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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Kitten diarrhoea all over house

26 replies

MrsMoggy · 27/05/2018 21:53

Hi this is going to be long....

My kitten Alice is 4 months old, we adopted her at 10 weeks old from a local small rescue. One of 8 kittens, no issues reported from the other cats. We also have two other cats who are 4 and 2 years old.

Almost two weeks ago she had her spay. Came home all fine and going about usual business. She had her 3 day post op check, nothing to report. Then a couple of days after that i came downstairs to a pile of poo on the sofa. Material sofa so had to wash the covers etc. Put it down to a bit of stress and thought no more of it. Later that night a pile appeared again on different sofa. Thought maybe her tray didn’t seem clean enough to her so gave all 3 trays we have a good scrub.

Well as the next couple of days went by the poo got looser and looser and we had it on the stairs and on our bed which soaked through and made us chuck the duvet out. In the night she pooed again on the discarded duvet.

So called the vets and went in. £50 later we came out with some tablets and a white fluid (kolin?) but only couple days worth. He said her temp was a bit high but would resolve itself. He also gave some sensitive food, again two days worth.

So two days later we go back, he asks if it’s improved, I say no because it hasn’t. He says to leave it over weekend (up to where we are now) he didn’t bother to retake temp.

Well things are just getting worse. 3 rivers of poo down my sofa today. Also witnessed myself her jumping between things in the room and her poo literally leaking out like water. Sometimes she’s aware she’s pooing and sometimes she isn’t. She makes no effort to go to any of the trays.

I’m at a complete loss what to do. We will call vets again on Tuesday but I really can’t afford to keep treating it if there’s going to be no quick resolution. We have just signed to move to a new rental (pets allowed with extra deposit to pay) and that has taken all our money for the foreseeable. We will also be in trouble with the landlord there if this pooing continues and it could jeapordise the tenancy. We have just recently got pet insurance for Alice, but we can’t claim anything this early in the policy and I’m not sure whether this now will go down as a pre existing?

I’m just feeling very stuck at the moment and hating being in my own home as there’s poo everywhere!

OP posts:
frasier · 27/05/2018 21:58

I know nothing but Flowers and hope it clears up soon. Have you got any outside space where you could put a run while it’s warm weather? At least you could have a break from it for a few hours in the day.

Tansytaylor · 27/05/2018 22:01

Can you limit to a single room at the moment? You really can't have her using your house as a litter tray

She does sound quite poorly. What are you feeding her by the way

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 27/05/2018 22:04

Thanks Frasier. No we don’t have any outside space which is part of the reason for the move. I’m also stressed because one of my other cats has FIV (cat equivalent to HIV) so his immune system is compromised, it would mean trouble if he caught it

OP posts:
frasier · 27/05/2018 22:10

Then yes, as Tany says, isolate to one room or part of room. Put down something you can throw out, like the old duvet, and put some cardboard boxes etc. In do it’s not too boring.

Poor you, poor kitty.

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 27/05/2018 22:10

Hi Tansy,

She has a talent for opening doors and will scratch like mad to get out of a room, can’t risk the carpet with it being rented. It’s literally like choosing between poo carpet or ripped carpet!

She’s on the same food now as she was before the spay (felix good as it looks wet and whiskas kitten dry- not the best quality foods I know but was all she would eat) None of this happened before the spay so I can’t help but think it’s somehow related to it. The vet gave us some sensitive food pouches but they didn’t work.

I’ve tried cutting out dry food and cutting out wet food but nothing seems to improve it. I don’t think it can just be down to food as we are talking ridiculously watery poo here with no solid bits at all. So sorry This is disgusting but you could literally hear the splat noise that you would from a human with diarrhoea

OP posts:
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 22:32

Sorry - I don't have any technical advice but can empathise (similar problem).

Really hope you find a resolution.

FriendsDontLie · 27/05/2018 22:42

Sorry you are having such a stressful time with your kitty.

To me it sounds like a parasite, maybe giardia or t foetus. They both can come with uncontrollable diarrhoea. It’s possible the parasite was laying dormant and the stress of the spay triggered it. They are fairly easy to fix though can take a few rounds of treatment, my girl had giardia and it took 3 rounds of panacur but she is all good now.

Can you try feeding her white fish (I bought the frozen Morrison’s savers ones, it’s £1.60ish for 4) and feed her only that for a couple of days. My vet suggested this for the diarrhoea and it did firm her up a lot.

As others say, isolate her if you can. Even if it’s in the bathroom, could you turn your door handles upside down so she can’t get out? I have an escape artist too!

Good luck, I know how stressful it can be, so sending you good vibes!

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 27/05/2018 22:46

Thank you,

FriendsDont, do you mind me asking how much it cost you for the panacur treatments?

Obviously I’m going to have to do what’s needed to get her better but money is so so tight at the moment

OP posts:
wormery · 27/05/2018 22:47

Poor KitKat, I also wonder if it's parasites or tummy bug. She could get dehydrated quickly if it's loose and watery. I would isolate her in the bathroom, put down old newspapers or pads, try and scoop up a sample for the vet to test. Leave a tray for her but she may feel a bit weak. Hope you can sort it out soon.

wormery · 27/05/2018 22:49

Try the blue cross if there's one near you, cheaper than private vet and often have better facilities.

