Cat Diarrhoea Explained: Causes, Signs, And How To Help Your Feline Friend

You know that feeling when something's wrong before you even see it?

You're halfway down the hallway when the smell hits you. You peek into the litter box and there it is - loose, watery mess that's nothing like your cat's usual routine. Cue the panic: Did they eat something toxic? Is it serious? Do I need to rush to the vet? Here’s an article to help you maneuver your way through cat diarrhoea.

What Is Cat Diarrhoea?

Many pet parents refer to cat diarrhoea as cat loose motion, but medically, it reflects a disruption in the normal digestive process. In most cases Diarrhoea is a visible sign of a cat digestive issues, varying from mild sensitivity towards certain food items to gastrointestinal conditions,  but that doesn't mean you should brush it off. While a single episode might just be a minor upset, persistent or severe diarrhoea can signal anything from dietary issues to something more serious that needs a vet's attention.

Acute Vs Chronic: What’s The Difference

Cat diarrhoea can be acute or chronic. Acute means that the diarrhoea just happened suddenly or doesn’t go on for a long period of time.

Let’s break it down further:

Causes of Cat Diarrhoea

As stools move through the cat’s digestive system, some of their water is absorbed by the body, and they gain consistency. If the stools move too quickly through the intestines, however, not enough water is removed. The final stools become runny and loose, resulting in cat diarrhea. This can happen for a number of reasons…

While kittens normally have softer stools than adult cats, they can still get diarrhea. A kitten’s stools can determine if there’s any cause for concern. Stools ranging from light brown to dark brown are normal for kittens. However, stools that appear red, green, or black could indicate a more serious problem.

Cat diarrhoea is usually a sign that something is upsetting your feline’s digestive system. It could be anything from a sudden food change or spoiled meal to parasites, infections, or food intolerances. Understanding what’s causing it is the first step to helping your cat feel better.

Dietary Triggers

Often, the simplest causes are overlooked: food changes, over-eating, eating too fast or feeding table scraps. These habits can stress the gut and lead to loose stools.

Infections, Parasites, and Toxins

Intestinal parasites (worms, Giardia), viral or bacterial infections, ingesting toxins or non-edible items not meant for cats to consume. This can definitely trigger heavy or recurring diarrhoea. These causes tend to affect kittens or outdoor cats more often.

Food Intolerances, Allergies & GI Inflammation

When cats react badly to certain proteins or ingredients, the digestive tract may become inflamed - leading to persistent or recurring diarrhoea.

Metabolic, Organ & System-Wide Disorders

Diarrhoea can be the tip of the iceberg. Conditions like kidney or liver disease, hyperthyroidism, intestinal tumours, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) —a chronic condition marked by ongoing inflammation of the stomach or intestines- can all present with loose stools along with other signs such as vomiting, poor appetite, and weight loss.  

Environment & Lifestyle Changes

A shift in routine, such as a new pet, relocating home, or even a new feeding spot  can upset your cat’s digestive balance and trigger diarrhoea simply because of stress.

Warning Signs

Signs and symptoms of diarrhea in cats may include the following: 

• Stool that is loose or liquid in consistency
• Visible mucus within the stool
• Increased amount, increased frequency, or urgency of bowel movements
• Abnormally colored stool (In some cases, when a cat has diarrhea, the color of the stool appears abnormal. Any variation from the “normal” brown—i.e., yellow, orange, gray, green, black, or red stools—may indicate an underlying medical issue.) 
• Cramping or abdominal pain, discomfort (which may be accompanied by stretching, meowing, or abnormal behavior)
• Abdominal bloating or swelling

How To Prevent Cat Diarrhoea

1. Change Your Cat’s Food

There is no need to withhold food from cats who have diarrhea.

In fact, doing so can hinder the intestinal tract’s ability to heal itself and put cats at risk for a potentially fatal type of liver disease called hepatic lipidosis.

However, it’s best to simplify your cat’s diet. Don’t feed them any treats or table scraps and focus only on the core, nutritionally complete cat food that you offer every day.

If you have recently changed your cat’s diet, go back to what you were previously feeding and see if your cat’s diarrhea resolves. One or more of the ingredients in the new food may not agree with your cat.

