New mama cat with soft stool

I took in a stray pregnant cat, and she immediately delivered 6 healthy cats. Overall, everyone seems to be healthy. Kittens are surprisingly growing very fast - they are only a little over 3 weeks and weigh 15-18 ounces. Mom keeps having soft stool. at first, I thought it was food allergies. She has changed from Purina smart blend, to Purina kitten chow (I read somewhere you should feed nursing moms kitten food for added fat), then to Authority kitten food, then Authority grain free, this is all the dry food. For wet food, she has tried Friskies, then Lovesome. I've also tried giving her boiled chicken, and pork, and tuna.

I have given her praziquantel for tapeworm, pyrantel for hookworm, and fenbenazole for giardia. I never saw signs of worms, just a desperate attempt to help her soft stool. Also, gave her frontline for fleas (again, never saw fleas, but because she was a stray). She also sneezing a lot, so, gave her zyrtec for allergies. She has gone to vet, FIV, FeLV, heartworm neg. Stool has gotten more well formed, you can see logs, not cowpie-like. Its a paste-like consistency. It was never runny, watery, bloody, mucous-y. She doesn't have accidents outside litter box. Although, she has a BM 3 times a day. She eats and drinks a lot! Maintained weight, not losing. (didn't tell vet soft stool problem bc at the time we went, things seemed to be getting better).
 

My question is - is this normal for nursing mom cats - to eat and drink, and poop and pee a lot? and is soft stool normal while nursing? She seems healthy otherwise. oh, except she sleeps a lot (but so does my other 2 male cats so I figured it was normal, also shes nursing - must be tiresome.) Also, before any comments about spaying/neutering - yes, both my male cats are neutered, I plan on neutering mom cat after she is done nursing, and yes, she was a stray that was already pregnant, not my cat, just took her in so she and her babies can have safe home.

Addendum, I wouldn't necessarily call it diarrhea - its just soft stool. But in the beginning, it stunk really bad, now its better - just the regular stink. But her farts stink. I remember my 2 male cats farts stink too - until I got them on the right food, which makes me think this is a food intolerance for her. But Ive tried so many foods - now, avoiding all grains, wheat gluten, corn, soy... . anyone with similar experience or advice?   

The gas is her system adjusting to her diet, which has been ever-changing, it sounds like. Perhaps you can allow her diet to remain the same for awhile now to see where she is at.

A soft stool sounds fine for a nursing mom. So does eating a lot and pooping several times a day. It sounds like your cat is healthy overall, and since you've wormed her, you just need to let her be for now.

I took in a pregnant stray, and it took several months for her poops to stop smelling bad. It's an adjustment. Give it time.

If her stool is too soft, you can add some plain canned pumpkin to her diet. But she actually sounds like she's doing well for now.

I've had this stray mom cat for about 2 months, and her soft stool is not getting any better.  I finally found a good combination - I give her Authority Grain Free dry food, Luvsome wet food, and some boiled chicken.  Good combination because she finally got some well formed stool.

Then, because I was trying to wean her kittens, I decided to just leave all of them with just dry food, so that the kittens would eat the dry food.  If I give them wet food or chicken, the kittens would preferentially eat those, and would not touch the dry food. When I did this, momcat got diarrhea again.  I don't understand.  I didn't switch any foods, I just took some away.

So, momcat did not do well on just the dry food.  She had 2 accidents in a pet carrier, while trying to take her to the vet.  

So, I thought maybe I should just switch her dry food altogether (she has been on this dry food for 2 months with no real help in the diarrhea).  I switched to Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach.

Now, the diarrhea is worse than ever, it is now basically water.  She doesn't appear bothered by it, she doesn't appear ill.  As a matter of fact, she did not have a BM for 12 hours...but when she finally did have a BM, it was loose and watery.  I gave her some anti-diarrhea medication for cats from Petsmart.

I think - she just has a really sensitive stomach.  She has diarrhea when stressed (like when I was trying to take her to the vet, in the carrier, in the car).  She has diarrhea with the change in cat food.  My question is - when should I expect this to stop?  How long does it take for her stomach to get used to the new food?  I don't understand because she was a stray so I'm sure she was eating all kinds of crap out there.  How is it that her stomach reacts so violently with a minor change (such as just taking away her wet food and her chicken)?