Tansytaylor · 27/05/2018 22:52

You poor thing. I wouldn't like this one bit and would find it extremely stressful

I'd be inclined to keep as isolated as possible, (where you can and just for now) and I'd even be tempted to use a crate. I don't mean lock her in there of course - not at all. But where you cannot watch her, and whilst this is going on, just pop her in so at least you know you won't be coming back to liquid poo all over your sofa and floors

And speak to vets again ASAP. Maybe cut the wet food to a minimum. I'm clutching at straws here though

FriendsDontLie · 27/05/2018 22:53

No problem Moggy. I had sachets to mix in with food and it was roughly £8-£10 for 7 days worth. It’s extremely cheap online (£3ish) and you can buy it without prescription but you need to be sure of the correct dosing. I’m sure if you explain to the vet about your situation, they’ll help you out with the dosing so you can buy it online. Vets have always been very kind to me when I have explained I can’t afford long term treatment. Hope your kit (and you!) feel better soon

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 27/05/2018 23:12

Thank you all,

I will call the vet again Tuesday to see what they suggest, limited to time available to take her as we both work. I will push for more investigation this time as feel we were fobbed off last time and it’s £25 just for an appt, not including any treatment.

Layout of the house makes it difficult to isolate her, plus we have upheaval and boxes in most rooms because of the house move. She would also be really upset to be away from the other cats, she’s still so little which makes all this even sorrier to see. Wish I hadn’t had the spay done now! Couldn’t have had worse timing for all of it.

OP posts:
BlueEyedBengal · 27/05/2018 23:12

We had a pup who started in the car on the way home ( all over my son) and don't stop all of 10 days. We fead her a better diet and gave her a good worming and plenty of water and she recovered and lived until she died in her sleep just short of her 14th birthday 3months ago. What I would do is go back to the vet as sometime is wrong maybe a post op infection? But I would think give her a worming and confine her somewhere easy to clean.

WillowB · 28/05/2018 08:26

I really feel for you & your poor kitty.
I also came on to suggest giardia. Our cat caught it and went downhill very quickly. Started off with a bit of diarreah then got worse & our cat was very lethargic & poorly. He spent a week at the vets but they didn't test for it until they'd ruled out everything else (& by this time we'd run up a 1k bill!!! Shock)
I would definitely return to the vets. Cats can get very ill and dehydrated quickly so it needs sorting
Good luck

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 28/05/2018 17:44

Just a quick update...

Had the lady from the rescue where Alice came from round this afternoon. She has offered to take Alice to her own vets and get her blood tests at her own cost. Not until Friday though so if she goes downhill in the meantime I will take her back to my own vets. Two runny poos in the tray ( for once) and a poo under the dining table so far today.

However yet more bad news. She had a look at Thomas our other cat who also came from her, who has FIV. She said he’s looking a bit rough and most likely needs a tooth out and his kidneys checking, he will need full bloods done as well. He hasn’t been eating as much lately and his fur wasn’t great but I had put it down to heat. Bad cat parent alert :(

So she’s going to take him on Friday too. Dreading the outcome of both of them as we will at least have to cover the costs of medication. Very kind of her of course to pay for the appts and tests.

So it’s a waiting game until Friday now...

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 28/05/2018 17:47

Can't you take them before then?

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 28/05/2018 17:55

No Wolfie as i can’t afford one set of vets and blood tests at the moment, let alone for 2 cats. Hence why rescue has very kindly said she will pay. We have just laid out £2000 in fees for a rental move, money isn’t always so tight or I obviously wouldn’t have got 3 cats!

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 28/05/2018 18:04

Sorry I assumed the older one would be covered on insurance and the younger one wasn't as the insurance hadn't kicked in yet. Wasn't questioning your finances at all! None of my business in the slightest. I just know how worrying it is when they're poorly.

fcekinghell · 28/05/2018 18:06

we had something similar when we had two kittens. It was an absolute nightmare. Our vet said to try just plain yoghurt - could you try this? Maybe google it just to double check.

I'd never have kittens again.

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 28/05/2018 18:09

Sorry Wolfie I didn’t mean my post to sound so defensive.

No the older isn’t insured as they won’t cover any condition relating to his pre existing FIV. Which is pretty much everything! especially teeth. My other older cat is insured for everything so I am very pro insurance, it’s just in this case I can’t claim on it for either cat

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 28/05/2018 18:11

You didn't sound at all defensive! I didn't want you to think I was criticising you!!! Grin
Oh yes. FIV. Bugger!
No to yoghurt. Some cats can't process the proteins in cows milk.

Tutankhamum · 28/05/2018 18:15

Hi, I feel your pain. One of my cats has a sensitive stomach and can be prone to what you have described, mine is long haired which make cleaning her up a messy task!

When it happens I find that worming, avoiding dairy/milk or wet foods and use Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastro Intestinal Feline dry cat food for a week or so tends to dry things up.

Original poster
MrsMoggy · 28/05/2018 18:22

My head is just completely whirling with it all, glad she picked up on Tom struggling or I would have missed it as so occupied with Alice’s issues.

Just completely crap timing. Half term, work, packing up an entire house and a liberally pooing cat is just the worst combination!

OP posts:
Rudgie47 · 28/05/2018 18:22

Hi OP, My cat had bad diarrhoea when I got him and the rescue were saying change of food etc. It wasnt that at all, he had some type of infection and like yours was pooing all over the house. I just had my fur throw dry cleaned and he pooed on it and it had to go bad to the cleaners £50 in one week alone on that.
Anyway, he had a poo sample done and a blood test and a course of treatment and all in it was £250.00.
You have my sympathy as it stank, and I hate funny smells etc.
Could you ask the lady from the rescue to take her before Friday? it seems a long time to wait as shes so unwell.Let us know how she gets on.

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