Digestive disorders are not uncommon in cats, ranging from mild symptoms that improve without treatment to more severe conditions. Find out more about common causes, signs and treatments of digestive problems in cats in our guide.
If your cat has digestive issues, it may show up as one of these symptoms or a combination of signs including:
If you notice any of these signs or something else wrong with your cat, make an appointment with your vet straight away so they can check them over.
There can be many reasons for digestion problems in cats, here are some of the most common causes:
Many cats can be sensitive to sudden changes in their diet or if they consume food that is not designed for cats (for example, human foods or excessive treats). This can result in diarrhoea, and more occasionally vomiting or constipation.
Food or ingredient intolerances, or allergies can contribute to your cat experiencing the symptoms. Lactose intolerance (a reaction to dairy products) can lead to diarrhoea, so it is recommended to not give milk to cats.
Infectious diseases such as viruses, bacteria and parasites are a common causes of digestive issues, especially in young cats. If your cat has an infection, it can in many cases cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.
Inflammation of the stomach, small intestine and/or large intestine leads to poor absorption of nutrients and can cause weight loss, change in appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Although the exact cause of IBD is frequently unknown, factors such as changes in the intestinal microorganisms, a cat's unique immune system, food allergies and stress may also play a role.
Both the liver and kidney work to remove toxins from the body. If your cat has a liver or kidney disease, it can cause their body to build up toxins leading to loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The liver and possibly kidneys may be affected by the same inflammation that causes inflammatory bowel disease.
Many cats suffer from kidney disease as they get older and this can lead to dehydration. Dehydration in turn can cause constipation. Find out more about kidney disease in cats.
Inflammation of the pancreas, called pancreatitis, is not uncommon in cats and is frequently found alongside inflammatory bowel disease and liver inflammation (this condition is known as triaditis). It can range from mild and grumbling to very severe and can cause signs of loss of appetite, weight loss, pain, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Several cancers can affect the digestive system, causing signs of digestive disorders. The most common is called lymphoma.
Symptoms often include vomiting (with or without blood), diarrhoea (sometimes with blood), loss of appetite, weight loss and lethargy. Find out more about cancer in cats.
While most cats are cautious about eating unknown items, some may accidentally ingest them while exploring or playing.
Small objects may pass through your cat’s system without causing an issue, but some can get stuck causing a gastrointestinal blockage.
Because of cats’ love for chasing string and thread, if ingested these can cause a particular type of obstruction called a ‘linear foreign body’.
Blockages need to be treated as an emergency. You should contact your vet as soon as possible if you know your cat has ingested something they shouldn’t have or is presenting with symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, straining or failure to pass any stools and lethargy.
Pain around the hips or spine, as it’s commonly seen with arthritis in older cats, can contribute to constipation as they can delay passing stools.
Cats who have had pelvic injuries may have a narrowing which can prevent them from passing faeces normally and can cause constipation.
Cats are quite choosy about where they toilet. If the toileting site is not ideal, it may delay them going to the toilet which can lead to toileting outside of the tray and could contribute to constipation.
Things preventing cats from wanting to use the litter box include finding it difficult to reach, cat litter being unfamiliar or uncomfortable, and feeling stressed by other pets or noisy environments. Read more about cats and toileting.
Diagnosing the underlying reason can take some time and require several tests. Your vet will ask about the history of symptoms, perform a physical examination and may consider some of the following:
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause, your cat’s age and any other health issues. It may include one or more of the following:
If you notice your cat has vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation, their behaviour changes or something else seems to be wrong, don’t delay contacting your vet for an appointment.
For cats that have a history of digestive issues, or if you’re looking for ways to maintain your cat’s healthy digestive system, try the following:
Sometimes a cat has diarrhoea but seems otherwise fine. In this case, it could be a temporary issue potentially caused by a sudden change in their diet or something they have eaten causing a sudden upset stomach.
If this happens, ensure they have access to plenty of fresh water and either feed their usual food in small amounts and more regularly or consider a bland diet such as plain boiled chicken.
If your cat still has diarrhoea for longer than a day or two, or it is accompanied by other signs such as lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting or if the stool is black or has blood, contact your vet for an emergency appointment.
When you go to clean your cat’s litter box, paying attention to what their stool looks like can be a good indicator of any potential health problems.
Healthy cat poo should be well-formed, moist and easy to scoop. Certain changes in consistency such as soft or very hard and dry, or white, green or black in colour need to be investigated.
Fluctuations in your cat’s poo can be normal and are often influenced by their diet and hydration. However, any persistent changes such as frequency of toileting or stool appearance can indicate your cat has a digestive problem or other health-related issue and they need to be seen by a vet.
Finding blood or red streaks in your cat’s faeces can be alarming. While it may be caused by underlying health conditions such as infections, inflammation, parasites or rarely cancer, it can also be due to your cat having constipation and straining. Very dark or black faeces can be a sign of bleeding in the small intestines.
If you see any of these signs, don’t delay and contact your vet for an appointment to assess your cat.