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possible causes of occasional diarrhea
What could be some of the possible causes of occasional diarrhea (like
2-3 times a week for the past couple weeks) in an 8 year old cat who is eating and behaving normally? She is not losing weight; in fact she's gained a few ounces over the past month or so. I suspect it might be that we have switched foods a couple times in trying to find something all three cats will eat, but she has always been the one that wasn't all that choosy. The stool is normal color, just soft although sometimes it was kind of runny. I've been watching her and she doesn't show any urgency or added frequency although if another cat is near she will hang around until the cat leaves the room. (We have two litter boxes in the same room, on opposite sides). She has an appt. with the vet next week but I was wondering what the possibilities might be if they have diarrhea but do not appear to be ill. One of the other cats had an episode awhile ago too but not at the same time so I'm not sure if it might be food related or something else, like bacteria or a parasite. The third cat seems to be perfectly normal in the stool dept. -Yngver |
#2
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possible causes of occasional diarrhea
gained a few ounces over the past month or so. I suspect it might be
that we have switched foods a couple times in trying to find something all three cats will eat, but she has always been the one that wasn't Switching foods abruptly can cause loose stools. Changing to another brand should be done very slowly. Just add a small amount of the new food to the old food on the first day. Then add a little more of the new food each day and a little less of the old until eventually they are just eating the new food. This could take a week or longer. She has an appt. with the vet next week but I was wondering what the possibilities might be if they have diarrhea but do not appear to be ill. One of the other cats had an episode awhile ago too but not at the same time so I'm not sure if it might be food related or something else, like bacteria or a parasite. The third cat seems to be perfectly normal in the stool dept. Bring a stool sample to vet. You never know, it could be a parasite. You only need a sample from one of them as if one of them has it, they all do. Anna -- Message posted via CatKB.com http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...ealth/200602/1 |
#3
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possible causes of occasional diarrhea
yngver wrote: What could be some of the possible causes of occasional diarrhea (like 2-3 times a week for the past couple weeks) in an 8 year old cat who is eating and behaving normally? Coccidia, giardia, worms, change in diet, stress... She is not losing weight; in fact she's gained a few ounces over the past month or so. I suspect it might be that we have switched foods a couple times in trying to find something all three cats will eat, but she has always been the one that wasn't all that choosy. Bingo. The stool is normal color, just soft although sometimes it was kind of runny. I've been watching her and she doesn't show any urgency or added frequency although if another cat is near she will hang around until the cat leaves the room. (We have two litter boxes in the same room, on opposite sides). She has an appt. with the vet next week but I was wondering what the possibilities might be if they have diarrhea but do not appear to be ill. One of the other cats had an episode awhile ago too but not at the same time so I'm not sure if it might be food related or something else, like bacteria or a parasite. The third cat seems to be perfectly normal in the stool dept. -Yngver Hi Yngver - nice to see you again. I suspect it's switching the foods. But since you are going to the vet, have them do a stool sample analysis to check for parasites. Coccidia can cause recurrrent bouts of diarrhea, and many times kitties have no other symptoms. -L. |
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possible causes of occasional diarrhea
-L. wrote: yngver wrote: What could be some of the possible causes of occasional diarrhea (like 2-3 times a week for the past couple weeks) in an 8 year old cat who is eating and behaving normally? Coccidia, giardia, worms, change in diet, stress... Are worms, etc. likely in the dead of winter, however? The other thing that does concern me is stress--I think she is more sensitive to stress than the other two and although it doesn't really involve her, the other two fight (not physically, just posturing and growling until one backs down) a lot and I know it upsets her. But I don't know what to do about that since it's been going on ever since we took in the third cat, two years ago. She is not losing weight; in fact she's gained a few ounces over the past month or so. I suspect it might be that we have switched foods a couple times in trying to find something all three cats will eat, but she has always been the one that wasn't all that choosy. Bingo. They all eat the same canned food, and have been for a long time, so I don't think that's it. But the finickiest of the bunch will only eat one certain dry food, and sometimes not even that. It's too caloric for the pudgier two so we have to give them other food, but lately they have been turning up their noses at what they used to like. The one with the diarrhea would really love to go back on SD Oral Care--her very favorite--but we had to stop feeding her that. I wonder if having eaten a high fiber food for a couple of years and now switching to a regular diet could be contributing to loose stools. The stool is normal color, just soft although sometimes it was kind of runny. I've been watching her and she doesn't show any urgency or added frequency although if another cat is near she will hang around until the cat leaves the room. (We have two litter boxes in the same room, on opposite sides). She has an appt. with the vet next week but I was wondering what the possibilities might be if they have diarrhea but do not appear to be ill. One of the other cats had an episode awhile ago too but not at the same time so I'm not sure if it might be food related or something else, like bacteria or a parasite. The third cat seems to be perfectly normal in the stool dept. -Yngver Hi Yngver - nice to see you again. Thanks. I post here once in a while but this board is so big and hectic now it gets lost. I suspect it's switching the foods. But since you are going to the vet, have them do a stool sample analysis to check for parasites. Coccidia can cause recurrrent bouts of diarrhea, and many times kitties have no other symptoms. -L. I do plan to bring in a stool sample but sometimes the cats don't cooperate--the vet wants a stool sample that's no more than a couple hours old, naturally. Since the cats get up before I do--usually just before dawn--I can't always tell what's fresh and what's been sitting there all night. I just take in whatever is there. I read about coccidia when you mentioned it and it occurs to me that there were some mice in our house when the weather turned cold. The cats won't eat a mouse but they will grab one and shake it until it ceases to move (unless I can get the mouse into a cup and remove it to the outdoors first). I wonder if it's possible they got some kind of parasite just by picking up a mouse in their mouths. Also, as I think about it, I'm not positive it's always the same cat that's producing the runny stools. I saw her do it a couple of times so I'm assuming, but I don't know for sure that the others don't have soft stools once in a while too. It's hard to tell with clumping litter unless you break it apart to see what's in the clump. Thanks for the advice! -Yngver |
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possible causes of occasional diarrhea
"yngver" wrote in message ups.com... -L. wrote: yngver wrote: What could be some of the possible causes of occasional diarrhea (like 2-3 times a week for the past couple weeks) in an 8 year old cat who is eating and behaving normally? Coccidia, giardia, worms, change in diet, stress... Are worms, etc. likely in the dead of winter, however? The other thing that does concern me is stress--I think she is more sensitive to stress than the other two and although it doesn't really involve her, the other two fight (not physically, just posturing and growling until one backs down) a lot and I know it upsets her. Sure. Stress can cause diarrhea in cats- especially if its intermittent and you can't find any other cause. Still, you might want to opt for a fecal exam. Good luck, Phil |
#6
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possible causes of occasional diarrhea
Phil P. wrote: "yngver" wrote in message ups.com... -L. wrote: yngver wrote: What could be some of the possible causes of occasional diarrhea (like 2-3 times a week for the past couple weeks) in an 8 year old cat who is eating and behaving normally? Coccidia, giardia, worms, change in diet, stress... Are worms, etc. likely in the dead of winter, however? The other thing that does concern me is stress--I think she is more sensitive to stress than the other two and although it doesn't really involve her, the other two fight (not physically, just posturing and growling until one backs down) a lot and I know it upsets her. Sure. Stress can cause diarrhea in cats- especially if its intermittent and you can't find any other cause. Still, you might want to opt for a fecal exam. Good luck, Phil Thanks, Phil. I'm taking her to the vet next week anyway for her annual check-up and will bring in whatever stool sample I can find. I have been examining the contents of the litter boxes more closely lately (yuck, but necessary) and it seems to be normal most of the time. I have three identical litter boxes for three cats but they all seem to prefer the same one, so there is some territorial dispute over who gets to use the prime one, I guess. -Yngver |
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