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What causes diarrhoea in cats?
Minor diarrhea can easily be treated with home remedies for cats. Diarrhea can be caused by several factors and you must discover what causes it in your cat. It is usually not serious for adult cats, however, watery, bloody, or persistent diarrhea indicates serious problems and you should take your cat to the vet. Whatever the cause, the remedies below will bring relief.
Natural and home remedies
It is very easy to make your own natural diarrhea remedies but there are also ready-made ones on the market. For example, RuniPoo Relief from PetAlive is such a commercially-produced natural remedy. It comes as a liquid and is very easy to administer. Mix the 2-3 drops in your cat’s food or a little water, three to four times daily.
One of the most effective home remedies for cats with diarrhea is made from apple cider vinegar. If your cat is an adult and otherwise healthy, take it off solid food for at least 24 hours and regularly give small amounts of a mixture of one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of honey mixed into one cup of hot water. Use organic vinegar if possible. Apple cider vinegar sterilizes the digestive tract and honey soothes the stomach lining. Kittens should not be put on a fast.
Also, give six half dropperfuls of calamus root tea throughout the day and two dropperfuls of marigold tea in the morning and evening. Alternatively, you can give two dropperfuls of sage and chamomile tea four times a day. To make the tea, pour 300 ml of boiling water onto one teaspoon of the herb and let it brew for one minute.
Slippery elm is another good home remedy for cats with diarrhea. You can buy it in most health food shops and it comes in capsule and powder form or as a tincture. Put up to one teaspoon of powder mixed with water or one opened capsule in your cat’s food daily. If you use the tincture, dilute 20 drops in 30 ml of water and give one dropperful three times a day.
To make your cat more comfortable, a small linen cushion (sew two handkerchiefs together) filled with fresh or dried chamomile and flowers, warmed and bandaged onto your cat’s stomach is very soothing.
Manage your cat’s diet
When you resume feeding, give your cat food that is easy to digest until diarrhea has stopped. Cooked white rice mixed with pieces of raw chicken is perfect. Some cats don’t like rice; in this case, use potatoes or pasta instead. If you don’t feel like cooking for your cat, you can buy meat with rice foods from most pet supply stores. However, these are likely to contain cooked meat which is less nutritious and put more of a strain on the system.
Keep dairy products away from your cat. The milk sugar in dairy products is a cause of diarrhea in cats. The one exception is plain yogurt. Feed your cat a small portion of unpasteurized plain yogurt. Yogurt contains bacteria helpful for the intestines and can cure minor diarrhea within a day. Pasteurized yogurt will contain very few viable bacteria though.
Probiotic gels and powders for cats, available from pet supply shops, are another option. They contain friendly bacteria that support intestinal health. Just one dose will often cure minor diarrhea.
Canned pumpkin purée is another effective natural remedy. Feed your cat 1 or 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin purée with its food. The high quantity of fiber in the pumpkin soaks up excess water and helps solidify loose stool within a few hours.
Get rid of cat foods that contain dyes, additives, and preservatives. Switch to a brand that does not contain them. Be aware though that a sudden change of food can cause diarrhea, so introduce the new food gradually.
Hydration
It’s important that your cat keeps drinking as diarrhea causes dehydration. Make sure it has plenty of water available at all times. To help your cat recover from dehydration you can give it a solution containing salt, baking soda, water, and a little sugar. Do not use human rehydration tablets or sports drinks.
The above natural and home remedies for cats with diarrhea have been proven to be effective natural ways of treating diarrhea. Using them, you will achieve good results and quickly.