Common Causes of Cat Soft Stools: What You Need to Know

Part 1: What Causes a Cat to Have Soft Stools?

1. Diet Issues

Cats with lactose intolerance may suffer from soft stools or diarrhea after consuming large amounts of milk. Additionally, lowquality dairy products with unsafe ingredients can lead to digestive issues and soft stools in cats. Some pet owners might feed their cats only once a day or prepare a few days' worth of food for a short trip, which can cause the food to spoil and breed bacteria, leading to soft stools.

2. Feeding Problems

Long periods of hunger followed by a sudden binge on food can cause digestive issues and soft stools in cats. Moreover, switching to a new type of food abruptly can also lead to soft stools, as cats have delicate intestines that may become uncomfortable and have difficulty digesting the new food.

3. Intestinal Damage

Cats may experience intestinal damage due to several reasons, which can lead to soft stools:

Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, giardia, and tapeworms can disrupt the intestinal structure, causing dysfunction and soft stools.

Cats may suffer from abdominal pain and soft stools if they accidentally ingest hard objects that scratch their intestines.

Bacterial infections in the intestines due to weakened immunity, improper diet, or irregular eating habits can lead to chronic enteritis, causing longterm soft stools, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Part 2: How to Manage a Cat's Soft Stools

1. During soft stool episodes, it's essential to maintain a mild and simple diet to reduce the burden on the cat's intestines. It's recommended to feed the cat softened kibble soaked in warm water until their stools return to normal, then gradually reintroduce dry food.

2. Pet owners can give their cats a dosage of pet probiotics to replenish beneficial gut bacteria, regulate the intestinal flora, enhance intestinal motility and digestion, and boost immunity.

3. When switching a cat's food, it's important to do so gradually. The 7day transition method can help the cat's intestines better adapt to the new food. The process involves adding 20% new food to the old food on the first and second days, increasing it to 40% on the third day, 60% on the fourth day, 80% on the fifth and sixth days, and fully switching to the new food on the seventh day.

4. If a cat has persistent soft stool issues, it's advisable to take them to a veterinarian for a fecal examination to determine if there is a parasitic infection or signs of chronic enteritis. Chronic enteritis requires longterm management, and you can refer to "How to Manage Cat Chronic Enteritis" for more information. For parasitic infections, deworming medication should be chosen based on the type of worm, and it's best to avoid feeding raw meat to cats. Regular deworming with praziquantel tablets is recommended.

For any further questions about the causes and management of soft stools in cats, or if the symptoms worsen to diarrhea, it's best to consult a veterinarian or an online pet doctor directly.