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My 12-year-old cat has sudden dark, thick diarrhea. Is it serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Norwegian Forest Cat | Female | spayed | 12 years and 5 months old

12yr old cat suddenly has diahrea - small amounts. 1st day was dark/thick

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 19th, 2018

It sounds like poor Billie is sick! In senior cats, there can be some serious causes of diarrhea such as kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, infectious disease, or cancer to name a few. Because there can be serious causes behind it, I recommend giving her vet a call first thing in the morning for an appointment. The vet can diagnose the cause of her diarrhea, and can discuss treatment options with you. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

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