How do I make my cats poop less soft

Vet Approved Cat Stool Chart: Decoding Your Cats Poop

Why use a cat stool chart? Because your cats feces is one of the biggest indicators of their health.

Put simply, a healthy cat should have healthy stools. While there are many specific health issues that can cause signs from constipation to diarrhea, its a simple rule that normal feces (or stools) are a good sign that your cat is thriving.

When you visit your veterinarian, its likely that you will be asked to describe your cats stools, as part of the general gathering of information about your cats health, and in particular, information about the gastrointestinal tract.

Cat Stool Chart

The cat stool chart infographic below is a simple, clear way of giving you information to help you decode the appearance of your cats feces.

The image on the left-hand column is the starting point: choose whichever one most closely resembles your cats stool. The second column is a written description of the appearance of the stool, and the third column is an explanation of the most likely reason for that appearance. Finally, the fourth column gives you advice on what action you need to take as a consequence of that particular stool appearance.

Breakdown Of Cat Stool Health Indicators Based On Color And Consistency

Fecal abnormalities may point to a wide variety of issues affecting the digestive tract and beyond.

It can be difficult to observe your cats bowel movements if they are outdoor pets, but if they use a litter box, you should take advantage of the daily task of scooping their poop to observe it in detail.

A normal cat stool should be brown or dark brown in color, with a reasonably firm consistency. The idea is that it should be formed, but should not be too hard.

There should be no sign of mucus or blood. It is possible to carry out fecal scoring based on a cats poop look, but there may be no need to get into such a detailed, formal way of carrying out an assessment.

Abnormalities that should be noted include:

• Extraneous matter, like hairballs.Soft feces (formed, but mushy) can be caused simply by a sudden change of diet (e.g. from Purina to a different brand). Other possible causes include mild or early cases of diseases listed below that can cause more significant diarrhea.
• Loose feces (diarrhea) can be caused by a number of factors, including intestinal irritation (e.g. by intestinal parasites such as tapeworm), bacterial infections, liver disease, kidney disease, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), food allergy, and food intolerances. Some health problems, like hyperthyroidism, can cause this type of diarrhea as well as a range of other signs of illness.

Broadly, There Are Two Sub-types Of Cat Diarrhea

First, small intestinal diarrhea tends to be larger pools of loose feces, passed less frequently. If blood is present, it may be darker, sometimes described as tarry (because it has been digested as it has passed through the digestive tract).

Second, large intestinal diarrhea (e.g. associated with colitis) tends to be smaller amounts of loose feces, passed more frequently, often with a sense of urgency. Streaks of mucus and fresh blood may be seen.

Read More: Best Cat Food for Diarrhea

Hard stool is the opposite of diarrhea, and this can indicate a range of other possible problems, You should also note the process of defecation: if your cat is straining when pooping (so-called fecal tenesmus) this can indicate constipation (e.g. megacolon or a blockage of some kind) or alternatively, this can be caused by irritation of the lower bowel.

You may notice your cat over-grooming around the same time as passing feces: this can suggest discomfort or abdominal pain.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does a normal cat poop look like?

As mentioned above, a healthy cat poop should be brown or deep brown in color (not yellow, not pale, not black), and it should be well formed, like an uncooked sausage. There should be no blood, and no streaks of mucus.

How can I tell if my cat's poop is healthy?

You should monitor your cats poops in the litter box every day, so that you are familiar with the normal appearance and consistency of your cats poo. The answer to whats the scoop about my cats poop is a useful indicator of your cats overall health.

How much should a cat poop in one day?

There are no absolute rules about frequency and quantities of cat poops, but most cats in good general health pass stools once or twice daily, with lengths of four to six inches (10 -15cm) on each occasion.

Why is my cat's poop jelly-like with blood?

This is a sign that your cat's digestive system is inflamed for some reason: the jelly-like appearance means that the wall of the intestine is producing too much mucus, while the blood indicates that blood is oozing from the intestinal wall. These are both events that occur following inflammation of the wall of the intestine. A cat with this type of poop needs to be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Why is my cat's poop mucus?

