cat litter making my kitten sick?

xenabean

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I have posted perviously about my 6 week old kitten having diarrhea as of the past 5 days now. The vet tested his poop and he's work free and gave him demorming medicine anyways. I've been trying everything in the book to stop his diarrhea and nothing seems to be working. I'm wondering if the cat litter im using could be making him sick? I have never had a cat this young before so I'm not sure what the best method is. Newspaper won't work cause he won't use it. He knows to use litter already. Should i get kitten training litter that doesnt clump ?
 

2cats4me

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I have posted perviously about my 6 week old kitten having diarrhea as of the past 5 days now. The vet tested his poop and he's work free and gave him demorming medicine anyways. I've been trying everything in the book to stop his diarrhea and nothing seems to be working. I'm wondering if the cat litter im using could be making him sick? I have never had a cat this young before so I'm not sure what the best method is. Newspaper won't work cause he won't use it. He knows to use litter already. Should i get kitten training litter that doesnt clump ?
I can't say if the litter is the issue but I guess it is possible that the clumping littler is sticking to his paws and he is licking it off ..  When you say Newspaper are you referring to actual paper or the paper pellets ?  Maybe you could try the pellets or  a  non clumping litter with bigger granules that will not stick to his feet ..

The vet did not give you a reason other than possible worms for the diarrhea ?
 
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xenabean

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I will try anything. Poor thing tries to wipe his bum himself and ebbs up smearing the poop and litter all over himself and then we have to bathe him.
 

2cats4me

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I will try anything. Poor thing tries to wipe his bum himself and ebbs up smearing the poop and litter all over himself and then we have to bathe him.
Aww, poor baby .. I hope he feels better soon .. I wonder if it could be his food that is causing it ..
 
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xenabean

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I switched his food to a better, all natural brand and also made him some white rice to mix with it.
 

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I had a kitten with this chronic problem and the vet couldn't figure it out either. I switched him from kitten to adult food and the problem resolved itself. The vet surmised He couldn't handle the extra fat in kitten diets. Since it was adult food I free fed him until he was full grown.
 

2cats4me

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I switched his food to a better, all natural brand and also made him some white rice to mix with it.
ok , that could be it .. sometimes a food change will do that .. is it wet or dry food ? 

i am not suggesting that you change his food but if you need a gentle wet food for his tummy they have something at Petsmart that might help .. It is made by Royal Canin ..

here is the link .

http://www.petsmart.com/cat/canned-...var_id=36-18&_t=pfm=category&pfmvalue=faceted
 
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xenabean

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I changed his food after he started with the diarrhea. The lady i for him from was giving him iams hard food which ib thought was too harsh for his little belly. I had kitten chow at my house he was eating but after he started with the diarrhea, my vet told me to switch him to wet food cause he's so young and it's better for them. So i did and he eats it but the pooping hasnt stopped.
 

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Two thoughts.

1.) He could have a protein allergy/intolerance. Since you are feeding canned only, you could try a limited ingredient diet (like Nature's Variety Turkey formula.) Maybe add in a probiotic too?

2.) He has another parasite that is not detectable on the direct/float your vet does at his clinic.
These would include;
Tritrichomomas
Campylobacter
Giardia
Cryptosporidium
C-Diff
Clostridium Perfringens

All of the above cause diarrhea and each needs a different course of meds.

These are diagnosed by sending a fecal sample to an outside lab (usually Antech.) It is called a PCR panel.
 
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xenabean

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They sent a fecal sample out when i took him and it was negative. Is it possible that he's just so young and it will just go away on its own when he gets older?
 

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Newborns do have very soft stool (almost liquid); but, at 6 weeks of age, he should have normal, formed stool.

I would seriously consider adding a probiotic.

Also, make sure your vet didn't just sent out a test for Giardia. I've had this happen before. You want the FULL GI panel.
 

hexiesfriend

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Im sorry didn't note your cat was so young. My cat was 3 months old before I switched him to adult food yours is too young. His digestive system is still developing if the vet isn't too concerned then I'm not sure I'd label your kitten chronic problem until he is a few more weeks old.
 
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xenabean

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I have him on kitten wet food. His stools where fine for the first 4 days that i had him. I have no idea why they are like this all of a sudden
 

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I have him on kitten wet food. His stools where fine for the first 4 days that i had him. I have no idea why they are like this all of a sudden
Hey , is your baby kitty feeling any better ?
 
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xenabean

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He's feeling fine. He's still got diarrhea though. Nothing seems too be helping. I don't know if it's just something he's going to grow out of or not. It's upsetting tough.
 

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I have posted perviously about my 6 week old kitten having diarrhea as of the past 5 days now. The vet tested his poop and he's work free and gave him demorming medicine anyways. I've been trying everything in the book to stop his diarrhea and nothing seems to be working. I'm wondering if the cat litter im using could be making him sick? I have never had a cat this young before so I'm not sure what the best method is. Newspaper won't work cause he won't use it. He knows to use litter already. Should i get kitten training litter that doesnt clump ?
 

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It could be anyone of what other folks have suggested.  Process of elimination may be needed here.  Definitely at this point, I would not use the clumping litter.  There are some other really good litters out there.  If the litter you are using is scented, I would eliminate that for now also.  Speak to your vet about the best type of food for the little one at this time.  It could be your kitten has a bit of a sensitive tummy right now.  Also, with kittens being kittens, is there a chance this little one is getting into something (i.e. plants) he shouldn't have gotten into.  Please keep us posted and hang in there.  My fingers are crossed you get a quick resolution to this concern.
 
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xenabean

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I tried a non clumping pellet litter and he wouldn't use it. I picked him up another deworming medicine that the vet said would help with his diarrhea. I have to give it to him for 10 days and today is only day #1. They also gave me a can of i/d perscription food to try for him. Hoping the medicine starts working soon! He has his 8 week check up next week anyways. He's still eating and playing normally and he's not sick other than that. Fingers crossed that this helps!
 

2cats4me

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I tried a non clumping pellet litter and he wouldn't use it. I picked him up another deworming medicine that the vet said would help with his diarrhea. I have to give it to him for 10 days and today is only day #1. They also gave me a can of i/d perscription food to try for him. Hoping the medicine starts working soon! He has his 8 week check up next week anyways. He's still eating and playing normally and he's not sick other than that. Fingers crossed that this helps!
Oh good , I hope the new medicine and new food helps .. Maybe he just has a delicate digestive system .. I hope he is better soon ..
 
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