Nothing is helping with diarrhoea

[Peasplease12]

I have a happy 2 year old rescue cat who for the last month has had just the most horrendous diarrhoea. She had a few problems when she arrived from the shelter aged 5 months but has generally been fine she then.

Before the upset tummy she was being fed Country Hunter cat food that I stockpiled before it was discontinued since she loves it so much and she’s a bit fussy about other food.

She’s been having pro- kolin for 3 weeks and sensitive cat food (plain boiled chicken and some royal canin sensitive dry biscuits), but whenever she eats she swells up like a little gas balloon before having nowhere near solid poo. I feel bad for her because it must be really uncomfortable.

She’s been switched to fortiflora and hypoallergenic cat food (Purina) by the vet but a few days in this doesn’t seem to have made any difference.

Aside from the weight loss from a month with an upset tummy, she’s her normal self (not the most lively cat you’ve ever met, but perky enough). She’s not been sick, she’s got no blood in her poo, she’s always very keen to eat. She occasionally sneezes but no snotty nose or anything like that.

Her blood tests came back fine and we’re just waiting on results from her poo sample, but I just have no idea what to do. I’m also currently pregnant so extra paranoid about not picking up any bugs from her.

To be honest I don’t really know what my question is (although if anyone has a miracle cure up their sleeve please please please let me know), maybe just tell me how you had a similar experience and your cat is totally fine now?

Are there any kind of anti-diarrhoea meds for cats? Is she drinking plenty of water or chicken broth, (not hot), for dehydration? Although my cats have glasses of water indoors, they also like to drink from the watering can outside😁. I believe a probiotic can be given to cats to help their gut, but check this with your vet first.

My little cat had diarrhoea when he first came along and the vet said he could find nothing wrong with him. I thought it would never stop, but it did, after a month or so.

You might try her on a raw diet. My rescue had this, along with constipation and sick, and she responded very well to a raw diet. Try emailing PurrForm. They’re very helpful and sympathetic.

Take anything with cereal like maize or corn or wheat out of her diet. My Bengal had awful diarrhoea as a kitten and it was cereals. He was ok much later with Arden grange biccies but was on pouches mainly for the rest of his life.

Did the blood tests include an fPLI-test for pancreatitis?

Thanks for the comments - I’m giving her chicken broth to keep her hydrated alongside the dry food. We might be seeing a bit of improvement today, just keeping everything crossed

I’m looking at maybe trying Katkin (despite the cost!!!) when she’s better to give her tummy an easy a ride as possible. I don’t really like giving her a dry food based diet

My little cat has a dodgy tum. She vomits a lot, and the vets don't seem concerned.

We tried a lot of different foods and Katkin seems to suit her best. It comes frozen in pouches and is 100@% meat. It's made a big difference to her, but she still chunders 2-3 times a week.

For times when she's really bad we do chopped up white rice with chicken and a little broth mixed in. It seems to settle her, but isn't nutritionally complete so isn't a long term diet.

Keep an eye on her fluid intake too and if necessary syringe water into her mouth.

Our old cat has regular diarrhoea - the vet has put her on a low dose of a steroid. So far it’s working well.

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal dried (and/or R C Gastrointestinal pouches)
It's miraculous. Worked for two cats of mine.

I'll second this!! Expensive but well worth it!!

Worth it!!

Cheddar is very sensitive. She has iams for vitality. Which suits her. Though the senior version gave her colitis.