If there is copious mucus in your cat's poop, this indicates that the wall of the wall of the intestine is inflamed, causing increased production of mucus. There are many possible causes, including parasites and inflammatory bowel disease, and you do need to take your cat to your local veterinarian for this to be investigated further.

Why is my cat's poop yellow?

This is an abnormal finding, and it may indicate a number of different conditions, including coccidiosis, or a bacterial infection or imbalance. You should take your cat to your local veterinarian for this to be investigated further.

How Often Do Cats Poop? Whats Normal & When to Worry (Vet Answer)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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How often your cat poops depend on several factors, such as activity level, water consumption, age, and general health. That said, most cats defecate once every 1236 hours. If more than 36 hours pass, your cat is likely constipated. If your cat has several soft/watery stools in a day, they probably have diarrhea.

For this reason, it is recommended to pay attention to your cats litter box habits to prevent any problems of diarrhea or constipation from worsening.

How Often Should Cats Poop?

Digestion in cats takes an average of 1524 hours. This is the process of turning food into nutrients and absorbing them. It takes between 26 and 35 hours for food to move entirely through the digestive tract of a healthy cat. As a result, most healthy cats will poop once a day. Still, there are healthy cats that defecate twice a day or once every 36 hours.

If your cat defecates more than three times a day or less than once every 1 days, take them to the vet for an evaluation. Your cat may suffer from diarrhea or constipation, respectively, two clinical signs that are usually associated with gastrointestinal disorders.

The 6 Factors That Influence How Often Your Cat Defecates

Certain factors can influence how often your cat poops.

1. Age

Young cats can poop up to three times a day because they consume more food and have a more active metabolism than adult cats. As they age, cats tend to defecate less. Also, very young kittens do not have complete control over their bowel movements.

2. General Health

If your cat suffers from gastrointestinal disorders or other medical conditions, they may defecate more often or less than every 1236 hours. For example, thyroid problems, intestinal worms, or kidney disease can cause your cat to have loose stools and/or frequent diarrhea. In turn, certain medications, spinal problems, or ingested foreign bodies can cause your cat to become constipated.

3. Water Consumption

If your cat drinks enough wateraround 4 oz. per every 5 pounds of body weightthey will defecate regularly. This happens because water acts as an intestinal lubricant. It also moistens the feces, making them softer, which facilitates their passage through the digestive tract.

4. Activity Level

Your cats activity level can influence how often they defecate. If your cat is sedentary, they will have a slower metabolism and defecate less often. Conversely, kittens are very active and can defecate up to three times a day.

5. Diet

If your cat eats more dry food than wet food, they may defecate less than a cat that eats a combination or only wet food. This happens because wet food contains more moisture than dry food.

The quality of the food also matters. Cat food with not enough fiber will not favor bowel movement, and as a result, your pet will defecate less often.

If you suddenly decide to change your cats food, they may suffer from diarrhea because their body has insufficient time to adjust to the new ingredients. Therefore, it is recommended to change your cats food gradually, within 714 days.

6. Environmental Factors

If several pets live in the same environment or there are stressful factors (e.g., loud noises, strong smells, etc.), it is possible for your cat to defecate less often. A common situation is when several cats have to use the same litter box. To ensure that your cat has healthy intestinal transit, it is recommended to have one litter box per cat, plus one extra.

Cleaning your cats litter tray is vital. Some cats will refuse to urinate or defecate in a dirty litter box and choose to do their business in unauthorized places. Where you place the litter box, its shape, and the substrate that you use can also influence your cats bowel habits.

What Does Normal or Healthy Cat Poop Look Like?

If your cat is healthy, their poop will meet the following aspects:

• It should have a formed shape and not be too soft.
• It should not be too hard either. It should have the consistency of modeling clay.
• Cat poop will always smell, but it should not have an unusually bad smell.
• There should be no blood, parasites, or mucus.
• It should be a dark brown color (not clay yellow, gray, black, reddish, etc.)

