Dietary causes
Sudden food switches, rich treats, and food sensitivities are the most common causes of acute diarrhea. A bland or prescription GI diet often resolves symptoms within days.
Cat Symptom
My Cat Has Diarrhea — Expert Online Vet Help
Loose or watery stool in cats can dehydrate them quickly. Get a same-day expert assessment to identify the cause and start targeted treatment before it worsens.
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When to worry about cat diarrhea
Expert online help when your cat has diarrhea
Licensed vet video assessment of your cat's digestive symptoms
Same-day appointments — most seen within 1–3 hours
Prescriptions delivered next business day when appropriate
$65 flat fee — no memberships or hidden charges
Guidance on hydration and when emergency care is needed
Clear dietary and treatment steps you can follow at home
Diarrhea in cats indicates the intestines are not absorbing nutrients or water properly. Acute diarrhea often resolves with dietary management, but chronic or bloody diarrhea signals infection, parasites, food intolerance, or inflammatory bowel disease.
TelaVets connects you with a licensed veterinarian who can evaluate your cat's stool pattern, appetite, and hydration via secure video — often the same day. You'll receive a practical plan and prescriptions when clinically appropriate.
Signs to watch for when your cat is having diarrhea
- Watery or bloody stool
- Diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours
- Straining in the litter box
- Vomiting alongside diarrhea
- Lethargy or decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Mucus in stool
- Frequent trips to the litter box
Common causes of having diarrhea in cats
- Sudden diet change
- Food intolerance or allergy
- Intestinal parasites (Giardia, roundworms)
- Bacterial infection
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Stress-related colitis
- Pancreatitis
- Hyperthyroidism
Why is my cat having diarrhea?
Feline diarrhea has many triggers. Your vet will narrow the cause based on duration, stool appearance, and your cat's overall health.
Infectious & parasitic
Giardia, coccidia, and bacterial overgrowth cause watery diarrhea, especially in kittens and outdoor cats. Fecal testing confirms the diagnosis and guides targeted treatment.
Chronic intestinal disease
IBD, lymphoma, and chronic pancreatitis cause recurring or persistent diarrhea. Long-standing symptoms with weight loss need thorough evaluation and often prescription diets or immunosuppressive therapy.
How our vets assess this online
Our vets assess diarrhea through a detailed video consultation — reviewing stool characteristics, diet history, and your cat's hydration status.
- Review of stool consistency, color, blood, and mucus
- Assessment of appetite, energy, and hydration on video
- Discussion of diet, treats, medications, and recent changes
- Evaluation of vomiting, weight loss, and litter box habits
- Recommendations for fecal testing, bloodwork, or prescription diets when symptoms persist
Treatments we may recommend
Based on your cat's assessment, our licensed vets may recommend:
Prescription gastrointestinal diet (Hill's i/d, Royal Canin GI)
Probiotics and fiber supplements
Anti-diarrheal medication when appropriate
Deworming or antiprotozoal treatment for parasites
Anti-nausea medication if vomiting is present
B12 supplementation for chronic intestinal disease
Referral for bloodwork and abdominal imaging when IBD or systemic disease is suspected
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Preventing diarrhea in cats
Transition to new foods gradually over 7–10 days
Feed a consistent, high-quality diet suited to your cat's age and health
Keep litter boxes clean and provide one box per cat plus one extra
Schedule regular fecal parasite screening, especially for outdoor cats
Minimize stress during moves, new pets, or household changes
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Stress-Free Home Visits
Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
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Frequently asked questions about having diarrhea in cats
having diarrhea in cats can have many causes. Our licensed vets use your pet's history, symptom pattern, and a visual assessment via video to narrow down the most likely cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
If your cat's having diarrhea has lasted more than 24–48 hours, is severe, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting), book a consultation immediately.
Yes. Our vets can assess your cat's symptoms via secure video, ask detailed diagnostic questions, and prescribe appropriate treatment — all without a clinic visit.
If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day with next-day delivery to your home.
Mild having diarrhea often isn't an emergency, but if your cat shows severe distress, difficulty breathing, collapse, or other alarming signs, seek emergency in-person care immediately. When in doubt, book a consultation — our vets will help you assess the urgency.
Get expert help for your cat's having diarrhea today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets