Is my cat's vomiting and diarrhea contagious to other cats or kittens?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Kittens may have diarrhea and low energy due to a number of conditions including intestinal parasites, viral infections, or a change in diet. I recommend having both kittens examined by a vet as soon as possible, as it is likely that the condition is contagious. To speed up the diagnosis, I recommend bringing a stool sample from the sick kitten in a disposable container for your vet to check for parasites. It is important to have the sick kitten evaluated as kittens can quickly become dehydrated and have low blood sugar, making them feel even worse. While it is unlikely that your son got sick from one of the kittens, it is possible. I recommend that you have him seen by a physician if you are concerned.

I am sorry to hear this! Yes, it is possible he picked up something from the new kitten even if she was asymptomatic. I would recommend taking them both in and having them tested for infectious diseases and worms at a minimum. I hope it is nothing too serious but better safe than sorry! I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for your post! It is hard to say what exactly the issue with Ollie is sight unseen without examining her first, but I can offer a few insights. Parasites, viral infections (especially if not up to date on her core vaccines), dietary indiscretion (eating something other than her normal kitten food) or an intestinal obstruction can all cause vomiting and diarrhea. My best advise is to take her into your veterinarian soon to have these potential issues above ruled out. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

There are a number of different causes of diarrhea, and not all of them are contagious. I'd keep an eye on your other cat and have her see a vet if she has the same symptoms. Keep her from licking Artemis's anus to be safe.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are many conditions that can result in vomiting and diarrhea and they go from dietary indiscretion which may resolve on its own to systemic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatitis, among others. I recommend that you have Sammie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. At the very least they can check his hydration status and give him medications to make him feel better. Good luck and have a nice day!

If you're not happy with how the first vet took care of things, and Ojitos is still vomiting and having diarrhea I would most definitely seek out another veterinarian for care. It could be that there is an underlying viral or bacterial illness like you suspect, and he may need hospitalization or subcutaneous fluids as well as injections to help with the vomiting in addition to any other medications to treat the underlying issue. You can try to offer a bland diet of some boiled chicken and rice, or even some low-sodium chicken broth to try and keep him hydrated/eating/drinking, however if this is continuing or he is acting very ill it is best to seek out veterinary care ASAP.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He is so handsome! Vomiting and diarrhea can occur secondary to conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, dietary indiscretion, parasites, among other possibilities. I recommend that you have Kalvin evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. At the very least they can start him on medications to make him feel better and check his hydration status. In the meantime, keep water available at all times to try to prevent dehydration. Good luck and have a good day!