Of course, if one cat is ill, the others may be, too. If you notice a serious issue with one cat, try to isolate them with their own litter box until you can bring them to the vet. Believe it or not, your cat's stool can tell you a lot about their well-being. By incorporating a stool check into your daily litter box maintenance routine, you can help to keep them in tip-top shape and provide your cat with a clean, healthy environment.
Christine O'Brien is a writer, mom, and long-time cat parent whose two Russian Blues rule the house. Her work also appears in Care. Find and follow her on Instagram and Twitter brovelliobrien. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement.
About our Ads. Cookie Consent Tool. Belgium - Belgique. Brazil - Brasil. Canada English. Costa Rica. Croatia - Hrvatska. Denmark - Danmark. Finland - Suomi. France - France. Germany - Deutschland. Greater China - Taiwan. Italy - Italia. Latvia - Latvija. Malaysia Bahasa. And what if that poop is ending up outside the box? There is no specific frequency or timetable for cats to poop. It definitely varies from cat to cat.
As a general rule of thumb, cats will poop once, maybe twice a day. Healthy poop will typically be dark brown in color and not too soft or too hard. Issues with cat poop or changes in bathroom habits can be caused by a number of issues, from illnesses to anxiety. Inflammatory Bowel Disease IBD is a chronic syndrome caused by irritation in the gastrointestinal tract that results in painful inflammation.
Over time, this inflammation can turn normal tissue into fibrous scar-like tissue. Symptoms of IBD can include diarrhea, blood in the stool, and going to the bathroom more often than usual. Food with a new protein source or one that is high in fiber can be helpful.
Cats can suffer from tummy issues and poop problems if they are depressed or anxious, which can happen to any cat for a variety of reasons. For example, separation anxiety, changes in routine, a new baby or pet in the home, or not getting enough interaction can all be causes for a deeply saddened or stressed out kitty.
In some cases, cats just need time to adjust to a new situation. You can also address the issue on your own by giving your cat more attention if you think loneliness or boredom are behind these behavioral changes. Prescription medications can sometimes help quell anxiety or alleviate depression. This can be caused by lots of factors, such as:.
If your cat is constipated, give your vet a call for advice, especially if you suspect some sort of blockage or illness. Your cat may need surgery to remove the obstruction or treatment for the specific ailment. To help alleviate constipation, your vet may prescribe a stool softener, laxative, or other medication. Constipation can also be helped by:.
Check out our Infographic of pet-safe fruits and veggies for ideas. It might just be that your cat had a bit of constipation and strained too hard while trying to go.
Severe sign, needs immediate attention. Orange — Usually indicates way too much bile in stool, can occur with reflux. Seek medical advice. Yellow — Almost always indicates bacterial imbalance in the bowel.
If has diarrhea also, usually related to coccidia. White — Grossly abnormal color, usually indicates, severe bacterial imbalance and severe infection in the bowel. Kitten at risk of dying, needs medical attention, ASAP. Formed but soft — Low range of normal.
If stools change from firm to soft you should seek medical advice. Toothpaste — Still has somewhat tubular form but falls apart once touched.
Abnormal, needs medication. Abnormal, animal is at significant risk and needs immediate attention. Liquidy — Just fluid that falls out of rectum, thin and may have mucous. Abnormal, animal is at severe risk and must be seen immediately. Grossly abnormal, animal in danger of dying, must be seen immediately! Quick snap but not immediate — Hydrated. Monitor other signs to be sure the kitten is overall full body hydrated. Snap back within one second — Adequate hydration. However, if any other signs , this animal is at risk and needs constant care.
Needs immediate aggressive treatment. Intense yellow — Concentrated urine. Animal is not getting enough fluid for total body hydration. Needs immediate care. Yellow — Mildly concentrated urine. Monitor closely and if any other signs , seek care immediately.
Light yellow — Mildly dilute urine. Overall body hydration should be adequate if no kidney disease. Pale yellow — Dilute urine.
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