Diarrhea in cats can be caused by a wide range of factors, including infections, dietary issues, medical conditions, and stress. Common causes include:
- Infections: Bacterial, viral (such as feline distemper, feline leukemia, feline panleukopenia), fungal, or parasitic infections (like roundworms, tapeworms, Giardia) can cause diarrhea
- Diet-related causes: Sudden changes in diet, food intolerances or allergies (to beef, fish, chicken, dairy, wheat, gluten), ingestion of toxins, spoiled food, table scraps, or foreign objects can lead to diarrhea
- Inflammatory and chronic conditions: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common cause of chronic diarrhea in cats. Other conditions include pancreatitis, colitis, kidney or liver disease, and intestinal cancer
- Stress and anxiety: Psychological stress can trigger diarrhea in cats
- Medications: Antibiotics and other drugs may have diarrhea as a side effect
- Obstructions: Ingesting foreign objects or bowel obstructions can cause diarrhea, often accompanied by other symptoms like vomiting or pain
In summary, diarrhea in cats is often due to infections, dietary indiscretions, inflammatory diseases, organ dysfunction, stress, or medication side effects. Persistent or severe diarrhea, especially with other symptoms like vomiting, weakness, or blood in stool, warrants prompt veterinary evaluation
