How does a gastrointestinal infection manifest itself in cats?

Since diarrhea and vomiting are symptoms of many different diseases, it is not always easy to recognize a gastrointestinal infection. Accompanying symptoms that occur with an infection include a general feeling of malaise , fever and weakness . If your cat does not vomit but constantly keeps its head tilted downwards, this is a sign of nausea . The same applies to a suppressed gag reflex.

To rule out more serious illnesses, you should always have a persistent disorder of your pet's gastrointestinal tract checked by a doctor. If the vet only diagnoses a gastrointestinal infection, he can treat it with antibiotics or a worming treatment , depending on the cause. It is also advisable to feed the animal a light diet that is easy to digest for the affected digestive tract.

Causes of a gastrointestinal infection in cats

The term "gastrointestinal infection" is not only used for bacterial infections or viral diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of cats. It also includes non-infectious diseases such as poisoning or food intolerances . However, a gastrointestinal infection always involves a disturbed balance in the cat's stomach and intestines, which is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. Since the symptoms of gastrointestinal infections are quite similar, a visit to the vet is unavoidable if the symptoms persist in order to clarify the cause of the disease.

bacteria

Although an infection is often thought of as a bacterial disease, bacteria are one of the rarer causes of gastrointestinal infections in cats. Two types of bacteria that often appear in this context are salmonella and Escherichia coli. Both cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and fever and should be taken very seriously.

Salmonella poisoning often comes from contaminated food such as raw chicken or water from puddles and ponds. Therefore, do not feed your pet raw meat and always wash it thoroughly before preparing it. If you suspect salmonella poisoning, you should immediately consult a veterinarian, as the bacteria can also attack organs. However, a relatively high number of germs is required to cause illness in cats. If your animal has a good immune system, it can fight the pathogens, which means that the course of the disease is less severe.

Escherichia Coli – E. coli for short – is an intestinal bacterium that is part of the cat’s natural intestinal flora. E. coli is important for the immune system and protects against pathogens in the intestines. However, there are different strains of the bacterium. Some of them are bad for the body and can, among other things, cause intestinal diseases. Even “good” E. coli that come into contact with organs outside the intestines can be harmful. One of the best-known disease-causing strains is enterohemorrhagic E. coli bacteria – also known as EHEC . They enter the animal’s organism through food or drinking water contaminated with feces . If infected, the cat suffers from diarrhea and vomiting , lack of appetite and fever . But inflammation of the eyes and nose can also occur. EHEC infection is usually diagnosed by a stool examination and a PCR test.

Viruses

One of the most common infectious diseases in cats is feline panleukopenia , also known as cat distemper . It is caused by the feline parvovirus . The virus itself is very resistant and is transmitted through direct contact with other infected animals or through a contaminated environment. It causes bloody diarrhea and is often fatal in unvaccinated cats, especially kittens and sick cats.

Thanks to the high vaccination rate , however, feline distemper is rare. Kittens should therefore be vaccinated urgently and adult animals also need a booster shot every three years. If your pet is not vaccinated and is suffering from stomach pain , vomiting and sometimes bloody diarrhea, see a veterinarian as soon as possible. Feline panleukopenia also leads to a reduction in blood cells . If you have an unvaccinated animal, always seek advice from your veterinarian about feline distemper.

Parasites

Other causes of gastrointestinal infections are parasites. The most common are worms, giardia and coccidia - they are also called endoparasites because they live inside the cat. Worms can be easily prevented by deworming every three months.

If a worming treatment is not carried out, various types of worms can nest in the cat's body:

• Roundworms : They enter the intestines orally through contaminated feces, which your pet comes into contact with, for example, when sniffing.
• Hookworms : They also attack the intestinal tract and enter the body both orally as well as through the skin . Hookworms live in the top layer of soil. Their eggs can stick to blades of grass that the cat eats. Hookworm larvae can also get caught in the fur and be absorbed through grooming or through the skin.
• Tapeworm : The tapeworm lives in infected ticks . If these attach themselves to a cat's fur, a larva can be ingested orally during grooming. This is how the larva reaches the digestive tract, where it develops into a tapeworm.

All of the types of worms mentioned do not make themselves felt immediately. It can take days or weeks for the first signs of infection to appear. In the case of roundworms in particular, an infection is not always immediately accompanied by symptoms . However, the parasites generally cause diarrhea and vomiting as well as apathy and loss of appetite . Therefore, pay regular attention to your cat's stool. If you discover small white worm segments, have a vet examine the stool.

Giardia, which is also common, is also responsible for gastrointestinal infections in cats. These are small intestinal parasites that are transmitted through contact infections , a contaminated environment or even through contaminated water. Symptoms do not always follow an infection. However, if the infection is severe, the gastrointestinal infection can be very dangerous . Watery diarrhea and vomiting in particular can cause the animal to become dehydrated. A stool sample must be examined to determine whether an infection is present. This is also done again after treatment to ensure that there are no more Giardia in the organism.

Coccidia infections also cause disease of the gastrointestinal tract, although healthy adult cats can usually cope well with this and remain largely symptom-free. Coccidia are single-cell parasites that burrow into intestinal cells and eat their contents. They multiply very quickly and also nest in organs outside the intestine. There, however, they remain passive as dormozoites and do no further damage. Once your cat has been infected with coccidia, it normally develops good immunity . Nevertheless, the parasites are very contagious and enter the organism via smear infections or other contact with infected feces.

If your cat reacts to an infection with mild diarrhea, the coccidiosis usually heals without any problems within a few days. However, a severe case with bloody diarrhea must be treated immediately, as it can lead to dehydration and permanent damage to the intestinal tract. In addition, inflammation of the injured intestinal surfaces and other intestinal diseases due to immune deficiency are possible, so that a coccidia infection can also be fatal.

Poisoning and foreign bodies

In addition to bacteria, viruses, etc. , poisoning or foreign bodies can also lead to a gastrointestinal infection. If your cat goes outside, you cannot always control what your pet eats. If diarrhea and vomiting occur after your cat comes in from outside, you should look out for other symptoms such as disorientation or apathy . But caution is not only required for outdoor cats: indoor cats also like to nibble on plants that are not suitable for consumption. Therefore, check whether your houseplants are safe for cats. Otherwise, you should either dispose of them or put them in a room that the cat cannot reach.

In addition to poisoning from toxic substances , small toys also pose a problem for your house cat. Thin threads in particular can be easily swallowed and cause damage to the intestines if they get tangled, for example. Therefore, avoid cat toys that lose threads. The same applies to small parts , such as the button eyes of a stuffed animal. Such objects are quickly swallowed in the heat of the moment and, in the worst case, cause damage to the cat's digestive tract . This can cause inflammation, which in turn causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Food intolerances and allergies

Some cats already have sensitive stomachs . The wrong food is often enough to throw the digestive system out of balance. A distinction is made between food allergies and food intolerances : In the case of a food allergy, the immune system reacts to an ingredient that it perceives as a pathogen and fights against. An intolerance means that certain ingredients in the food cannot be processed properly due to a metabolic disorder.

Food intolerances and allergies can cause diarrhea and vomiting, as well as skin rashes with itching or hair loss and loss of appetite . Have your veterinarian check out the symptoms. If your veterinarian diagnoses an intolerance or allergy in your cat, you can switch to a gentle diet for sensitive cats.