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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

New kitten with diarrhoea

41 replies

NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 08:33

We got a kitten nine days ago, and he developed diarrhoea on Wednesday night. We were feeding him the same food the breeder said they’d been feeding him. We already had a vet appointment for his first vaccinations etc on Friday, but I called Thursday morning to see if they thought they should see him straight away - they said if there’s no blood in his diarrhoea and he’s eating and not lethargic, it was fine to wait. The vet saw him on Friday, we agreed to postpone vaccinations for a week, and in the meantime the vet has given us some special easily digested gastrointestinal-friendly food and some probiotic gel. He LOVES the food and is gobbling it down, and he’s still full of beans, BUT he still has diarrhoea. Does anyone know how quickly I should expect it to clear up now he’s on the special food? At what stage should I get (more) worried?

I was worried about feline enteritis but on reading up about it, I think he’d have been a lot more sick a lot faster.

We also have two adult cats, fully vaccinated. We’re keeping them apart at the moment but obviously he can smell them.

New kitten with diarrhoea
New kitten with diarrhoea
OP posts:
Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 08:34

I’m planning to call the vet tomorrow anyway as we’re going to need more of the food but they’re not open today, so any advice would be very gratefully received.

OP posts:
OohKittens · 05/07/2020 09:06

What food is he on and do you know for sure what he was being fed before? No advice but I love his face!

Pelleas · 05/07/2020 09:13

If he is still full of beans, keep on as you are doing. If he shows any sign of lethargy or general deterioration, find an emergency vet - your normal vet should have details of the nearest one (try website or phone as it's often on the answering message out of hours). Make sure he has access to water as dehydration is a big worry with diarrhoea.

Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 09:17

No, they said Felix kitten food and that’s what we were feeding him. Now we’re feeding him this special stuff from the vets - Royal Canin gastrointestinal kitten food.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 09:19

Yes, I’m worried about dehydration... he does have access to water and he has been drinking on and off. The special food is wet and the vet said that should help with any dehydration.

OP posts:
Chemenger · 05/07/2020 09:23

You could try plain poached chicken breast for a day or two, that usually settles cat tummies. I don’t think it’s good long term but a couple of days can make a big difference to the litter tray. Moisten it with some of the poaching water. If he’s bouncing around I wouldn’t be too worried overall, if he gets lethargic at all then take him straight back to the vet, kittens don’t have a lot in reserve and can go downhill fast (then bounce back equally fast with treatment).

IndiaMay · 05/07/2020 09:28

Our kitten had exactly the same as you describe but when we took her to the vet they gave us a week long course of antibiotics to give her morning and night and they wormed her again just in case the people we got her from hadn't done it like they said. It soon cleared up about 3 days into antibiotics. She still gets soft poos occasionally but is loads better

Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 09:42

They said they wouldn’t work him as that can cause an upset tummy - they said it’s a bit of a balancing act as it could be worms causing the issue except that he was fine when we first got him. We’re keeping an eye out for any sign of worms in his poo at their advice.

I wondered about antibiotics but the vet seemed to think the food and probiotic gel would do the trick. This is the vet we’re had for our other cats all their lives and is usually very good - it’s not that I doubt them, I’m just worried because he’s so tiny! I think we might try the poached chicken of his poo hasn’t dried up a bit soon and keep the emergency vet on speed dial! Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 09:46

Wouldn’t worm him, I mean - they’re going to do that next Friday. He’s full of beans atm - here he is killing my dressing gown cord. He plays for an hour or so then sleeps for a bit... that’s fairly normal for a baby though, isn’t it? I think that’s what the other two did when they were tiny...

New kitten with diarrhoea
OP posts:
Chemenger · 05/07/2020 10:02

Kittens have two modes - running, fighting, mad and sleeping. They can go from playing to fast asleep almost instantly. He sounds fine other than the poo issue.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 05/07/2020 10:05

When I took our rescue cat to the vet for similar reasons she said that it was probably worms. The worming tablets kill the worms at the adult stage so DCat was fine for a while but then the immature worms became adults and started causing her problems.

Oldestchild90s · 05/07/2020 10:14

Sorry, i just looked on the thread in hope there was a pic and there was 😻 so gorgeous! Normally (from my experience anyway) kittens get the majority of their water/liquids from the wet food you give, they don't tend to drink lots from the water bowl! Hope he gets better soon 🤞🏻

dot91 · 05/07/2020 10:16

My cat was the same when we got her 13 years ago , we took her to the vet and they gave her worming tablets . The wee thing passed a big worm and was fine after that.

Pelleas · 05/07/2020 10:16

Yes, periods of high activity followed by sleep periods is totally normal.

Fluffycloudland77 · 05/07/2020 10:20

That foods got rice, wheat and maize in it, if he’s a cat who can’t handle his cereals he needs a cereal free food.

I’d do plain boiled chicken breast for a few days, if it clears up I think you have your answer.

Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 22:05

So I’ve just seen a couple of little white things in his poo and he has eaten loads today. Worms?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 05/07/2020 22:08

Most likely. Are they moving?.

Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 05/07/2020 22:13

I didn’t notice! I just emptied the tray quick holding my breathe, it was very disgusting.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 06/07/2020 15:39

We’ve now worked him so hopefully that will sort it out...

OP posts:
Riv12345 · 06/07/2020 15:47

Op my daughters new kitten has exactly the same thing plus weight loss
Seen vet who put him on fluids and started on a parasite med
And the same food at your little one have been started on
He is Improving
The vet has also sent his diarrhoea off to be tested

Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 06/07/2020 20:35

@Riv12345 I hope your daughter’s kitten is better soon. It’s so worrying! My kitten is so hungry, poor little chap - the vet said this sounds like worms too.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewKittyMeow · 07/07/2020 17:40

Just in case anyone is still following this - he did a solid poo this afternoon! Still on the soft side but definitely much better than it was before we wormed him. Such a relief.

OP posts:
OohKittens · 07/07/2020 18:36

Yes! That's great news. How is he settling? My new kitty came home on Sunday he is 14wks and no far he is very affectionate.

Riv12345 · 07/07/2020 19:16

Op how long was your kitten like that as my daughters kitten back in vets again today
Dehydrated
Still being treated for worms
He lost so much weight

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