What does unhealthy cat poop look like
What Should My Cats Poop Look Like?
As gross as it might seem, keeping close tabs on what your kittys stool looks like may actually help you catch health problems early.
While most of us try to clean out the litter box as quickly as possible and be done with it, taking just a few seconds to learn whats normal for your cat and noting when there are changes is actually very importantand extremely helpful for your veterinarian.
Read on to learn what is considered normal for most cats and what some of the changes in your cats poop might mean.
Monitoring Your Cats Poop
There are a number of things to look to when trying to determine if your cats poop is normal. The most important factor is getting a feel for what the stool usually looks and smells like when your cat is not having any issues.
The first factors to consider include the color and consistency of the stool. Although a cats stool is often covered in cat litter, simply breaking it in half as you scoop it will help you get a good look at the color and a feel for the texture without any extra effort.
A quick look at the surface of the stool will help you to determine whats a normal amount of mucus (that shiny coating on the surface of the poop) for your kitty. You should also check for any unusual objects (like hair ties or milk jug rings!) in your cats poop.
Next, try to determine approximately how often your kitty defecates. Are you finding stool in the box once a day? Twice? More than that? If the frequency changes over time, thats very important to note.
And perhaps the last factor to take daily note of is the hardest to misswhat is the normal smell for your pets stool? This may vary from day to day, but if it suddenly becomes much more pungent, there may be some cause for concern.
Changes in one or more of these parameters, especially if theyre combined with alterations in your cats attitude or appetite, can be critical in diagnosing an illness early.
If you are noticing any changes, ask these questions:
Is there a reasonable explanation?
Did you change your cats food or treats?
Is there something that could have caused your cat stress (recent move, new people or guests in the house, construction noise, stray cats, or different schedules)?
Is your cat not acting normally? What is normal will also be different for each animal and can depend on things like age, exercise level, or diet.
Cat Stool Guide
Use this guide to determine what normal cat poop should look like and when there might be an issue.
Normal Cat Poop
Knowing whats normal for your kittys poop is key and will quickly help you determine when things arent right. This is a general guideline for normal stool in cats, but you should also go by what youve found to be normal for your cat.
Color(s):
Typical stool will generally be a chocolate brown to a deep brown color.
Consistency:
The most common shape is like a large Tootsie Roll, with some segmentation (lumps) present. It is usually easy to break open and will continue to hold its shape once broken or moved.
Smell:
The English language is quite deficient in describing smells (how does one describe the smell of popcorn or pizza?), and the same is true for describing the smell of normal cat poop! It certainly does have an odor, as cats use their stool as part of a territory-marking routine, but it shouldnt stink up the entire house. After a few minutes, the smell associated with normal cat stool should be limited to the immediate area around the litter pan.
Frequency:
Most cats will pass stool at least once per day. Some cats will pass stool more or less frequently, but on average, once a day is to be expected.
Abnormal Cat Poop
If you notice any of the following signs, take a photo of the stool in the box and put the stool into a container in case your veterinarian would like to examine it.
Colors:
Red, especially if its bright red and seemingly on the surface of the stool, may indicate fresh blood coming from the colon or end of the digestive tract. This should be investigated quickly.
Black/TarryIf the entire stool looks black and tarry when you break it open, this is often a sign of digested blood coming from higher up in the intestinal tract, such as the stomach or small intestine. This should also be investigated quickly.
Light Brown/Tan color often means that the food is not completely digested.
Orange/Yellow coloration often indicates that the liver or gallbladder is not functioning as well as it normally should.
Green color can be caused by eating plants and grass, but it can also indicate the presence of bacterial infection.
Consistency:
Hard Pebbles often indicate some degree of constipationor dehydration.
Soft/Mushy Stool that is still able to hold its shape often indicates a short-term upset in the digestive tract that should be monitored closely. If it doesnt resolve within a day or so, or any other signs of illness are present, consult your veterinarian.
Liquid stools or diarrhea means that you should consult your veterinarian right away.
Smell(s):
Very smelly stools usually mean that somethings out of balance in the digestive system. This can range from not tolerating the diet well to inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, parasites, stress, or other systemic disease.
Metallic smells usually indicate that iron is in the stool, which can be a sign of blood in the stool.
Frequency:
If your cat is defecating more often than once a day (if this is their usual frequency) or the stool does not look normal, there is cause for concern.
Something in the Poop:
Mucus may be normal in small amounts and often indicates that there is some inflammation present in the lower intestinal tract (colon).
Hair often means that your kitty is grooming more than normal, and since it is not digested, hair will pass through the intestinal tract and into the stool. In small amounts, this is considered normal.
Tapeworms are a very common parasite usually transmitted to cats by fleas. They often appear like rice-like grains under the tail or in the poop that might be alive and wiggling.
