Why does my outdoor nursing mama cat have diarrhea but kittens don't?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

  Veterinarian

  Published on April 4th, 2019

  You can try feeding her a bland diet but some cats will not eat it and it may not help. Diarrhea is a symptom of many different causes. Especially in an outdoor cat, parasites and bacterial overgrowth are very common. Because she is nursing the medication options are limited. I recommend to have her see the veterinarian if the diarrhea continues beyond two days. Also, you may look into services that offer spay and neuter for stray cats. One female can have up to 30 kittens in a year. That’s a lot of cats who often spread diseases and parasites amongst each other. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

  

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  Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 19th, 2017

  The diarrhea could be caused by an infection, parasite, or possibly from something she ate. Your vet can test a stool sample to see if she has a parasite and then prescribe medication to treat. She may need some fluids to prevent dehydration, especially because she is nursing kittens. You may need to remove her from the kittens and clean her up if she has diarrhea on her. Call your vet an have her seen tomorrow as soon as possible. If she has a parasite then the kittens will need to be dewormed, as well. Hope she feels better soon!

  

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  Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on December 9th, 2016

  It does sound like Adaa had diarrhea, and that could be cause by the cheese. Cats are lactose intolerant, and it's not recommended to give them diary products due to them causing GI upset. The diarrhea could also be caused by intestinal parasites, and if she has not had a deworming treatment, you will need to get one from the vet. I would also recommend having her vaccines done as soon as the diarrhea clears up. I would recommend feeding her Royal Canin kitten food. I would not continue to feed her only boiled chicken (she can't have cheese), as that's not a balanced diet. Cats need specific nutrients and amino acids, and a cat food will be formulated to give her those. She will need a kitten specific food because she will require higher amounts of calories, protein, and calcium, and a kitten food will provide that for her. I would start giving her the Royal Canin kitten food as soon as possible.

  

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  Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on January 14th, 2017

  Yes, it could be the food. Some food doesn't agree with a cat's system. If you switched foods suddenly, that could cause it as well. Other causes include intestinal parasites, eating something rotten, and a foreign body. Make sure Ovey is up to date on her deworming treatments, and you can try a home remedy to see if that helps the diarrhea. Withhold food for 12-24 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the diarrhea starts again on her normal diet, then you know it's the food :-)

  

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