What does colitis poop look like in cats
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.
Ulcerative colitis stool: A visual guide
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a long-term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect stool texture, composition, and frequency. Diarrhea and blood in stool are UC symptoms, but constipation may also occur.
In people with UC, the large intestine, or colon, becomes inflamed to the point that severe ulcerations can develop. These ulcers can also develop in the rectum.
The type of stool symptoms people experience will depend on the location of the inflammation and ulceration within the colon.
This article outlines the various UC stool symptoms, along with the possible treatment options.
Doctors may use the Bristol Stool Chart to help a person recognize healthy bowel movements or identify possible problems.
The stool changes that occur in UC are due to inflammation. Over time, inflammation can damage the lining of the large intestine.
People with UC may experience painful abdominal cramps and a frequent need to empty their bowels.
According to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation, a person with UC may also experience the following symptoms:
- diarrhea
- stool containing mucus or blood
- pain in the abdomen
Crohns & Colitis UK reports that roughly 70% of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have also experienced bowel incontinence the unintended passing of stool, or having an accident.
Also, some people with IBD experience constipation instead of diarrhea.
Learn more about the common stool changes below:
Diarrhea
Diarrhea occurs when the intestinal wall becomes inflamed and the muscles in the colon contract more frequently. This pushes stool through faster, and the colon loses its ability to absorb water from waste.
When waste retains too much water, it results in loose stool.
Blood in stool
Often, the ulcers that form within the lining of the colon can bleed, resulting in bloody stool.
A person who regularly loses a lot of blood in their stool may develop anemia.
Constipation
Although most people with UC have loose stool, some may also experience constipation.
Constipation is
Symptoms of constipation include:
- reduced frequency of bowel movements
- harder stool
- difficulty passing stool
- bloating
- cramping
- feeling that the bowels are not empty even after a bowel movement
Bowel incontinence
Most people with UC tend to experience bowel incontinence during a flare-up of the disease.
However, according to Crohns and Colitis UK, around 1 in 10 people with IBD who experience bowel incontinence will do so during a period of disease remission.
The following factors may cause bowel incontinence:
Increased sensitivity of the rectum
As the rectum becomes inflamed, it will also become more sensitive. Heightened sensitivity in the rectum can cause it to become more active, pushing out stool as soon as it arrives.
IBD surgery
People with severe UC may have surgery to remove all or part of the large intestine.
In pouch surgery, the surgeon replaces the colon with an internal pouch. Some people who undergo this procedure may develop bowel incontinence.
Severe constipation
A buildup of stool can irritate the lining of the rectum, causing an overproduction of mucus.
If the rectum constantly contains stool, the anus muscles relax, allowing the mucus to leak out.
The following UC treatments reduce inflammation that leads to stool symptoms:
- Aminosalicylates: These drugs target inflammation in the lining of the colon.
- Corticosteroids: These are powerful, fast-acting anti-inflammatories used to treat UC flare-ups.
- Immunomodulators: These drugs regulate the immune system.
- Biologics: These drugs target inflammation in the gut.
Treating diarrhea
Experts may recommend that people with IBD avoid taking antidiarrheal medications.
Antidiarrheal drugs can increase the risk of a complication called toxic megacolon, in which digestive gases become trapped in the colon, causing it to swell. In some cases, this can be fatal.
The safest way to treat diarrhea is to make dietary changes. Many people with UC experience diarrhea after eating specific foods.
Keeping a food diary along with a daily record of stool symptoms can help people identify and eliminate these trigger foods.
Reducing blood in stool
A recent study suggests that prebiotics and some
If a person frequently has bloody stool, a doctor may prescribe iron supplements to help prevent anemia.
Treating constipation
The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGG) recommends the following treatments for mild constipation:
- drinking plenty of fluids
- eating fibrous foods such as uncooked fruits and vegetables
- eating whole grain bread and cereals
However, many people with UC find that fibrous foods and whole grains trigger other symptoms, so keeping a food diary can help them identify which foods cause which symptoms.
Other methods for relieving constipation include:
- Squatting while having a bowel movement: Sitting with the knees higher than the hips when using the toilet can help align the rectum, making stool easier to pass.
- Exercising: Exercise helps speed up stool movement through the colon.
- Taking laxatives: Doctors may recommend osmotic laxatives for people with IBD. These increase water availability in the colon, which helps soften stool.
However, it is important that people with UC talk with a doctor before taking laxatives, as these medications can increase gas and stomach cramps.
Managing bowel incontinence
Many people who experience bowel incontinence find it difficult to discuss the issue with a doctor.
However, a doctor may be able to identify the underlying cause of a leaky bowel and can offer advice on how to manage this symptom.
Some suggestions for managing bowel incontinence include:
Bowel retraining
People who experience a sense of urgency may benefit from delaying bowel movements. This technique is called bowel retraining.
Although bowel retraining may be difficult at first. Over time, it can help build strength and control over the rectum and sphincter muscles.
Pelvic floor exercises
The pelvic floor muscles support the pelvic organs, which include the bladder and bowel, as well as the uterus in women.
Pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen the muscles around the anus, reducing incontinence. To find the pelvic floor muscles, imagine stopping a urine stream or practice this while urinating.
To perform pelvic floor exercises, contract and hold the pelvic floor muscles for a count of 3, and then relax the muscles, while slowly counting to 3. Avoid pushing out the muscle during the relaxation stage.
Repeat this 15 times to complete one set of exercises. Aim to complete three sets each day.
UC can also cause other symptoms. The Crohns and Colitis Foundation notes that people with UC may also experience:
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- abdominal cramps
- anemia
- eye issues, such as redness or vision changes
- mouth sores
- joint pain and swelling
- skin problems, such as rashes or sores
Treatment may also cause side effects, though this can depend on the specific medication.
People with UC may experience uncomfortable, inconvenient, and sometimes distressing stool symptoms. These can greatly affect a persons quality of life.
However, treatment can help those with UC experience fewer and less severe symptoms.
It is recommended that a person discuss the options with a doctor to establish the most effective treatment plan.
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