Why Does My Kitten Have Diarrhea? A Veterinarian's Guide
Why Does My Kitten Have Diarrhea? A Veterinarian's Guide
Written by Alessandro Didiano (doctor in veterinary medicine, MRCVS)
Disclaimer: This article is personally written by me, a licensed veterinarian with several years of clinical experience. It’s for general information only and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult a vet for health concerns or emergencies.
I had just graduated two months before. I had been around the practice for a while, even as a student, assisted countless vets with their consultations, but never done one of my own. In other words, I was not a “proper” vet yet. But my moment had arrived. Someone had walked in with their kitten and requested a consultation, without an appointment. All the other vets were busy. Rather than sending the client home, the practice manager came to tell me “I think you are ready. Go to see them”. I started to feel a mix of excitement and fear. Was I ready? Was the client going to think I was not confident and/or competent? I went into the consult room and called the client in, faking confidence at the best I could. I looked at the computer. The patient was a 3-month-old kitten. “How can I help you and Micky today?” I asked. “Micky has horrible diarrhea” lamented the owner. And that was my first one of thousands and thousands of consultations performed in the years to come.
As a veterinarian, there is no doubt that one of the most common concerns I hear from kitten owners is diarrhea. In this post, I’ll explain why your kitten may have diarrhea, what could be causing it, and how you can help your little one feel better.
What Is Diarrhea in Kittens?
Diarrhea in kittens refers to loose or watery stool, often occurring more frequently than normal. While occasional diarrhea can be a result of minor issues, persistent diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious health problem and should never be ignored. Particularly important for kittens, persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which is especially concerning because they have smaller bodies and, therefore, can lose fluids quickly.
Why Does My Kitten Have Diarrhea?
There are several possible causes for diarrhea in kittens. Some are minor and can be managed at home, while others may require veterinary intervention. But what are the most common reasons why kittens may develop diarrhea?
Kittens are naturally curious creatures and very often eat things they shouldn’t, such as plants, trash, or small objects. This can irritate their gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea.
Kittens, like all baby mammals, have a sensitive digestive system, and changes in their diet can lead to gastrointestinal upset. If you recently switched your kitten’s food or introduced a new type of food or treats, it may cause diarrhea as their system adjusts to the new ingredients.
Food allergies or intolerances can also cause inflammation in your kitten's digestive tract, leading to diarrhea. Common allergens in young cats include certain proteins like chicken or fish, as well as lactose.
One of the most common causes of diarrhea in kittens is infections. Bacterial infections, like Salmonella or E. coli, can result in severe diarrhea, but are not incredibly common.
Viral infections can go from quite mild and transient to severe and even life-threatening, such as the one caused by feline panleukopenia. Please, don't panic! A vaccination is available for this infection and is included in all your kitten routine vaccinations.
Parasites, including worms or Giardia, are also a very common cause of diarrhea in kittens.
Yes, kittens, even the most friendly and lovely ones, do experience stress, and it can significantly affect their digestive system. Events like moving to a new home and the introduction to other pets can trigger diarrhea in some kittens.
What Can You Do to Help Your Kitten?
When your kitten develops diarrhea, the most crucial information for you to know is if you should see a vet or can manage them at home.
As a general rule, if the diarrhea is mild and there are no signs of dehydration or other health problems, you can try to manage at home. In this case, please consider the following important points:
Hydration
As already mentioned, diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration in kittens, so it is extremely important for you to make sure they have access to fresh water at all times. You can also offer electrolyte solutions to help replenish lost fluids.
Bland Or GastroIntestinal Diet
If your kitten is old enough to eat solid food, you should try feeding a bland diet for a day or two. You can cook something yourself (such as chicken and rice) but, given their young age, I actually recommend that you give them a gastrointestinal diet, because it is more balanced in nutrients. These are diets which are specifically formulated for digestive upsets. You can give it for a few days, then you can gradually reintroduce their regular food if the diarrhea improves.
This is the one I usually recommend in practice: Kitten Gastrointestinal Food
Probiotics
This is often overlooked by owners, but it is extremely important. Probiotics are just natural intestinal supplements and adding them to your kitten's diet can help restore the natural balance of bacteria in their intestines.
These are the ones I usually recommend in practice:
- Fortiflora Probiotics: add half to one sachet per day onto the food
- Protexin probiotics: follow the instruction on the product packaging
When Should You See a Vet?
Please, contact your local vet if your kitten:
Has diarrhea for more than 24-48 hours
Shows signs of dehydration (dry gums, lethargy, sunken eyes)
Has vomiting along with diarrhea
Is not eating or drinking
Has bloody diarrhea or black stool
In these cases, we often start by performing a stool analysis to rule out infections and parasites. In some cases, if your kitten looks particularly unwell, we may also decide to perform a blood test and abdominal imaging to rule out other potentially more severe underlying causes.
Conclusion
As we have seen through this article, diarrhea in kittens can be caused by various factors. While some cases are mild and can be managed at home, others may require veterinary intervention. As always, the boring but best advice I can give you based on years of experience is: if you are in doubt, just contact your local vet. In medicine, it is always good to err on the side of caution.