Please, if anyone has any similar experience or any advice I would really appreciate it.  She had such a horrible accident in my car, then she splashed it everywhere in my car.  I was so frustrated I almost just let her go.  But I didn't.  I am trying to keep her until she is done nursing her kittens and get her adopted out.  But how can I adopt her out when she has such bad diarrhea.  I'm sure anyone else will not have the patience to deal with her diarrhea and will throw her out.  I am non-stop cleaning litter boxes.  It is wearing me out.

Diarrhea for 2 months is not normal. Your cat probably needs a round of clavamox to kill any intestinal bacteria. She will also need worming. Bacteria and parasites are the 2 most common reasons for diarrhea and are easily treatable.

It's good you did not just let her go. That would have solved nothing. Since she has seen the vet once, perhaps you can call & explain the situation, and they will allow you to pick up worm medicine and clavamox to give to her at home. If they want a stool sample you could bring that by. Not all parasites are visible in the stool though.

She really needs medication from the vet, so please call today. In the meantime, if you mix some plain, canned pumpkin into her food it will help with the diarrhea.

I have given her praziquantel for tapeworm, pyrantel for hookworm, and fenbenazole for giardia - all TWICE. I never saw signs of worms, just a desperate attempt to help her soft stool.

She has already gotten 10 days of clavamox.

I have been to the vet 4-5 times already.

Stool sample with no parasites.

Her diarrhea waxes and wanes.  Sometimes it gets as good as forming well-formed logs, right now it is just liquid stool - but it correlates with when I changed her diet. She was on 1 diet for about 1.5 months.  I thought I might try something better - Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach.  It's been 2 days.  I can either switch her back to Authority Grain Free, or just continue forward and let her stomach adjust.

I mean 1st diet was ok, not great.  Was trying to see if the 2nd diet might be better.  Its worse, but its only been 2 days.  

It is definitely diet related - when she doesn't eat - no diarrhea.  When she eats a lot, a lot of diarrhea.  Just don't know what is a good diet - I thought the one for SENSITIVE STOMACH would be the best, but...not good.

I think picking a wet food and a dry food and sticking with that diet is best, especially if she has no diarrhea while on it.

Have you tried the pumpkin yet?

Since she's been wormed and had clavamox, it must be the dietary changes along with nerves.

Good luck!

Oh yes, I tried the pumpkin - it turned to watery stool...that smelled like pumpkin (it just ran through her undigested).  I am at a lost.  Now, I can't even take her out. Three times already, she poops in the carrier while trying to take her to the vet.  I think its nerves.  She gets scared in car, and poops.  I held her food for 12 hours, now going back to basics...just boiled chicken. She seems to be doing well on it.  My plan is to slowly re-introduce the canned food, and then the dry food last.  I'm trying to feed her a small amount every 3 hours.  She's a greedy monster and will often times overeat, and eat real fast, then have explosive BM.

I say I think its nerves because - I remember a time when things were getting better - because we settled into a routine.  Then, when I change the routine - diarrhea.  Force her into carrier to take her to vet - diarrhea.  Nerves and probably an allergy to all grains.  I took out foods with wheat, but the new food as oat flour, and I guess she can't take that either.  Grain free seems to do well for her.  I guess when she was a stray - she wasn't really eating wheat and oat. 

Thank you for all your suggestions.  It takes so much to try to figure out what's wrong.  I just feel so bad for her...however, she really doesn't seem bothered by it.

Any suggestions regarding the pet carrier?  How do I take her out, for example, to the vet, without her pooping and making a big mess.  Its a huge ordeal.  She poops in the carrier, then splashes it around, take her home, have to give her a bath, get scratched up, clean carrier...ugh, exhausting.

Give her unflavored Pedialyte mixed into her water. It'll take care of her diahrrea.Yes, the human Pedialyte. It works, it really does.

As for her pooping in her carrier....the only thing I can think of is to bring three towels. Stick one in her carrier to the vet so she poops in that. She'll have to deal until she gets to the vet where you can wipe her of with a wet towel. On the way home, use the third towel and give her a bath when she gets home. I mean, she'll be sitting in her poo for a bit, but its the only thing I can think of.

