com. Dry kibble should be central to the diet. Avoid milk and fresh meat products when your cat has diarrhea.