can a cat get diarrhea from stress

Anxiety can definitely do a number on a person’s stomach. The same is true with kitties. Stress can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats. It can also cause Fluffy to lose her appetite.

Common Causes of Diarrhea in Cats

The following are a few of the most typical reasons why cats get diarrhea:

Parasites – Your cat’s digestive system may be irritated by parasites, leading to various forms of diarrhea that affect the small and/or large intestines. In younger kittens, significant numbers of parasites that cause diarrhea are more prevalent.
Toxins: If your cat consumes a toxin, it may cause diarrhea and stomach distress. Seek immediate emergency care!.
Infections: Diarrhea can also be caused by bacterial or viral infections, which are more common in younger cats.
Recent Dietary Change: Although cats are generally more health conscious than dogs, they occasionally eat unsuitable items like grass, string, etc. Diarrhea can even result from a deliberate diet shift from one food to another.
Stress: Anxiety, excitement, and other emotional factors can cause gastrointestinal distress, particularly in cases of colitis or lower bowel irritation.
Primary Inflammatory Disorders: Inflammatory disorders can induce diarrhea in cats, just like they can in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Metabolic Diseases: These include conditions affecting the pancreas, liver, thyroid, and numerous other organs that can disturb the environment or motility of the gastrointestinal tract and cause diarrhea.
Medications: Your cat may experience diarrhea if antibiotics or other medications disturb their sensitive gastrointestinal tract.
Constipation: Although it may seem strange, older cats frequently experience motility issues in their colons, which can result in constipation. Cats that have this problem typically pass a small amount of additional liquid stools around the obstruction.

Diarrhea & Your Cat’s Health

In Pacific

It can be difficult for a lot of pet parents to determine whether their cat is having diarrhea. If your cat enjoys going on outdoor adventures, you might not be immediately familiar with all the specifics of their bathroom routine. The majority of cats are also extremely meticulous about grooming, so it’s possible to overlook the tell-tale (or tell-tail) symptoms of diarrhea, particularly in the early stages. These factors make it crucial that you take your feline companion to the veterinarian for a wellness examination at least once a year. Wellness exams give your veterinarian the chance to check for subtle indications of current or upcoming illnesses that can cause diarrhea in your cat, even if you miss the symptoms.

Common Causes Of Diarrhea In Cats.

Parasites: Your cat’s digestive system may become irritated by parasites, leading to various forms of diarrhea that affect the small and/or large intestines. In younger kittens, significant numbers of parasites that cause diarrhea are more prevalent.
Infections: Diarrhea can also be caused by bacterial or viral infections, which are more common in younger cats.
Dietary indiscretion or alteration: Although cats are generally more conscientious about what they eat than dogs are, they do occasionally eat things that shouldn’t be eaten, such as grass, string, etc. Diarrhea can even result from a deliberate diet shift from one food to another.
Stress: Similar to people, stress, anxiety, and excitement can cause gastrointestinal distress, particularly in cases of colitis or lower bowel irritation.
Primary inflammatory disorders: Inflammatory disorders have the same potential to cause diarrhea in cats as they do in people with inflammatory bowel disease.
Metabolic diseases: From thyroid imbalances to pancreas or liver disorders, a host of other issues can disrupt the environment or motility of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to diarrhea.
Toxins and medications: While most people are aware that some antibiotics can cause gastrointestinal distress, other drugs and certain substances can also result in diarrhea.
Constipation: Although it may seem paradoxical, older cats are more likely to experience constipation due to motility issues in their colons. In these situations, the cats frequently succeed in passing a minimal amount of additional liquid feces around the obstruction.

FAQ

Can stress cause diarrhea cats?

Stress – Emotional factors such as stress/anxiety/excitement can result in GI upset (especially lower bowel irritation or colitis) Primary Inflammatory Disorders – Like inflammatory bowel disease in people, inflammatory disorders can cause your cat to develop diarrhea.

How long does stress diarrhea last?

Your brain and gut are linked. When you are stressed, your gut may have a harder time digesting food, leading to diarrhea. Mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques can be helpful for treating and preventing stress-related diarrhea. Stress-related diarrhea usually goes away within 2 weeks.

What is the most common cause of diarrhea in cats?

Infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, coccidia, and intestinal worms (hookworms, roundworms, whipworms), or non-infectious irritants, such as chemical toxins or poisonous plants, are some of the more common causes of diarrhea.

Can emotional distress cause diarrhea?

Anxiety is a mental health condition involving long-term patterns of significant worry, nervousness, or fearfulness. For some people, it can also cause physical symptoms, including diarrhea. If you tend to get diarrhea around stressful or anxiety-producing situations and events, you’re not alone.