Diarrhea and urine dribbling (female cat)

[Mocha's_mom]

Sorry, not the most exciting topic!! This actually relates to my non diabetic cat Charlotte but I'm sure we can all relate. While making the transition off the high carb kibble Charlotte has been having diarrhea. Mocha has been fine. The only difference now is that he will lick the wet food to death and she won't get near it. And they both eat Epigen90 with Fortiflora sprinkled on top now. Mocha's numbers are looking better and better and his stools are normal (much darker than normal I should say--no blood but very dark). Charlotte seemed to get a couple "better" days in but now back to diarrhea. And when she pees she's dribbling in the litter box. She's been super good about grooming (thank god!) after all of the bouts of diarrhea. But when she pees there's always a few dribbles. She's not acting weird or squirming or meowing. Just normal. Do you think she has a UTI from all the diarrhea? At what point do you begin to worry? Did the bacteria from the diarrhea cause a UTI because females are more prone to them? I'm guessing the diarrhea will resolve itself once she gets used to the food but I'm concerned about the urine. Or am I making a big deal out of nothing? Could it be that she has a dirty butt (she's long haired) and maybe the urine is just "hanging on" for a second or 2 before she covers it up? I feel terrible now that I've put her in this predicament because Mocha is sick. And he's doing fine!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Bump

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I would give her a good wash to make sure the area is clean. Also it would be worth while collecting a urine sample and asking the vet to check it for you.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Sorry, not the most exciting topic!! This actually relates to my non diabetic cat Charlotte but I'm sure we can all relate. While making the transition off the high carb kibble Charlotte has been having diarrhea. Mocha has been fine. The only difference now is that he will lick the wet food to death and she won't get near it. And they both eat Epigen90 with Fortiflora sprinkled on top now. Mocha's numbers are looking better and better and his stools are normal (much darker than normal I should say--no blood but very dark). Charlotte seemed to get a couple "better" days in but now back to diarrhea. And when she pees she's dribbling in the litter box. She's been super good about grooming (thank god!) after all of the bouts of diarrhea. But when she pees there's always a few dribbles. She's not acting weird or squirming or meowing. Just normal. Do you think she has a UTI from all the diarrhea? At what point do you begin to worry? Did the bacteria from the diarrhea cause a UTI because females are more prone to them? I'm guessing the diarrhea will resolve itself once she gets used to the food but I'm concerned about the urine. Or am I making a big deal out of nothing? Could it be that she has a dirty butt (she's long haired) and maybe the urine is just "hanging on" for a second or 2 before she covers it up? I feel terrible now that I've put her in this predicament because Mocha is sick. And he's doing fine!

Fortiflora has many undesirable ingredients and could contribute to the diarrhea. I use freeze dried treats as toppers if that’s what you are using the Fortiflora for. She’d be better off having probiotics. Jarrows Saccharomyces boulardi with MOS is very helpful for diarrhea.

If you made the food switch quickly instead of very, very slowly, it can contribute to diarrhea. If you didn’t do it slowly, I’d go back to the drawing board and start over, going very slow. For example, the first several days, you might want to switch out 1/8 of the old food for new food. If that’s ok, then try 1/4 switch out and do that for several days, and so on.

Are you saying she gets in the litter box and just has a few dribbles? If so, it’s possible it’s a UTI but quite often this is due to stress. Cats are very susceptible to sterile interstitial cystitis fought on by stress…such as switching her food. Diabetic cats are more prone to UTIs than no diabetic cats but I would have a urine sample done by cystocentesis and have a c&s done to see if she has a UTI and, if so, what is the best antibiotic for her. If it’s stress-induced, D-Mannose can help.

 

[Mocha's_mom]

I was using the Foritflora initially for taste to get Mocha to eat the new dry food but continued using it because it's a probiotic used for diarrhea. But obviously it's not helping her diarrhea. She does like the freeze dried chicken which I've used as a topper also.

We are attempting to go back to her old food and starting the process more slowly. It's difficult because she's more of a grazer so I can't just leave her old food out because Mocha will undoubtedly go and eat it. So we give her a little tray of old kibble mixed with the new (low carb) kibble. She eat a few nibbles and walk away. Surprisingly she likes the low carb kibble more, but I can't make her understand that that's what's likely causing the diarrhea.

When she gets in the litter box she has a normal sized pee, no straining or meowing or anything. So it doesn't seem like a blockage or anything. But when she turns around to cover it there will be a few extra dribbles in the box. Which makes me feel like maybe it's just getting caught up in her long hair that's already dirty with previous diarrhea?? She's pretty good at cleaning but sometimes she'll have a dangler.

The last 2 days I've actually been able to get her to eat a TINY bit of wet food. I have to sit next to her and coax her and give her some freeze dried chicken as a treat. It's like telling a child, now if you eat your broccoli you can have a cookie later. Seems to be working!!

I had a cat with interstitial cystitis once and it was such a nightmare. So many failed drugs, bloody urine all over my carpet. I definitely wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Charlotte had a normal stool this morning so I have my fingers crossed!! Maybe the slower transition is helping.