Diarrhea Protocol for Kitten Foster Programs

Although diarrhea can be common in kittens, it’s important to promptly identify and respond to severe bouts in order to prevent other serious problems like dehydration, lethargy, and hypoglycemia.  

Download this kitten diarrhea protocol, created and used by the ASPCA Los Angeles Kitten Foster Program, and customize it for your foster program with oversight from your program veterinarian. Included in this protocol are: 

• Causes of diarrhea 

• A helpful fecal scoring chart 

• Diagnostic and treatment recommendations 

• Management tips for healthy and sick kittens with diarrhea 

• When foster families should seek veterinary input 

Because panleukopenia can cause diarrhea in kittens, we recommend also watching our panleukopenia webinar. 

Have a question about these resources? Ask an ASPCA Shelter Medicine Expert. 

Please note, these protocols were created for a foster-based program based in Los Angeles, California, whose population is primarily kittens over four weeks who eat well on their own. These protocols were created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and changes have since been made to the program to accommodate current social distancing best practices. Consult your local regulations and program veterinarian for insight on how to customize this protocol to best fit your organization’s state regulations and specific circumstances.