Kitten diarrhoea: causes, what to do and when it's urgent

A kitten with loose stool is one of the most common calls we get. Most cases are simple — but a few are emergencies, and kittens don’t have much reserve. Here’s how to tell the difference.

Come in today if your kitten has diarrhoea and…

• is vomiting
• is lethargic, hiding, or unusually quiet
• has stopped eating
• has blood in the stool or very watery stool
• is unvaccinated or recently rescued
• has had diarrhoea for more than 24 hours
• is very young (under 8 weeks)

These can be signs of panleukopenia or serious dehydration. Our symptom checker raises urgency automatically for kittens.

Common causes

• Worms — very common; see the deworming schedule
• Cow’s milk — most kittens can’t digest lactose
• Sudden food change — switch foods gradually over 5–7 days
• Stress — a new home, travel
• Protozoa like Giardia and coccidia
• Viral infections — panleukopenia, coronavirus
• Eating something they shouldn’t — string, plants, human food

Home care for a bright, eating kitten

If your kitten is playful, eating and drinking, with mild soft stool:

• Stop milk and treats.
• Keep feeding the usual kitten food in small, frequent meals — don’t starve a kitten.
• Make sure clean water is always available.
• Keep the kitten warm and the litter tray clean.
• Watch closely. If it’s not improving within 24 hours, or any warning signs appear, come in.

What not to do

• Don’t give human diarrhoea medicines or antibiotics.
• Don’t starve the kitten “to rest the gut”.
• Don’t wait days hoping it settles.

At the clinic

We check hydration and temperature, examine a stool sample under the microscope, and run a rapid panleukopenia test when needed — see diagnostics. Treatment might be as simple as the right dewormer, or may include fluids and hospital care.