When to worry about your cat’s runny tummy

Runny tummy, or diarrhoea, is a common problem in pets, but it can be difficult to determine when it’s serious and when you need to get professional help for your feline friend because cats are masters at hiding illness. The causes of diarrhoea are varied, with some more serious than others, so the ‘wait and see’ method isn’t a good idea.

When should I be concerned about my cat’s diarrhoea?

A once-off soft or runny stool is usually not cause for concern – cats, like any other pet, will occasionally have an upset stomach. However, recurring diarrhoea is never a good sign and anything that lasts longer than 2 days means you should take your cat to the vet. If you see any of the following symptoms along with the diarrhoea, you should go to the vet immediately:

• Vomiting
• Blood in the stool (or the stool is very dark)
• Out of the ordinary weakness or lethargy
• Loss of appetite

The vet may ask you some questions to help in diagnosing your cat, so it’s a good idea to watch your cat carefully and jot down details like when you first noticed the diarrhoea, how frequent it is, what it looks like, and any changes you may have made to your cat’s diet or environment.

Can I give my cat human medication?

No. This is never a good idea unless a vet has specifically told you what and how much of a specific medicine you can give your cat. You may mean well, but sometimes even a tiny dose of human medication can be toxic or even fatal to a cat.

For example, paracetamol is a common and mild painkiller that most people can use without a problem, but it is highly dangerous to cats and even one pill can be enough to kill them.

How is cat diarrhoea treated?

This very much depends on the cause of the diarrhoea, which will need to be determined by a vet.

Diarrhoea could be caused by something relatively mild like a food allergy or hairball, or it could be something more serious like a parasitic worm, urinary tract infection or liver disease. Your vet may start treatment with cat-specific anti-diarrhoea medication to address the immediate problem, as well as de-wormers, probiotics or a special food you need to give your cat. If your cat refuses to eat for more than 48 hours, this is also a sign that you need to go to the vet.