Gastroenteritis in Cats: Types, Symptoms, and More

It’s distressing when your cat becomes ill and experiences digestive upset with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

These symptoms are collectively called gastroenteritis and can be a sign of a serious condition.

What Is Gastroenteritis in Cats?

Gastroenteritis is inflammation and irritation of the stomach and intestines.

Gastroenteritis in cats can be triggered by a variety of causes, including a cat eating something they shouldn’t have, parasites, infection, and body-wide (systemic) conditions such as liver, kidney, or thyroid disease.

Gastroenteritis is commonly characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, which can cause your cat to become dehydrated and develop electrolyte imbalances.

These issues require immediate veterinary care, especially if your cat’s symptoms are severe.

Additionally, vomiting and diarrhea disturb the healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in your cat’s digestive tract.

Gastroenteritis is typically a medical emergency in kittens, elderly cats, and cats with other medical conditions.

Left untreated, gastroenteritis can potentially result in severe dehydration and other secondary medical conditions, which can be life-threatening.

If you are concerned that your cat has gastroenteritis, schedule an appointment with your vet. In most cases, gastroenteritis will not ease without veterinary care.

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis in Cats

Symptoms of gastroenteritis in cats include:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Nausea (often characterized by licking or smacking the lips or drooling)

• Decreased appetite or loss of appetite (anorexia)

• Low energy (lethargy)

• Weakness

• Fever

• Weight loss

Causes of Gastroenteritis in Cats

Kittens, elderly cats, outdoor cats, unvaccinated cats, and cats who are not on monthly year-round parasite prevention are more likely to develop gastroenteritis due to parasites, infections, toxin exposure, or dietary indiscretion.

Cats who have concurrent medical issues are also at higher risk for developing gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis in cats can have several causes, including:

• Internal parasites, such as intestinal worms or protozoa

• Dietary indiscretion (eating something that upsets your kitty’s digestive tract, including non-food items or new foods or treats)

• Bacterial infection

• Viral infection (such as FIV, FeLV, FIP, panleukopenia virus)

• Fungal infection

• Food sensitivity

• Contaminated raw diets

• Poisoning or exposure to a toxin, such as human over-the-counter or prescription medications, human food or drinks, veterinary products, plants, household products, or insecticides

• Adverse reaction to a medication

• Inflammatory conditions, such as an allergic reaction, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or an autoimmune disease

• Internal diseases, such as diabetes or conditions involving the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, or thyroid

• Gastrointestinal disease, such as ulcers, pancreatitis, or pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)

• Cancer

How Veterinarians Diagnose Gastroenteritis in Cats

To diagnose gastroenteritis, your vet will start by reviewing your cat’s full medical history and performing a comprehensive physical examination.

They may also perform diagnostic tests, such as:

• Fecal tests to screen for parasites and infections

• Blood work

• Urinalysis

• X-rays

If your kitty has chronic (long-term) gastroenteritis or if they are not improving with treatment, your vet might advise further testing, such as an abdominal ultrasound and/or endoscopy, which involves examining the digestive system with a camera attached to a long, flexible tube.

During this procedure, which is performed under general anesthesia, your vet may take tissue samples.

Treatment of Gastroenteritis in Cats

Treatment for gastroenteritis in cats depends on the underlying cause.

Cats with mild symptoms of gastroenteritis generally do well with outpatient treatment or staying in the hospital for the day.

Kittens and cats who are more severely affected may need to be hospitalized for a few days for more advanced care.

To treat your cat’s gastroenteritis, your vet may prescribe:

• Electrolyte and fluid therapy, including subcutaneous fluids (fluids given under the skin) or intravenous fluids (fluids given through an intravenous catheter while your cat is in the hospital), to correct and prevent further dehydration

• Anti-nausea medication (Cerenia), given by injection or by mouth

• Therapeutic diet (Purina Pro Plan EN, Hill’s i/d or Gastrointestinal Biome, Royal Canin Gastrointestinal) to help the digestive system heal faster

• Oral hydration supplement (Hydra Care)

• Probiotic supplement (FortiFlora or Proviable) to restore healthy bacteria in the digestive tract

• Antiparasitic medication (Revolution Plus, Drontal, Profender)

• Anti-diarrheal supplement (Pro-pectalin)

• Appetite stimulant medication (Mirataz)

• Antibiotics by injection or by mouth

Recovery and Management of Gastroenteritis in Cats

Most cats with mild gastroenteritis recover in a few days with treatment. Cats who are severely ill may need to be hospitalized for intensive care and may have a longer recovery at home after discharge.

Prevention of Gastroenteritis in Cats

Gastroenteritis in cats can’t always be prevented, but here are five ways you can help reduce your cat’s gastroenteritis risk:

1. Schedule regular wellness visits with your veterinarian: Keep your kitty up to date on vaccinations and lab work. Fecal screening tests are needed twice a year for indoor cats and four times a year for kittens and newly adopted cats.

2. Partner with your vet to choose a healthy diet for your kitty: Feed a diet containing a nutritional statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to ensure the diet is complete and balanced for kittens or adult cats. Talk to your vet before changing your kitty’s diet or treats. Avoid raw diets. A study has shown that raw diets can pose health risks to pets due to bacterial and viral contamination. Avoid feeding people food to your cat.

3. Administer a monthly all-in-one parasite preventive (e.g., Revolution Plus) year-round for life: Speak with your vet to determine which preventive is best for your cat.

4. Prevent your kitty from hunting and ingesting wildlife: Keep your cat indoors with only leashed, supervised outdoor visits to prevent them from ingesting rodents and other wildlife. This also reduces their exposure to parasites and infectious diseases.

5. Cat-proof your home: Cats are naturally curious, which can get them in trouble. Check house plants to ensure they are not poisonous to cats. Inspect cat toys often, and discard toys with rips, holes, or loose pieces. Keep small chewable items, medications, supplements, and cleaning supplies out of reach. Put locking lids on cabinets and trash cans.