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My kitten gets diarrhea from wet food. Is it okay to feed only dry?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 1 day old | 7 lbs

Hi! We have read that feeding a diet of both wet and dry food is best for cats especially within their first year. Our kitten is just two months old and gets diarrhea whenever we feed him wet food. We've tried switching brands to a more expensive + organic recipe with the same results. Could our kitten just need time to adjust to the brand or could their bodies just prefer dry? They thrived on wet food before they reached five or six weeks when we introduced dry food.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Laura Johnson VMD

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on August 15th, 2017

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If your kitty is getting diarrhea on multiple different types of canned food then I would avoid canned diets for now. Maybe when she is older you can try introducing them again. I don't think you have to offer both canned or dry food in the first year of a cats life. I recommend any food that allows for healthy weight gain, no vomiting and no diarrhea.

I hope this helps!
Vote Icon2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 4th, 2018

    Diarrhea is pretty common at this age, give her wet food and kitten milk replacer in the next couple weeks, you can then stop the milk and start her gradually on dry food, hopefully this will resolve by then.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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