Does Wet Food Give Kittens Diarrhea – Here’s The Facts

Being a kitten owner means making sure your little feline pet is doing more than just fine! This also means deciding between wet and dry foods. One of the main questions that many kitten owners have is, does wet food give kittens diarrhea? 

Generally, wet food does not give kittens diarrhea. However, too much wet food after a diet change can cause diarrhea. It is essential to maintain a balance between wet and dry foods to limit the likelihood of diarrhea symptoms.

This article will cover everything from the causes of diarrhea to what you can do about the same. It will also address some common errors made by cat owners and how you could avoid those. 

Is It Normal For Kittens To Have Diarrhea

It is not very normal for kittens to have diarrhea. It usually occurs due to environmental stressors, allergies, changes in the diet, or underlying problems.

Diarrhea, in turn, may lead your kitten to be dehydrated and, if not looked into, might even lead to severe problems. 

What Causes Diarrhea In Kittens

Below are a few causes of Diarrhea in kittens. Some of it is related to wet food, and others not as directly.

1. Cow’s Milk

This is one of the main reasons why kittens get diarrhea. Kittens and cats cannot digest cow’s milk which affects them quickly, causing diarrhea. To deal with this, you can use a kitten mix replacer with kitten food at 4-6 weeks, and then after six weeks, you can feed your kitten canned and dry food. 

2. Medications Side Effects

If your little fuzzball is on antibiotics, it may lead to diarrhea as a side effect. You can get this checked with your vet. 

3. Food Allergies

Check for allergies to food items your little feline pet might have. Also, a poor diet can cause your kitten to have diarrhea. Make sure your kitten has a rich nutritional diet. Lastly, eating inedible items like bones, balloons, or fabric can also cause diarrhea. Keep these things away from your little feline pet. 

Also, if you have another pet, say a dog, make sure you keep their food away from your kitten’s food. If kittens consume food that is not meant for them, it can also lead to diarrhea. 

4. New Diet

If you have changed the diet plan or changed your kitten’s food, it may have caused diarrhea. You can consult your vet about the switching in the diet and food and try adding some of the old foods to the new diet plan as it will help your cat slowly adapt to the new diet or food plan. 

5. Environmental Stress

If you have recently moved to a new home or recently adopted a new cat, it may cause diarrhea. Also, having another new pet in the house may cause them to have diarrhea. 

Lastly, having a noisy child or a pet may make your little fuzzball afraid of its surroundings and may cause stress in them, which results in physical symptoms like diarrhea. 

6. Infections

The two primary bacterial infections found in cats are salmonella and campylobacter. Your feline pet may also contract common cat infections like rotavirus or feline leukemia. All of this may cause diarrhea in your little pet. 

7. Disorders Or diseases

If your kitten has low vitamin levels, digestive problems, it may cause diarrhea. Get your kitten checked with your vet for more information on the same. 

8. Internal Parasites

Kittens are susceptible to parasites like roundworms, fleas, and tapeworms. Hence, it is essential to get your pet dewormed when it is two weeks old and do it every two weeks until they are 12 weeks. 

After your kitten reaches this age, consult your vet for more details. They would probably recommend an anti-parasite product for your little fuzzball. 

Is Wet Food Bad For Kittens

It is not bad for kittens to consume wet food. When kittens start to wean at ages 4-6 weeks, they need to be introduced to solid wet and dry foods. Wet foods contribute to your kitten’s growth and development; therefore, it is essential and should be given to cats and kittens.

Wet foods also increase water intake as it is high in moisture. Your little kitty will also love having wet foods as it smells better and is much tastier than dry food. This will motivate your little pet to eat more.

Dry foods are also known to have more calories than wet foods as they are more condensed and lack moisture. Thus, having too much dry food will cause weight gain. This is balanced out by feeding your kitten wet food. 

Should I Stop Giving My Cat Wet Food If He Has Diarrhea

Wet foods, in reality, will help the recovery process of your kitten. If your kitten has a sensitive stomach or is recovering from diarrhea or constipation, it is best to give them foods that are high in moisture content. 

The high moisture content in the food will help ease the process of digestion. Thus, you don’t need to completely cut off wet foods from your kitten’s diet, as this will only strain their digestive process.

It can also hinder the intestinal ability to heal itself, leading to severe problems like hepatic lipidosis, a fatal liver disease. 

What Do I Feed A Kitten With Diarrhea

To help speed the recovery process, you can add canned pumpkin to your little kitty’s diet. Pumpkins increase the fiber levels and help with their gastrointestinal tract. You can also add powdered supplements to your kitty’s food. 

You can also prepare boiled rice or pasta with some boiled skinless chicken for your little pet. Talk to a vet about your kitten’s diet. They usually suggest foods high in fibers that feed the good bacteria in your kitten’s intestines. 

How To Stop Diarrhea In Kittens

Here are some treatment options you can consider for your kitten’s diarrhea.

1. Change Your Kitten’s Food

There is no need to make significant changes in your kitten’s diet. Just make sure they get the right amount of calories and nutrients from both wet and dry foods. Make sure they aren’t eating anything additional like table scraps. 

2. Increase Electrolyte And Water Intake

Kittens with diarrhea often get incredibly dehydrated. Thus keep adding water to your kitty’s water bowl. You can also keep an additional bowl that contains some diluted chicken or beef broth. 

The other thing you can do is switch to a canned diet. Feel free to add 1-2 tablespoons of warm water into the canned food before giving it to your little feline pet. This will help restore water levels in your kitty’s body.

3. Fecal Flotation Tests

It is essential to get rid of worm eggs in your kitty environment. Thus, doing a fecal flotation test will benefit your kitty. 

Sometimes a fecal flotation test might show up negative even when worms could be present. Thus, wormers are prescribed. 

4. Probiotics

Probiotic supplements can help your kitty’s intestines by increasing good bacteria in them. Talk to your vet about the same for more additional details. 

5. Medications

There are anti-diarrheal medications available in the market for cats and kittens. Make sure you talk to your vet before giving anything to your little kitty. 

Things To Consider

When your kitten is prescribed medications, check with your vet if your kitten is allergic to those medications and get an accurate diagnosis of your kitty cat before using the drugs. 

An essential tip for you is to maintain the hygiene of your kitty and yourself. Make sure their utensils, food bowls are kept separately and washed thoroughly. Also, make sure to wash your hands every time you pick you or clean your kitten stool. Wear gloves at all times when doing this. 

Keep your pet kitty at home for a few days to avoid the spread of a possible infection. 

It is also essential to look at the severity of your kitten’s diarrhea. If your pet has mild diarrhea with no vomiting problems and is eating and drinking fine, it isn’t a big problem, and they will recover soon with proper care and a good diet. 

However, if your kitten is vomiting, experiencing pain, is lethargic and depressed, you should call your local vet. Also, if your kitten is very young, diarrhea makes them very weak, and thus, you should immediately speak to your vet. 

Lastly, if your kitten’s diarrhea contains blood or is tarry and dark, you should consider it as an emergency and contact your vet immediately. 

Treating mild to moderate diarrhea in your kitten is not that difficult of a job and can be cured quickly and easily if the proper steps and measures are implemented. Make sure to shower your little pet with love and affection in addition to all the things stated above. 

This will make them feel more loved and comforted, especially when they are recovering or in the process of recovery.