Cross Breeds

how do you control diarrhea in Maine Coon Cats?

my cat is a neutered male,not registered,and perhaps not a true thoroughbred MaineCoon that I adopted recently and have taken him to a vet that put him on Albon antibiotic liquid for 20 days and said he has a sensitive stomach perhaps.I purchased purina one sensitive systems and he's better but still having mild loose stools.Need info on digestive problems in this breed,please.

Public Comments

1. It's pretty unlikely you got a purebred or even mixed Maine Coon from an animal shelter. Just because a cat is big and fluffy doesn't make it a Maine Coon. In any case, follow your vet's instructions - it may take a little time for it to work, and if it doesn't then don't hesitate to call them for further advice. Was he tested for worms and other intestinal parasites such as coccidia and giardia?
2. Two things you can do. Antibiotics can wipe out the beneficial bacteria in the gut, so give him some yogurt that has probiotics in it. It will help restore the bacteria he needs. A teaspoon is probably all you need, more if he likes it. Don't worry about him being lactose intolerant, as it is only a small amount of dairy product. The second thing is give him some mashed pumpkin (not the pie filling, as it has spices.) It will give him fiber. Also, if you did a sudden change to a new type of food, that can cause diarrhea and if so it will correct itself. Typically, a big change in the type of food is done gradually over a week or so. Whether he is purebred or not, he can still give lots and lots of unconditional love.
3. Highly doubtful your cat is a Maine Coon or even part Maine Coon. Breeders tend to sell cats altered so you don't end up with "part" pedigreed cat. So asking if digestive problems are known to the breed - which they aren't - is pointless. Get your cat back to the vet if you're concerned. Or to a different vet if you want a second opinion. Are you feeding him the same food the shelter was feeding or did you immediately switch him to a different one? Cats can be quite sensitive to abrupt changes in their diet so that might have something to do with it as well.