My kitty has unexplained diarrhea

[SassyLassie]

My little kitty, Buttercup, who is hardly sick has a problem. Let me try to explain what has happened.
About 4 days ago, I started her on a new wet food called "Aristocats" from Fred Myers grocery. Well, yesterday, I noticed she had a stool behind the couch, she NEVER does this, and this morning, she was crying and crying and when I got up, I noticed a semi-soft stool behind my recliner. She had access to her pan and it is squeaky clean. She has NEVER missed her pan, she is so good about it, now, she will not use it. I put her in the bathroom with a bed on top of her kennel and her pan, well, she peed in the pan, but I noticed her sitting funny in the kennel and she was having a BM and it was like a cow pie. She has taken to crying a lot now too. I had to give her a bath as she had feces all over her behind and tail. Actually I have noticed her behind have feces on it for a week or more, but very well formed stools, she has very long hair, so, that did not bother me too much. This diarrhea is new. Oh yes, this morning, she cried and I let her in my room, well, after I had breakfast, I came back to room as she was crying again, I could smell feces, I found a big "pie" on my bed. This all is so not like her, I am very concerned. She eats well, drinks well, her eyes are clear, and she is NOT listless. Could the change of food have caused all this? I live in a very small town with only one vet and they never can seem to get me in, therefore, I have to go over 70 miles to one. I will of course, but, I am wondering if I gave her some plain, organic yogurt, if that would help. I was going to give her Kaopectate, but, I just read the new forumlae has aspirin, dang them. I am very befuddled and don't know where to turn from here. Can you help? One ore thing, she is strictly an indoor cat, she never goes outdoors.

[A_Muse4u]

Thx for your condolences.  Furbee was such a great cat.  He loved to play peek-a-boo w/the eye he lost.  He'd hide behind a wall, or counter, etc. and peek at me w/the eye he lost.  They other eye was always hidden behind whatever he was hiding the rest of himself behind.  He would also lay on the kitchen floor when it was time to mop it and refuse to move.  He'd lay in mound of tall, lush, beautiful green grass and smile at me like he knew the grass matched his eyes.  

My youngest son & I cried alot for that cat.  We couldn't do anything for him, unfortunately.  His diarrhea came on slowly, then, he couldn't make it to the front door or the litter box and it would just shoot out of his rear.  Once, he jumped onto the couch, w/me, and he had a diarrhea-attack on the way up to the couch.  That's when we knew it had gone too far.  The Vet told us he was going to get worse, after he lost his eye.  Vet had to remove his beautiful eye and Furbee STILL tried to play peek-a-boo and didn't realize he'd be peeking w/his missing eye.  It was sO sad, but he STILL managed to make us laugh.  It was very tough on my son & I to witness Furbee's untimely demise.  He was only 2-3 yrs young, at the time.  

GL w/ your Daisy & I will pray for peace in both of your hearts.  O:-)

[HelpinUtah]

I'm so sorry about your Furbee.  I'm going through something similar with my cat as far as being sick.  She has cancer.  It's very sad and I know when it's her time to go I will be crying a lot and very sad.  

As for the diarrhea, Daisy has had that since yesterday.  I called the vet this morning and it is a side effect of her pain medication they have her on.  They told me only to give her the Pro Gut from the vet that since she is on prednisone and the pain meds, that she should not take anything else. So, twice a day she gets the Pro Gut, which will help settle her tummy.  

[A_Muse4u]

One of my cats had Diarrhea & he started dehydrating.  I took him to the vet and the vet said he had Leukemia.  I asked how?????  He said he probably got it from another cat.  That's how they contract it.  My cat Furbee had to be put down.  He lost one of his eyes, first.  He had beautiful green-eyes and a silver-coat.  Then, he just got sicker and we couldn't save him.  I cried alot that day/night.  I still miss him veRy much.  :...(

[SassyLassie]

That is a good idea about the baking soda, I will remember that. So far, the last two days, she is back to using her pan like she should, so, I think the worst is over.

[Kaydey]

I am very aware that Pepto and Immodium should only be used in serious cases.  And aware of the effects of acet.  

To me this sounded like a very severe case.  Cats dehydrate very easily when they have diarrhea, and it usually takes only one dose to stop it.

I am extremely happy to hear that she is doing much much better.  And yes 'people' medicine can be very harsh on their tummies. But sometimes there is no other choice.

Question.... Have you tried to put some baking soda in her litter to help cover up the smell of her previous usage of the litter box?

BTW... the Pepto was on the advice of my Vet.  The ratio I gave was the ratio he gave me, but, yes... you should check with you vet also.

[SassyLassie]

Thanks for all of your help. I appreciate it.

I clean Buttercups pan all the time, every time she poops, I take it out, and every time she pees, I stir it really well. So, I don't think that is the problem. As I said, as long as she is in close quarters, she will use it, but, it seems when she has run of the house, she won't. However, she did use it this last time, so, who knows. She has always been so good about not missing the pan, that is why I am so befuddled.

I agree, I am very leery about using "people" meds on animals, you just can not be too careful, their tummy's are so delicate.

[zodiacqueen]

If you decide to give your kitty anything, make sure that it does NOT have any acetominophen in it.  NONE at all.  One dose is deadly.  Aspirin can be given in tiny doses, but not acetominophen.  A long time ago, we were told on the phone by a vet receptionist to go ahead and give our cat Tylenol.  Long story short, the cat had to be rushed to the emergency vet.  He almost died, and that was from ONE dose.  His kidneys failed.  Thank God he was saved, but years later his kidneys failed and he had to be put down.

I hope that you, and others that read this, will never ever give a cat medicines suggested by people on this forum w/ out asking their vets first.  People mean well, but might not always have accurate information.

[Savas]

Pepto should only b used in an extreme emergency. Imodium as well. pepto has acetaminophen in it which can have serious consequences when used on cats. both should only be used for one day, one or two doses max.

Next time you switch foods, mix the old and new foods and gradually decrease the amount of the old food over two weeks until you aren't using it anymore. This should cut down on the bowel problems... unless the new food is just plain yucky to your cat. :-)

[PrettyKitty1]

aw, I'm happy to hear BC is doing better. Poor kitty. She must have been so uncomfortable.

[HelpinUtah]

I'm glad to hear that she's doing better - awesome news!

[zodiacqueen]

Glad to hear that the diarrhea has cleared up.  It was obviously the food causing her bowels to act up!  Pretty much all of us agreed that it was probably the food.  What would you do w/ out us???????  LOL  I think it's very helpful to people on here when all of us agree!

Anyway, how many times a day do you clean your litter box?  Some kitties are picky as he!! and won't poop in there if there is more than two messes in there already.  MINE won't!!  Maybe that's what your kitty's deal is.  Try to clean twice a day and see if that helps!

Let us know how it goes!

[SassyLassie]

Her diarrhea is gone and she looks and acts better, however, she now will not use her pan to poop in, she pees in it but poops on the floor. I found if I put her in the carpeted utility room with the pan she WILL use it to poop in, it is a small room. Geesh, if it is not one thing it is another, and she was always so good about using her pan before this started.

[Kaydey]

If the food is not better quality, get rid of it.   Yogurt can be helpful, but not in this situation.

Give her the usual food she is used to.

I understand that the cost of food....believe me!!!   But to give her a less nutrition food will affect her greatly.

Immodium is usually only useful for post-surgical bowel problems.

Pepto is safe....   the ratio is 1/2 cc to 5 lbs.

[Jade59]

I would err on the safe side and let the diarrhea run it's course.  The food is clearly a...hmm I don't want to say "bad, "....a problem, yes, that's it... so you Want her system cleared of this food, but only to a point of course.  It doesn't sound like she has severe diarrhea and since you've stopped gviing her this food, she should be much better by tomorrow, I would think.

Just leary of the Imodium since you can't find a concrete answer.  Do you have a 24hr er vet you can call?  Maybe do that.

[SassyLassie]

No, it was not better, I just thought she would enjoy it, WRONG, she did not like it much the first day, and the second day, less, and now, she has the diarrhea. I just talked to another lady and she said her cat did the same thing with this particular brand. I will NEVER do that again.

I tried to give her some plain, yogurt, but she will not touch it. Is it safe to give a kitty Immodium, I have been some googling on it and I get pros and cons.

[Kaydey]

When switching food,  you can't just start a new food.  You have to slowly introduce it with the food they are used to or they WILL get upset tummy, and diarrhea.  

Is this new food better than what you have been feeding her? If not, then why the change?

[Jade59]

Okay good.  That's what I would do too :)

Keep us updated!

[SassyLassie]

I agree, Jade, I thought she might be cramping too. I wanted to add that her stools are very mucousy and on the dark green side. We have NO real plants in the house, only artificial, so, I can rule the plant eating out.

I am throwing all the new food away, she was fine before all this started.

[Jade59]

Hi Sassy,

Since the new food is the only change, then yes, it sounds like Buttercup isn't tolerating the new food.  Maybe she's crying because the food is causing her to cramp?  I don't know, just a guess.  

I would switch back to her old food immediatly and see what happens.

Good luck!