String/floss may be present either in the stool or hanging from the cats rectum after they defecate. If you notice anything coming out of your cats rectum, do not pull it out. Call your veterinarian for guidance. Pulling on the item could potentially cause significant damage to your cats intestinal tract.
Other objects that your cat eats may also come out in their stool. Some common finds include hair ties, bits of toys, and even plastic milk top twisties. If your cat seems to be acting normally and the item has fully passed, everything should be okay, but its always wise to call to your veterinarian to make sure additional treatment isnt needed.
What to Do if Your Cats Poop Isnt Normal
Call your vet right away if your cats poop looks abnormal and you notice any of the following:
Blood in your cats stool
Your cat is acting strange or seems unwell
Your cat is lethargic
Stool that is pure liquid
Black or tarry stool
Something hanging out of your cats rectum
If you notice that your cats stool isnt normal but your cat doesnt have other symptoms, monitor the litter box carefully to see if things resolve within a day or two. If the stool is still not normal over the next 24-48 hours, its time to call the vet.
It is usually helpful to take a photo of the stool in the litter box and save the poop in a bag or container for your veterinarian to look at as well.
Many say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. This may be true, but it is also very true that your cats intestinal tractparticularly the stoolis the window to their overall health. Monitoring your cats stool closely is a very effective and easy way to help your vet identify and diagnose problems early.
Featured Image: iStock.com/CasarsaGuru
Types of Poop, Color Chart, and More
Stool comprises digested food, proteins, bacteria, salts, and other substances produced and released by your intestines. What your poop looks like can be important. Unexpected changes could be a sign of an underlying condition.
We all do it. For some, its a necessary inconvenience. For others, its a pleasant and satisfying part of the digestive process. It has fascinated toddlers since time immemorial, and theres a reason for that.
Going number two might not be the prettiest topic for a dinner party, but theres much to learn from this mundane yet mysterious process. In the end (no pun intended), its simply a part of our functioning body.
So, what exactly is poop? Although everyone is unique in the size, shape, and smell of their poop, there are a few things that indicate a healthy (or unhealthy) poop.
Healthy poop can be as varied and as unique as the individuals who make it. But there are a few general rules to follow if you want to assess your poo artistry for optimum health.
Color
The poop emoji has one thing right: the brown coloring. The combination of stomach bile and bilirubin, which is a pigment compound formed from the breakdown of red blood cells in the body, gets the credit for this oh-so-lovely shade of brown.
Shape
A somewhat log-like shape is how most poop should come out due to its formation within the intestines. However, as well get to later, there are a variety of shapes that poop can have.
When they differentiate from the log shape, thats when your poop is trying to tell you somethings up.
Size
Poops shouldnt come out in small pellets something else well get to later but instead should be a couple of inches in length and comfortable and easy to pass.
Consistency
Anywhere between a firm and soft consistency is pretty much normal. If it sways too much one way or another, it could suggest some digestion or fiber issues.
Length of time
A commonly heard joke is that when someone takes too long in the bathroom, it must mean theyre pooping. A healthy poop, however, should be easy to pass and take only a minute or so to push out.
That said, some people do spend a bit more time on the toilet, so as a general rule, a poop should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
Frequency
Fun fact: Did you know most people poop around the same time every day?
On average, a person with healthy digestion will poop anywhere between every other day to three times a day. Any less could suggest possible constipation. This means you need some more water to move the boat.
The Bristol stool chart is an overarching indicator of how and why different types of poops look or feel a certain way.
Its broken up into seven categories based on a
Type 1: Marbles
Appearance: Hard and separate little lumps that look like nuts and are hard to pass.
Indicates: These little pellets typically mean youre constipated. It shouldnt happen frequently.
Type 2: Caterpillar
Appearance: Log-shaped but lumpy.
Indicates: Here we have another sign of constipation that, again, shouldnt happen frequently.
Type 3: Hot dog
Appearance: Log-shaped with some cracks on the surface.
Indicates: This is the gold standard of poop, especially if its somewhat soft and easy to pass.
Type 4: Snake
Appearance: Smooth and snake-like.
Indicates: Doctors also consider this a normal poop that should happen every 13 days.
Type 5: Amoebas
Appearance: Small, like the first ones, but soft and easy to pass; the blobs also have clear-cut edges.
Indicates: This type of poop means youre lacking fiber and should find ways to add some to your diet through cereal or vegetables.
Type 6: Soft serve
Appearance: Fluffy and mushy with ragged edges.
Indicates: This too-soft consistency could be a sign of mild diarrhea. Try drinking more water and electrolyte-infused beverages to help improve this.
Type 7: Jackson Pollock
Appearance: Completely watery with no solid pieces.
Indicates: In other words, youve got the runs or diarrhea. This means your stool moved through your bowels very quickly and didnt form into a healthy poop.
