Cat Poop
If you have any questions at all, please contact the foster department directly. Other KHS phone numbers, emails, or departments are unable to help with any foster concerns.
Contacting other departments will delay you getting answers and delay your animal getting care.
Our contact info can be found at the bottom of every page on this site and in our signature in every email you receive.
Thank you so much for your cooperation with this important policy.
The Importance of Treating Diarrhea
Diarrhea in kittens should not be taken lightly or ignored. Some bouts of diarrhea will resolve with time and supportive care, but severe diarrhea, or mild diarrhea lasting more than a few days, requires medical attention. If left unaddressed, diarrhea in kittens can cause dehydration, hypothermia, lethargy, hypoglycemia, and can even lead to death.
Identifying Severity
Normal
A fecal score of 4 is the ideal but It is normal for stressed cats to have a fecal score of 5, which will appear soft-formed and pasty (similar to toothpaste), particularly at the beginning of fostering as they transition through potentially stressful changes.
Diarrhea
Fecal scores of 6-7 on the Fecal Scoring System are considered diarrhea in cats.
Acute diarrhea
Diarrhea that lasts less than 10-14 days
Chronic diarrhea
Diarrhea that lasts more than 14 days
Causes
Parasites
Diet change
Stress
Overfeeding
Antibiotic therapy
Recent surgery
Infectious or inflammatory diseases, including viral and bacterial infections
Clinical Signs
Increased frequency or volume of defecation, straining to defecate
Soft to liquid stool, with or without the presence of blood or mucus
Pasty, light colored stool
Loss of control of defecation, leaking feces
Initial Care
Assess general health
Check weight trends (is foster maintaining weight?)
Ensure preventative deworming & vaccinations schedule are up to date.
Ensure you are not overfeeding and potential contribution of stress
Overfeeding can cause diarrhea. Ensure fosters are feeding appropriate food in the right quantity daily.
Ensure hide boxes and areas for perching are provided for all cats; ensure animals are being fed separately to prevent food-related stress; ensure enough litter boxes are present.
Continue to monitor at home
Mild cases include patients with loose stool (fecal score of 5-6) but are bright and responsive, eating well, and are hydrated.
If patient remains healthy but the fecal score does not improve within 72 hours, contact the foster medical team
When to contact the foster team
Diarrhea with little to no appetite, extreme lethargy, or persistent vomiting
Call emergency line if after hours
Severe diarrhea (FS 7)
Bloody diarrhea (more than 1-2 spots)
Diarrhea (FS 6) that persists for 48 hours
Diarrhea (FS 5 or 6) with decrease in appetite, energy, or weight
Obvious weight loss
Overt dehydration (sunken eyes, prolonged skin tent, pale mucous membranes)
Treatment and Follow Up
We will have you bring in a stool sample (and likely the cat as well) for us to check. Our vet staff will prescribe meds to treat the diarrhea.
Give medication exactly as directly
If symptoms get worse, let us know immediately
If diarrhea persists after treatment
Reassess health