How to Determine When Your Cat Is Suffering From Digestive Issues

For many, our cats are members of the family. For people who are not fortunate enough to have families, they are the family. Anyone who has shared a bond with a cat will know how upsetting and uncomfortable it can be when your cat develops health problems of any kind, whether minor or major. Digestive problems can be a big problem for your cat and can be a detriment to their quality of life. Digestive problems are not usually serious, although in some cases they can be, which is why it is important to determine whether or not your cat is suffering from digestive issues as early as possible.

In this article, we will tell you how you can establish whether or not your cat is suffering from digestive problems.

Here is how you can determine whether your cat is suffering from digestive issues or not.

Cats tend to go to the bathroom and defecate once a day. Although some cats go two or three times. It is important to establish what is normal for your cat, first of all. If your cat is going to the bathroom three times a day and has always done so, then it is fair to say that this is normal for your cat. However, if a cat who goes once a day, and always has done, starts going three times a day, this can be a problem. Equally, if a cat who goes three times begins going once or not at all, this can be a problem. It’s important to establish this off of the bat so that you can rule out digestive problems.

If your cat is refusing to eat, this could be indicative of a digestive problem. Digestive problems will often make your cat feel very sick and they will not want to eat. If your cat begins not eating or turning away from their food in disgust, it’s important to take your cat to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. A cat who is not eating may have a number of problems, from a blocked bowel to a serious infection.

If your cat is eating less than normal and has an upset stomach, they may have IBS. This is very common among cats and humans and can be treated. If your cat is eating less than normal, still take them to the veterinarian, but if this is accompanied by an upset stomach, consider researching what the best food for cats with IBS is so that you can treat them effectively. With that said, always get a second opinion from a veterinarian. It’s not good to treat your cat without a professional opinion.

If your cat is gassy, they very likely have a digestive problem. Cats are not known for being gassy, so if this begins to happen, it is a strong indication that your cat is experiencing some kind of gastronomical upset. When cats do let off gas, it is often a very strong, overpowering smell. You won’t be able to ignore it. If you notice your cat being gassy, you should take them to a veterinarian just to double-check that there is nothing more serious going on.

If you notice your cat begins to chew and eat odd things, it could be indicative of a digestive problem. It could also be a condition called pica. However, if your cat begins to eat odd things that they should not be doing, it’s good to take them to the vet to verify that they have not got any stomach conditions. Also, if your cat begins to eat grass, this is a strong indicator that they have stomach problems, for cats eat grass to alleviate stomach problems in the wild. If you notice your cats eating grass, it’s time for a trip to the vets.

The reason that you should always take your cat to the veterinarian for digestive problems is that a small problem in a cat can very quickly become serious. Additionally, cats are known for eating things that they shouldn’t [as mentioned before]. Some objects, however, can be very dangerous. If your cat eats string it can obstruct their bowel, and if they eat anything sharp, it can perforate their bowel, which can be life-threatening. It is important to rule out anything serious with your cat straight away.

A cat who has digestive problems can become very sick quite quickly. It is important to never ignore your cat if they do begin to exhibit any of these symptoms, for it could quickly become life-threatening and make them very unwell, which is something no cat owners wants for their fluffy friend. 

In this article, we hope to have told you how you can distinguish whether or not your cat has digestive problems, as well as explaining that if you ignore digestive problems, it can seriously hinder your cat’s quality of life. We hope you learnt something on this page.