Hi, I am new here but just looking for some opinions and advice on my bengal, Benji, who has episodes of diarrhea and then often stands on it in his box which means he brings it all around the house with him. I know it's not intential on his part and it's probably because it's soft that it sticks to him so easily.

I often wonder if he needs a bigger litter box as he doesn't suffer often from diarrhea it's only every now and then. He had TF as a kitten so I know how bad he has been and this really is nothing but still often enough that it makes me worry. I know bengals are known to have sensitive stomachs - is occasional diarrhea (just like us humans) something that just happens every now and then or is there something I can do? Or even something I can do when I notice it to help him? I used to give him boiled chicken when he was younger but he has completely went off chicken now.

We have dry food out all day although he doesn't eat a lot of it and he gets one tin of applaws (only two types of fishy flavours which he has been on for a while now). It doesn't seem to happen after one flavour in particular that I could rule out.

any advice would be appreciated! Would a bigger litter tray help or is the issue more with the fact his poos are sometimes too soft? It can't be pleasant for him to have poo on his foot and it's not pleasant having to clean it off him either - although the fact he isn't scared of water helps a lot!

Lyn

Hi Lyn and welcome to the forum! A larger litter box may help. A cat needs room to be able to turn around and cover the waste. Mine almost steps in his, but if I hear him scratching, then I check on him and cover it for him, pick him up and get him out of the box and clean up the waste immediately.

Diarrhea is not fun for the kitty. Know that a feline probiotic may help the situation. Diarrhea is usually caused by a parasite and there are many that a cat can come in contact with -- especially if the cat is allowed outdoors (even on a leash). Stress can also trigger a change -- so it is important to figure out what the cause is. Know too, that soft stools can be caused by the food going through the digestive tract too quickly. Hopefully, you have a great vet who can counsel you on this. But there is no such thing as too big of a litter box for a cat.

My cats were sick recently (I think from eating a bad lizard). Then a few days later they both had diarrhea that was quite messy. I got them back on their probiotic and within days the problem was fixed. Now everything is great in the litterbox department. That stuff works miracles. I am sure they appreciate it. This is what I give them:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005I ... UTF8&psc=1

Bengals tend to be big cats, so yea, they need very large trays. But I'm not sure that will really help you with your problem.

One thing I would try is see if you can find him a different food that is not fish-based. I think fish tends to be rougher on a cat's digestive system than fowl (chicken, turkey, duck).

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The little monsters 3

Thank you all for your help and advice!

The link to the probiotic was really helpful. He doesn't get outside so at least I know he can't have eaten any unusual or bad creatures!

I am loathe to change his food - he seems to be back to normal again - he ate chicken flavours for a while and then completely stopped and now fish is the only flavours he will have (on wet food at least) his dry food is chicken and rice. It took us a long time to find something he would eat and actually finish.

Benji is quite a small Bengal, not sure if that is down to him being an F3...he is our first Bengal so I don't have much else to compare him to other than the fact he was tiny in comparison to my parents moggies! His litter tray is fairly big already but I think the standing on poo issue is more down to the circumstance than the box.

Thank you again!

Know that many cats like a variety in their food. Just as you won't eat the same food for every meal day in and day out, your kitty may feel the same. I know mine does! I can open a fresh can that he usually loves and he just stares at it and says, "I'm not into this today. Open something else." So, I usually vary between chicken, turkey and beef wet food. Occasionally, I will give him tuna wet food, but his favorite is chicken! He just doesn't want it at every meal.

Diarrhea - ongoing - has been a problem with Bella ever since she arrived. It's super-smelly; you always know when she's defecated. I clean the litter boxes at least twice a day and completely empty the litter, wash the boxes, and input new litter, once a week. Maybe I should be doing this twice a week?

I give Bella Forti Flora regularly; she loves it as a seasoning on food. I had vets check her out and they could find nothing wrong. I did a fair amount of research on canned food because I was so daunted by the prospect of making large batches of raw food with the proper vitamin additives that I've chosen to go the easier route. I feed both of my cats Weruva chicken or Weruva chicken with beef. (I know beef isn't highly recommended.) I had to switch Bella from Fancy Feast, which her previous owner had raised her on, to Weruva, and she's made the switch completely now. I almost never feed them kibble. Advice, anyone?

It is quite normal for a stressed out cat to have diarrhea. My Raiden has very soft stools, even with a probiotic. The vet believes it is Irritable Bowel Disease and prescribed a special diet that my cat will not eat. Since Bella gets super stressed out at going to a vet, all you can do is try a food for sensitive digestive systems and see if that helps.

Litter boxes -- what a chore! Your schedule is a pretty normal one. Just depends on the # of cats and the # of times they are going. I'm guessing Jamie's stools are normal? If there is a parasite in Bella, it would be transmitted to Jamie if they use the same litter box.

Hi, Sherry. Thanks so much. Bella has had diarrhea from the time she came to live with us. I've had her checked by the vet but I think I'll take a stool sample now and have it tested. Bella had never been with another cat since kittenhood before she came to me. Her first owner had her as an only cat. It took less than two weeks before she and Jamie were playing together and now they are quite bonded. So I don't think stress is the issue? Inspired by your letter to me, I've been giving Bella even more love than I had been, and she's been licking my face all over in consequence!

Just know there could be many things going on. A change in the diet could be the cause, especially because parasites are transmitted to other cats and Jamie seems to be fine. You might want to try a food for sensitive tummies. Diarrhea is not fun for humans and it's definitely not fun for cats.

Hi, I remember the distressing incidents of loose movements being trod from the litter tray over the floor! We even had 'footprints' up the stairs carpet once, yuk! There followed a full disinfectant and carpet shampoo military exercise, phew!

We fixed this problem completely: change to raw feeding.

We're mixing raw with good quality cat food, although will gradually transition to raw by increasing the proportion. It's delivered frozen by a specialist, described as human grade meat with stuff added too ensure it's a complete food.

Assuming medical conditions or parasites have been ruled out, give the raw diet a try?

Rob

Turns out it's not my Bengal that has bad diarrhea, but my little rescue cat. I'm proceeding cautiously with instructions from my vet. Notably: NO new food. Return to previous food after fasting the two animals overnight. Thanks.

Since your babies are indoor only, I wouldn't think it would be a parasite, but some can live years before showing themselves. Hope Jamie gets better.