Loose Stools in Cats

By Barb Nefer

Instructions

Definition

Step 1:
A healthy cat should have solid stool that comes out in formed pieces. When the feces is soft and mushy rather than being properly formed, the cat is considered to have loose stools. This problem is often accompanied by an unpleasant odor.

Causes

Step 1:
There are many common causes for loose stools in cats. When a cat eats things it shouldn't or is not tolerating the food it is receiving, its stool can be mushy. Intestinal parasites, stress and certain diseases can also cause loose stools.

Time Frame

Step 1:
If your cat only has loose stools at intermittent times, you may be able to pinpoint a dietary cause. For example, if you feed human food to the cat and it has a problem every time you do this, the cause is obvious. If your cat goes outside and has occasional loose stools when it returns, it may be eating something when it is out. If there has been a stressful event like a household move, the loose stools may be a situational reaction that will resolve itself once things return to normal. If the problem is continuous and not linked to certain events, it is likely being caused by parasites or some other health condition like inflammatory bowel disease.

Home Remedy

Step 1:
Since loose stools in cats often have a dietary cause, control your feline's diet and add a psyllium fiber supplement made for pets. If its loose stools are being caused by food intolerance or too much table food, these steps should resolve the problem. You can also add probiotics to your cat's diet. This will promote good intestinal health.

Veterinary Treatment

Step 1:
If you cannot cure your cat's loose stools with a controlled diet, fiber supplement or probiotics, you should take it to the veterinarian to be checked for worms or other medical causes. The veterinarian can pinpoint the cause with an examination and tests and prescribe the proper treatment.

Photo/Video Credit

Photo: sxc.hu (Pintaric)

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