As one should be cat poop? Is foul-smelling stool a cause for concern? A cat’s poop is a reflection of his health, especially the condition of his digestive tract.
The look and smell of the poop provide a lot of information about your pet’s health and condition. It’s also a great material, as well as urine and blood, for further testing. So what should a cat’s poop look like and what should we care about?
What should a cat’s feces look like?
- A uniform. Cat poop should be uniform in texture. It can also consist of feces of faecal masses attached to each other, but it is important that it has the same consistency and color along the entire length.
- Soft. The feces should be moderately moist, shiny on the outside. The feces of cats that consume a lot of dry food may be slightly harder and less moist.
- Brown color o ocher. The color largely depends on what food the animal eats. The color of the stool should be brown or ocher. Most cats fed regular complete adult cat food have dark brown faeces, but not always (this depends on the type of food and what snacks and treats you give your pet).
- Moderate smell. Cat feces shouldn’t smell bad, nor should they be odorless. The peculiar smell of poop is most pronounced when cats have just defecated, and then becomes less and less noticeable over time.
Texture of cat poop
As we have seen, cat feces should be firm. Is important that there are no residues of undigested food.
The foamy stools (mucorrhea) usually indicate a bacterial infection, while the fatty feces (steatorrhea) may be the result of a dysfunction of some internal organs or intestinal malabsorption.
Diarrhea: when the cat makes loose stools
Cat diarrhea is most often caused by viral or bacterial infections, stress, sudden changes in diet, consumption of poisonous substances or disorders in some internal organs.
An occasional cat diarrhea is unlikely to be a cause for concern, but if it lasts for a full day or two, you should contact your vet right away.
Diarrhea in a cat can endanger the health and life of the animal, as it leads to dehydration of the body.
Cat doesn’t poop and when he does it’s hard
Constipation occurs when puss does not defecate for 2 or 3 days, even if he feels the urge. In these cases, the animal may squeal, moan and assume a crouched position. Hard fecal masses can be felt when the abdominal cavity is palpated.
Causes of constipation include:
- the increased presence of dry food in the diet of the animal,
- insufficient amount of water,
- lack of dietary fiber in a cat’s diet,
- lack of sufficient physical activity,
- eat indigestible items.
Stool color: what colors indicate poor health?
The color of cat poop can tell a lot about its health, too. Knowing already that your furry friend should produce brown or ocher stools, red, black or green poop is a sign that something is wrong with your pet.
Check with your vet and make an appointment if the color of your cat’s stool has changed recently.
- Red poop: This may indicate the presence of fresh blood in the feces. Even a small spot of blood on the fecal surface shouldn’t be ignored. Take your cat’s stool sample to the vet for testing.
- Black poop: The tarry color of the stool indicates the presence of blood that has already been digested in the digestive tract. A cat’s very dark poop can also be the result of feeding it red meat.
- Green poop: is the result of ingestion of grass or similar. However, it can also be the result of metabolic diseases related to the rapid passage of intestinal contents and impaired absorption of vitamins from the intestine.
- Yellow poop: can be a symptom of pancreatic disordersof liver and of gallbladder.
The smell of cat poop
The smell of feces depends on many factors, including the type of food your pet eats and the condition of its digestive tract.
Cats that eat a lot of raw meat (BARF diet) may have slightly more strongly smelling stools, but this is normal in such cases. The very intense smell of cat poop is also typical of a high-fiber diet.
The frequency of bowel movements
How many times a day does a cat poop? It obviously depends on how much food he eats a day, how much water he drinks and what kind of food it is.
The frequency of defecation is also influenced by the amount of physical activity, age and the presence of chronic diseases. A cat should have a bowel movement one to two times a day or once every other day.
Worms in cat poop
Some parasites, such as roundworms or tapeworms, are visible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, not all feline parasites can be seen without a microscope.
The most common intestinal parasites in a cat that can be detected by the parasitological examination of the feces are:
- nematodes,
- cestodi,
- hookworms,
- protozoa.
Cat poop: when to seek help from a vet?
As soon as you notice that your cat’s poop looks or smells different, when there is a lot of diarrhea in the litter box, or conversely, when your cat does not defecate for more than 2-3 days, contact your vet for a consultation. .
Why does my cat poop outside the litter box?
There can be many reasons why a cat needs to go outside the litter box. The most common are:
- unsuitable litter (size, shape…),
- litter too close to the food or present in a place where the animal does not feel safe,
- dirty litter,
- stressed or frightened cat: noises, new family members, for example, can make your furbaby feel insecure and he will manifest this disturbance by urinating or defecating in a place other than his litter box.
If the feline satisfies its physiological needs outside the litter box, try to analyze under what circumstances this occurs. If you can’t find and correct the cause on your own, it’s worth contacting your vet or an experienced feline behaviorist.
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Article written for Todocat.pl and:
Natalia Ciszewska
Veterinarian graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Wroclaw.