Why is my cats poop so hard and dry
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.
Cat Poop Chart Is Your Cats Poop Normal?
Cat Poop Chart Is Your Cats Poop Normal?
A cats digestive habits can offer a peak into their overall health. While it may seem a bit gross to examine your cats poop, its an easy way to ensure that you are offering a diet that works for them.
Not only can your cats stool give you the okay on their food intake, but changes in their poop can point to developing illness as well. So how do you know if your cats poop is normal?
In this article we will discuss the many forms of cat poop that you may see in the litter box, and help you understand what healthy stool should look like in our feline friends!
What Does Poop Tell You About The Health Of Your Cat?
Before we dive into the different types of cat poop, you should first be aware of just how important it is to stay on top of your cats litter box habits.
While we tend to think of our cats poop as something we should quickly scoop and avoid looking at, a quick glance is more helpful than you may think.
A cats poop appearance can tell you quite a bit about their digestive health. Their stool can be a direct reflection of how theyre feeling, and if they are battling any unseen medical complications.
Some of the many conditions that can affect the appearance of your cats poop include:
- Food intolerance
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Intestinal parasites
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Digestive abnormalities
- Kidney and liver disease
- Toxicities
- And more
What Does Healthy Cat Poop Look Like?
If you are going to identify abnormal poop in your feline friend, you must first know what healthy cat poop looks like.
Cat droppings can come in many forms, but there is a general description of what you should expect in a healthy cat. Healthy cat poop should be classified by normal color, consistency, and frequency.
Healthy cat poop should be formed (yet pliable) and brown in color. Cats should also have at least one bowel movement a day, or at least follow a normal schedule in terms of their litter box habits.
Not only should their poop be brown in color, but the color should not change if their diet remains the same. If their stool texture or color ever has a sudden change in appearance, its best to contact your veterinarian for further advice.
What Are The Different Types of Cat Poop?
Now that we have discussed what healthy cat poop should look like in a cat, lets dive into our detailed cat stool guide.
Changes in a cats diet and health can cause abrupt changes in their poop, making it important to be aware of all the stool forms you may see.
To better understand your furry friend going forward, lets discuss the different types of cat poop.
Hard Balls Or Pebbles
Hard balls or pebbles of cat poop can point to constipation in your furry friend. This stool will often be a rich brown color, and may occur inside or outside of the litter box.
You may notice your cat straining each time they attempt to pass stool, or may take longer in the litter box than usual. Some cats are even noticeable struggling each time they have a bowel movement, or may begin to avoid the litter box all together.
Not only will constipation cause their stool to be noticeably hard, but you may also notice that litter does not stick to this stool.
Stool in constipated cats will often lack moisture, meaning litter will have nothing to cling to.
Poop in constipated cats will also be in hard segmented balls, as their stool is often separated during passing due to struggling so much.
Sausage Shaped & Slightly Firm
Sausage shaped stool that has the consistency of soft playdough is a sign of a healthy digestive system.
This often means that your cat is responding well to their daily diet, and are likely free of any intestinal parasites that cause diarrhea.
This stool should be brown in color, and remain consistent in texture and color as long as their diet remains the same. Litter will also stick to this form of cat poop, as each passing will contain some moisture.
Formed but Slightly Mushy
Formed by slightly mushy stool can be normal in some cats, but may also point to minor irritation in their digestive tract.
This description refers to stool that can still be easily scooped when cleaning the litter box, but may seem to contain more moisture than usual.
The stool may also have a more pungent smell than their usual stool, and may even have a slight change in color.
Mushy stool does not have to be a major cause of concern, but should be monitored for any additional changes.
If their stool resolves back to its usual form within 24-72 hours and is not accompanied by any other symptoms, you generally have nothing to worry about.
Mushy Blobs
If your cats stool is in the form of mushy blobs, this can be a sign that they are lacking fiber in their diet or are beginning to show signs of gastrointestinal upset.
Mushy stool may stick to the scoop when you are trying to clean their litter box, and will likely have a change in color from their usual stool.
Not only will this form of poop have a change in appearance, but it may also have a more pungent odor.
This type of stool can tell you that your cat needs a bit more fiber in their diet, but if their diet has remained the same, this likely points to another underlying issue.
Sudden mushy stool should warrant a trip to the vet, as this could mean your cat is displaying symptoms of a developing illness.
Mushy & Very Challenging To Scoop
If a cat is passing mushy stool that is unable to be scooped, this is often considered to be diarrhea.
Diarrhea in cats may vary in color, and will often be accompanied by a strong odor. Your cat may be passing stool frequently, and may be displaying other gastrointestinal symptoms as well.
The sudden appearance of diarrhea in your cats litter box can point to gastrointestinal illness, intestinal parasites, or other complications that can cause GI upset.
Diarrhea should always warrant an immediate trip to the vet, as this requires medical intervention to treat.
Liquid Diarrhea
This type of diarrhea is extremely watery, and is unable to be scooped unless it is coated in litter.
Liquid diarrhea in cats is never normal, and always points to some type of underlying complication.
Diarrhea is not necessarily a disease in itself, but rather a symptom to another cause. Because of this, liquid diarrhea in cats should always lead to a prompt visit to your veterinarian.
Liquid diarrhea in cats is a serious symptom, and will lead to dehydration if it is not addressed quickly. Not only can liquid diarrhea cause dehydration, but it is also extremely uncomfortable for our feline friends.
If your cat is experiencing diarrhea of any kind, you should always contact your veterinarian for further advice.
My Cat Has Hard Poop
If your cat has hard poop, you may be wondering how to get them through their constipation. If your cat is still able to pass their stool and is not straining too much in the litter box, then there are a few changes you can implement in their routine.
First, you can monitor their daily water intake and make sure they are spending enough time at their water bowl.
If you dont think they are consuming enough water, you can entice them by purchasing a cat water fountain, putting more water bowls around your home, or even flavoring their water with a taste they enjoy.
Another option you can consider is discussing your cats daily diet with your veterinarian. Your vet may be able to recommend a diet that has more fiber, or may even point you in the direction of cat approved laxatives and probiotics.
Some cats also benefit from a prescribed laxative in severe cases of constipation.
Another way to relieve constipation in our feline friends is through daily exercise or weight loss. Obese cats struggle with constipation more than others, and can benefit from daily exercise to help promote bowel movement.
If your overweight cat is struggling with constipation, it may be time to implement more daily exercise.
My Cat Has Loose Poop
If your cat has loose poop, it is usually best to visit your veterinarian. While slightly loose stools that only last for a couple days may not be a major cause of concern, anything that lasts longer than 48 hours or transitions into diarrhea should be taken seriously.
Loose stool can be due to minor GI upset or inflammation, but diarrhea is often a symptom of something more.
Diarrhea in cats can be a result of dietary indiscretion, unhealthy diet, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, kidney disease, liver disease, and many other medical complications.
Diarrhea in cats can quickly lead to dehydration, so we always suggest contacting your veterinarian for further advice.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are multiple types of cat poop that can point to different issues in our feline friends. Be sure to review the information that we discussed above, and you can stay on top of your cats digestive health going forward!
My name is Amber. I am a dedicated animal lover that turned my passion into my career. I am a Licensed Vet Tech with 12 years of experience in veterinary medicine, but I recently took my career online to help spread accurate information on animal care. With how vast the online world is, I have a strong desire to ensure that the reader always walks away with helpful pet advice. With the experience Ive gained from my time in this field, I have been able to travel the world, offering my services to as many animal rescues as I can find. If I am not at my laptop, or back home visiting family, you can find me somewhere in the world, cuddling every furry friend that I can find! More About Us
