How Do I Know if My Cat Has Gastroenteritis?

Cat gastro is no fun for them or you. Cat is vomit and/or diarrhoea raises the question of whether your cat has gastroenteritis, gastritis OR feline enteritis… Not to mention how dangerous this could be.

In this article, we explore these questions and others to get to the bottom of helping your kitty recover. Cats may be wilfully independent, but in times of gastro, a little TLC goes a long way.

What are the symptoms of gastro in cats?

Cat gastroenteritis or gastro for short, is much like human gastro. Your cat will probably have intermittent episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea. Very often, your meow will also have a fever.

Episodic vomiting and diarrhoea will empty kitty’s tummy at which point, the vomit will become yellow, foamy bile. If the cat gastro lasts more than a 24 hour cycle, this very quickly leads to dehydration.

Cat gastro is the 6th top pet insurance claims for cats with the highest claim reimbursement at $4,825. Diarrhoea in cats was also in the top list in 3rd place, with the highest claim reimbursement of $2,049.

And as you can imagine, kitty will be feeling tender and won’t like you touching their stomach. She or he likely won’t want to eat or drink and may even try hiding. If your cat manages to get something down the gullet they may have a dry gagging afterwards.

How do I know if my cat has gastroenteritis?

How do you know if your cat has gastroenteritis as opposed to feline enteritis or gastritis!? These are good questions since they help you locate the source of the issue.

Let’s unpack the difference between the three conditions:

• Cat gastro. Gastro in cats is when inflammation affects both the stomach and the intestines. As a result, your kitty will vomit and have diarrhoea. Poor meow!

• Gastritis in cats. Gastritis affects your cat’s stomach (and not the intestine) leading to vomiting without diarrhoea.

• Feline enteritis. A highly contagious virus that can lead to cat gastro caused by a virus that is the equivalent of doggy parvo.

If your cat has gastro, it’s essential to identify whether the cause is feline enteritis since enteritis has a high death rate and spreads quickly. Let’s take a quick look at Feline enteritis.

Feline enteritis

Feline enteritis is especially fatal for younger cats under 12 months old. It causes a particularly severe form of cat gastro often with bloody diarrhoea and causes damage to the lining of the intestine. Sadly, cats sometimes die even before the symptoms of infection become evident.

Cats can become infected from contact with infected pee and poop as well as saliva. An infected cat can shed the virus for as long as six weeks – and the virus can survive in the environment for years! This is another reason it’s so contagious.

Kittens can also become infected in the womb if mum cat is infected; sadly this affects their brain development. They won’t be noticeably infected after birth until they start to walk and seem wobbly.

Common names for feline enteritis

The disease has several common names:

1. Feline panleukopenia
2. Feline infectious enteritis (FIE)
3. Feline distemper
4. Feline parvovirus

Thankfully, there is a feline enteritis vaccination that falls under core pet vaccinations schedules in NZ. Since the virus is so contagious and cats tend to wander and encounter one another, this helps protect them.

Another good idea is to have an indoor cat with the benefits of a catio. Also find out whether you think pet insurance is worth it for your indoor cat.

How do cats catch gastro?

Cat gastro can be caused by a range of things from eating something bad to a viral infection like cat enteritis. Since there are such a wide range of causes – some with more hazardous consequences than others, it’s a good idea to take meowser to the vet for cat gastro.

Here are some reasons your cat may end up with gastro:

• Accidental ingestion
• Cancer
• Disease (of the pancreas, liver or kidney and things like diabetes and hyperthyroidism)
• Food allergies
• Infection (bacterial, fungal, parasitic or viral
• Poisons

If you’re a dog mum or dad, read about dog vomiting and gastroenteritis.

Can cat gastroenteritis go away on its own?

Since cat gastro is a) common and b) has such a wide range of causes, mild gastro often gets better on its own. That said if it persists longer than 24 hours or the symptoms are serious within the first 24 hours, your kitty needs to see the vet. This is because there may be underlying or severe causes that could be life threatening.

Your vet will ask you a range of questions to get a good understanding of potential causes, followed by the relevant tests and treatment. Treatment typically involves electrolytes and rehydration and, in some cases, may also include antibiotics, anti-vomiting medication and medication to prevent stomach ulcers.

Award winning cat insurance

Cat gastro could be mild or serious and like any number of illnesses is something you can’t predict. Our cat insurance comes in three plans: accident, accident and illness followed by accident, illness and dental.

This allows you as a cat mum or dad to choose the plan that suits your pet and your pocket. It means you can be covered for a wide range of unexpected vet bills for accidents, dental treatments and illness, depending on the level of cover you select.

When you buy one of our award-winning pet insurance plans online you get one or more months FREE. Click below to get a quote today.