Hi M.Cats are extremely sensitive & most only go in a carrier to the vet, never anywhere else.So they associate that as being oh my god i'm going to that place again.Major stress.There are some calming chews at petsmart that I know members i deal with that help some.if you feel it is diet related & BTW it is very well known that clavamox causes diarrhea in most kitties.Usually an antibiotic without any diagnosis is not good as they can build up a tolerance to an A/B that they may need sometime down the line.Clavamox being widely used.But I know you are grasping.Have you ever noticed besides the pumpkin her ever having any BM's that are undigested food? Undigested food are an pancreatic symptom also that can be brought on by stress & foods.My late Tabby had a pancreatic flareup at 15 years old & pooped  every thing she ate including diarrhea but the weirdest looking poos you'd ever seen.A test called Spec fPL was done.A blood draw & was confirmed pancreatitis.Just prior to that she had two teeth extracted & her best buddy Bunny My Bunny her best friend I  lost to lung cancer.So major stress for her.It took 3 months to get her stools in order.She had also lost a lot of weight.The vet gave her Metronidazole or Flagyl which did help her.So pay attention to undigested food.But a vet looking at your kittty would not be able to diagnose pancreatitis flareup.Have you tried what is called a white diet.? A white diet is a single protein in the meat.Say chicken.When you look  at the can of chicken meat there can be nothing else like fish oil,turkey liver,beef etc.Just chicken,vitamins & preservatives.That's it.Usually one will try a white diet for like 3 months time.if not any better switch to another.The key being a single protein.Evo 95% chicken is all chicken.No garbage.Nothing.Also and i had quoted this to another member apple pectin stops diarrhea  as well & is an ingredient in most anti diarrhea agents for animals available at petsmart etc.Twin labs if you google them has capsules in which you would take just a pinch out of the capsule as it is bitter add it to some meat & syringe carefully.Many very tiny dosages during the day til the capsule is gone.Pedialyte I have used but it never worked.but sounds easier for you.But please don't introduce anything into your kitty other than food changes but medicinal or supplemental healthfood or human products until your vet gives  the okay.Hopefully you are introducing water into her as diarrhea is extremely dehydrating and they feel like heck.Keep going then they become inappetitant.You can also google poo color chart & it's meanings.Crates should always be left out in the house hold where your kitty can see it, smell it & take off.lol.She will get used to it being around.My Maxwell who walked on a harness & also went camping with us 3 weeks out of the year didn't associate it with the vets.He scooted right in thinking we were heading for the bush.Many times we were but sometimes not.And you would see in his eyes the discouraging look oh gee I want to camp & see squirrels Mom.Many good many my Boy Angel left me with.HTH C P.S. also a probiotic is a must.I know Mrs Green jeans had recommended one being highly used on this group.maybe she'll chime in for you.Your klitties gut bacteria will be all screwed up.The probiotic helps get that back in order.The one I use is Country Life.But for Maxwell all i ever gave was 1/8 tsp of canned pumpkin 2x per day for 6 yrs.Hugs C.

Thank you thank you for all your helpful advice.

- yes, i already give her a prebiotic/probiotic i got at petsmart

- yes, i am trying what sounds like a white diet. I simply boil chicken and give to her. just chicken, nothing else. She seems to be doing well on it. I also give her a vitamin supplement that has the taurine and such. My concern is this - yes she does well on chicken alone, but its so time-consuming. I dont mind doing it for her but im sure her next owner wont be so patient. see, she was a pregnant stray i took in. im trying to nurse her to health, then adopt her out.

- i will try the evo, see if it helps

- she drinks plenty of water, so I havent done pedialyte

no diarrhea on the chicken for past 12 hours, cross my fingers it will work

It certainly sounds like you are doing everything you can for her.

If she is a cat with an ultra-sensitive system, she may take longer to re-home someday as her new family would have to be willing to go the extra mile for her. You would need to let that be known as opposed to expecting her to adjust to food you think she needs to eat in order to be re-homed.

Hi MyaLias.

Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job wow!!!I understand the work. it is alot compared to just opening a can & giving it to her.Evo 95% turkey & chicken.I just read online the ingredients.It has herring oil.This could be a problem for your kitty.If trying it i would only buy say a couple of cans.You'll soon know.They make rabbit catfood not evo but other brands.Nature's variety makes some novel proteins but yours sounds as white as it will get.Did she have any babies then Mya?I understand about re-homing her totally.But yes you have to have the adoptees fully understand her tummy is sensitive.Was it this way prior to her having babes if she had babies?Of course parasites & everything has been checked too right? Does she seem stressed to you? I know LTS3 had posted a huge list of novel protein catfoods.If you google novel protein catfood in cans you will see a blog from The Cat Site (Us) & LTG3's blog ( a member here) & list.I didn't want to copy & paste it to you .But it is there.Maybe he/she will chime in, otherwise google it & it is there for you.OK? I think what you are doing is wonderful!!! Do you have a pic you can post for us? We (I) love pics....Hugs C.Geez I'm used to names of people like Hi Mary or John or whatever.Trying to get used to these "names" is strange to me.lol

I'm beginning to understand her digestive system. She just needs pure protein, doesn't do well on grains. It totally makes sense. When I was trying to wean her kittens, I made her eat all dry (in an attempt to encourage her kittens to eat dry). Thats when she got loose stool. Then changing to a whole new dry, with a bunch of whole new carbs, she had violent diarrhea and vomiting. I went back to basics and just gave her boiled chicken - no more diarrhea! As a matter of fact, no stool for past 24 hours. I read that when they go on an efficient diet (protein, what they are used to, they poop less). I mean, I dont mind making chicken for her. In comparing prices, chicken is cheaper per pound than some of those canned foods. I just need to find a supplement to make up for all those vitamins and minerals they include in commercial foods. Yes, I will have to post her for adoption as a special diet cat. I dont think her body can deal with grains. Unless, they want to clean up the diarrhea. I think the effort to make the chicken is less than the hassle to clean up diarrhea and vomit. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. One last question, any suggestions for supplements - I read something about Al-nutrin???

Side note:  her kittens are 8 weeks, and starting to adopt out. I am adopting out 1 per day so she doesnt get traumatized by losing them all at once. She had no problems when babies 1-4 went. But by time baby #5 went, she suddenly realized they were gone. She is so heartbroken, crying for her babies. I feel bad for her but I know time will heal. I'm washing all bedding and cleaning up kitten smell so it doesnt remind her to keep looking. She has 1 kitten left, but I will adopt out too, get her spayed, then adopt her out too. In the beginning, it was so exhausting cleaning after all kitties, but now they gone, realize it was all worth it. 

Hi Myalias.Thank you for sharing the event around about her babies etc.It all helps and really has helped you in understanding her gut.I am not familiar with supplements but what I can tell you is I did google Al Nutrin, never used it ,but maybe this site which is excellent and Dr.Pierson makes her own raw diets that have to have supplements maybe there is something in there.A huge read but boy this lady knows her stuff.Over 10 yrs ago her kitty and maybe she tells her story had IBD symptoms.Her being a vet tried everything a vet would.Nothing.Then you can read on as she joined the IBD group way back then @ yahoo & learned & now every time I go onto her website it gets bigger& bigger.And yes so true about boiling chicken etc is cheaper as these cans of food are not cheap.Others may chime in for you as well but Dr.Pierson is a trusted Dr. & I don't know how she supplements her raw diets she has online.But worth a read I think.keep up the great work ! And only because of you did her babies live & are now going to new forever homes.What a git you are.! I am impressed totally and I do not impress easily...Her link is www.catinfo.org C.

M MyaLias

I agree that preparing cooked chicken to keep her stable is much easier than cleaning up diarrhea.

We have an excellent Nutrition Forum right here at TCS where you can ask your question about supplements for this cat. We have many knowledgeable members who can relate similar experiences with diet and supplements in sensitive cats. You might want to peruse similar threads to see what you can learn in our Nutrition Forum in addition to asking your questions in a thread there.

I do think it's important that you stabilize the cat completely before re-homing her. Thank you for your patience with her.

Perhaps you can find a home for this cat and her remaining kitten together .