The size will depend on the size of your cat. Large breed cats will usually have large feces (for example, a Maine Coon cats poop is about 46 inches long).

Is Your Cat Constipated?

Constipation represents your cats inability to pass stool or a decrease in the frequency at which feces are eliminated from their body. If feces remain in your cats intestines for longer than normal, the water they contain is absorbed back into the body. This results in a hard and dry stool that is difficult to pass.

The most common causes of constipation in cats include:

• Dehydration
• Low-fiber diet
• Obesity
• Painful defecation
• Diseases of the spine or other diseases that cause pain
• Ingestion of foreign objects leading to intestinal blockage
• Inflammation of the prostate (in male cats)
• A mass or tumor obstructing the gastrointestinal tract
• Side effects of certain medicines
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Stressful environment
• Dirty litter tray
• Multiple pets in the household

Clinical signs of constipation in cats include:

• No defecation for more than 36 hours
• Passing of hard and dry stools
• Straining when defecating
• Vocalizing when defecating
• Low appetite
• Vomiting
• Multiple trips to the litter box but without elimination
• Abdominal pain
• Lack of grooming

Do Cats Poop Out of Revenge?

Although it may seem that cats urinate or defecate in certain places to take revenge on their owners, this is not true. Cats dont hold grudges because they dont have the same spectrum of emotions as we do.

That said, cats will defecate (and urinate) outside their litter box due to medical problems, unfavorable conditions in their environment (e.g., a dirty litter box, multiple pets, etc.), or to get their owners attention.

If your cat starts adopting this unwanted behavior, a visit to the vet is essential. Do not punish your pet, as you risk causing them even more stress, which can exacerbate this behavior.

When to See a Vet

You should contact the vet whenever there is a change in your cats defecating habits (they are constipated, have diarrhea, or eliminate outside the litter box).

Since there are many causes of constipation and diarrhea, monitoring your cats behavior is recommended. Based on their medical history, anamnesis, clinical signs, and medical examination, the veterinarian will make a correct diagnosis for your cat and come up with an appropriate treatment plan.

Diarrhea and constipation are considered medical problems if they last several days and/or are accompanied by other clinical signs (e.g., lethargy, lack of appetite, bloody stool, lameness, stiff gait, etc.). In some cases, they resolve on their own, and your cat wont need the vets intervention. However, your veterinarian should be contacted whenever your cat has a medical or behavioral problem.

Cats are known for hiding or masking their pain, so if you notice something, you should take steps to address it. Moreover, recurrent constipation can lead to megacolon, a pathological state where the cats colon becomes enlarged, which is why it is best to address the issue before it complicates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Should I Do If My Cat Is Pooping Frequently?

More frequent than normal defecation is considered a sign of diarrhea and often occurs when a cats diet is suddenly changed or they suffer from food allergies and intolerances. It can also happen due to infections or parasite infestations. If your cats diarrhea seems unstoppable and your pet shows other clinical signs (vomiting, blood in the stool, lethargy, etc.), contact the veterinarian. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can be life threatening.

Is It Normal for a Cat to Pass Stool Every 2 Days?

A healthy cat should have a bowel movement once or twice per day and in some cases, once every 36 hours. However, in other cases, the bowel movements may be less frequent. Factors that can delay your cats digestive transit are age, diet, health, water intake, and a sedentary lifestyle. If more than 2 days have passed since your cats last defecation, contact the veterinarian.

Conclusion

Healthy cats usually defecate once every 2436 hours. However, age, activity level, medical condition, diet, water consumption, and environmental factors can make cats poop more or less frequently. If your cat hasnt had a stool for more than 2 days or conversely, they defecate often and have soft/watery stools, contact the veterinarian. In most cases, constipation or diarrhea resolves on its own. But to ensure that your cat is healthy, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended.

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Featured Image Credit: Mikhail Olykainen, Shutterstock