As with size and consistency, poops color can be a helpful signal about whats going on within your body. As we previously mentioned, varying shades of brown are considered the norm.
Even a hint of green is considered healthy. But if your poop is veering toward other ends of the rainbow, you might want to assess.
Black
If youve had licorice, iron supplements, or bismuth medications (such as Pepto-Bismol), that could be the explanation behind black stool.
If you havent had any of that, black poop could be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
It may seem like red would be a more likely color for this sort of concern, but since its taken a while to travel down, its older and darker.
Green
While hints of green are quite normal, if your poop has gone from brown to full green, it may mean one of two things. Youve added lots of green foods like spinach to your diet, or your stools are passing through you too fast.
When it doesnt pick up as much brown-tinting bilirubin, it has more bile salts that turn it this color.
Pale, white, or clay
If your poop is a chalky light shade, it might mean youre lacking bile. Bile is a digestive fluid that comes from your liver and gallbladder, so if youre producing white stool, it probably means your duct is blocked.
Pale poop could also be a side effect of certain medications like anti-diarrhea medicine. Either way, if it continues, consult with a healthcare professional.
Red
Youre probably not surprised to hear that red poop can mean bleeding, either due to hemorrhoids or bleeding in the lower intestinal tract. If your stool is a little red, however, there may be no need to fret immediately.
There are other, less serious reasons for this change in color. Foods like beets, cranberries, red gelatin, or tomato juice can turn poop red as well.
Yellow
Greasy, stinky, yellow stool is typically a sign of too much fat. This could also be a direct relation to a malabsorption disorder like celiac disease, where your body isnt absorbing enough nutrients.
If your poop looks bright yellow, it could signify a condition called giardiasis, which is caused by an intestinal parasite in North America and the world.
Typically, you can develop giardiasis from contaminated water or exposure to someone with the condition.
Now and again, when you take a look in the toilet bowl, youll see poop bobbing like a toy sailboat in the bathtub. As alarming as this seems, it means that the stool is less dense than the others that sink.
One potential reason for this lack of density can come from an increased amount of gas or water or even a high fiber diet.
Its also possible that malabsorption is, once again, the reason for a floating stool. If this is the case, the other abnormalities previously mentioned, like slight constipation, might also be present.
Constipation is defined as having fewer than 3 bowel movements per week.
There could be many reasons you experience this lack of pooping. Nerve issues in and around the colon or rectum may slow down pooping, as can problems with pelvic muscles.
Conditions that affect hormones, like pregnancy or diabetes, could also be the culprit.
If youre experiencing this clogged-up feeling, add more high fiber foods to your diet, like beans, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Drinking fluids, staying active, and managing stress can also help alleviate constipation.
If a diet change doesnt seem to get things moving, constipation could be caused by certain medications or even a blockage in the bowel. Talking with a doctor is the best course of action to find relief in this instance.
A green poop here or hard poop there happens to the best of us. When this type of irregularity carries on for more than a day or two, you should take action and talk with a doctor. The same goes for changes in color or consistency or constipation.
Chronic constipation can obstruct the bowels, while chronic diarrhea can make it difficult for a person to absorb necessary nutrients from food. Both chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea could even be a sign of more serious conditions.
Again, the first sign of either of these should not be immediate cause for concern, but keep an eye on it and see if it lasts more than a few days.
That said, pay attention to any signs of blood. If you havent eaten any of the foods mentioned above that could turn your poop into this color, consult with a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
As quick as we are to write it off, our poop can provide a wealth of knowledge about our health and ourselves. So, next time you pop a squat, take note of whats going on. The toilet bowl is a window into your health and you.
What do unhealthy bowel movements look like?
Unhealthy bowel movements can vary but may include diarrhea (loose, watery stools), constipation (hard, difficult-to-pass stools), or changes in frequency or texture that persist.
What does your stool type mean?
Stool type can indicate digestive health. Type 1 indicates severe constipation, while type 7 suggests diarrhea. Types 3 and 4 are considered typical, with 4 being the ideal sausage shape and smooth texture.
What is type 46 stool?
Type 46 stool refers to the Bristol Stool Scale, a tool for classifying stool types. Type 4 is smooth and soft, like a sausage or snake. Type 6 is fluffy with ragged edges, indicating mild diarrhea.
What is type 5 stool consistency?
Type 5 stool is soft blobs with clear-cut edges, considered a borderline typical stool consistency on the Bristol Stool Scale.
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Emily Rekstis is a New York City-based beauty and lifestyle writer who writes for many publications, including Greatist, Racked, and Self. If shes not writing at her computer, you can probably find her watching a mob movie, eating a burger, or reading an NYC history book. See more of her work on her website, or follow her on Twitter.