Even if you’re feeding the same type of food as before but have just opened a new batch, it might be worth buying a new bag or case from a different lot number to rule out the possibility of contamination.

There’s one more thing you must keep in mind. Among the various options available, wet cat food and dry food are the most common choices to maintain their overall health, longevity, and quality of life. Each type has its benefits and drawbacks; understanding these can help you decide what works best for your cat friend.

Purrfeto’s high-quality protein and tailored nutrition also make its purrfeto dry cat food a good fit for your furry friend’s dietary needs — for example, Purrfeto Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken & Ocean Fish delivers high-quality protein and essential nutrients to support strong muscles, immunity, and overall vitality. With added psyllium husk to aid digestion and control hairballs, and natural cranberries that help reduce the risk of urinary tract disorders (UTD) by up to 40%, this formula supports long-term urinary health in cats. Fortified with taurine, vitamins A, D3, and E, and essential trace minerals, it promotes heart and vision health, boosts immunity, and helps maintain healthy skin and a glossy coat.

If you’re unsure whether to choose wet or dry cat food, selecting a balanced dry food can be a practical option, as it offers consistent nutrition and supports digestive health.

2. Fiber

Some types of kitten diarrhea get better with a low-fiber (highly digestible) diet. A low-fiber diet may be worth it if your cat doesn’t have diarrhea often, but when they do they produce a lot of stools. Look for foods that are advertised as being highly digestible or good for cats with sensitive stomachs.

Certain types of cat diarrhea tend to respond to fiber supplementation - particularly conditions that make cats defecate frequently but produce only a small amount of feces.

3. Encourage Water and Electrolyte Intake

Cats with diarrhea need to take in sufficient amounts of water to prevent dehydration.

Keep your cat’s water bowls filled with fresh, clean water and consider adding an extra bowl that contains diluted chicken or beef broth. A water fountain is also something you can use to encourage your cat to drink more water.

Another easy way to increase your cat’s water intake is by offering high-moisture wet meals like Purrfeto Tuna Platter in Jelly Wet Cat Food during periods of stress or adjustment. Its soft jelly texture and up to ~87 % moisture help keep cats hydrated, while high-quality tuna and balanced nutrients support muscle health, shiny coat, and overall vitality — all of which can make meals more appealing and encourage fluid intake.

4. Probiotics

Healthy bacterial populations within a cat’s intestinal tract are necessary for normal digestion. Sometimes, when they are disrupted, a cat’s diarrhea will continue even after the initial insult (stress, disease, antibiotic therapy, etc.) has resolved.

Probiotic supplements can help return a cat’s intestinal bacterial population to normal.

When To See A Vet

Here's the bottom line: if your cat has any of the following, don't wait - call your vet immediately:

• No appetite and has stopped eating
• Vomiting along with diarrhoea
• Blood in the stool
• Diarrhoea lasting more than 48 hours
• Lethargy, weakness, or dehydration
• Kitten diarrhea requires immediate attention, as young cats dehydrate quickly and are more vulnerable to infections and parasites

Diarrhoea can be a minor hiccup or a symptom of something serious—autoimmune disorders, IBD, or organ failure. When in doubt, get it checked.

How To Prevent It

You can't prevent every bout of loose stools, but you can reduce the risk:

• Stick to a consistent feeding schedule – Cats thrive on routine
• Introduce dietary changes gradually – Mix new food with old over 7–10 days
• Skip the table scraps – Human food can wreak havoc on feline digestion
• Stay on top of parasite prevention – Regular deworming keeps giardia and roundworms at bay
• Minimize stress – Keep their environment stable and predictable
• Regular vet check-ups – Catch issues early before they become chronic

Conclusion

So, your cat has diarrhoea. It's messy, it's stressful, and yes—it's a little gross. But here's what you need to remember:

Most cases resolve on their own with a little dietary support. Monitor their behaviour, keep them hydrated, and give their digestive system time to reset. But if you see blood, persistent vomiting, lethargy, or diarrhoea that won't quit after two days? Don't second-guess yourself. Call your vet. Early intervention can make all the difference. Your cat depends on you to read the signs and act when it matters. Trust your instincts, stay calm, and give them the care they need.

And remember - you're not just a cat parent. You're their first line of defense. You've got this.