What Your Cat’s Poop Says About Their Health

health, tips

Litter box duty is probably the least glamorous aspect of living with a cat. It’s messy, stinks, and solidifies your role as your cat’s personal servant. But your cat’s poop can also give you clues about your cat's health. Here’s the scoop on what your cat’s poop should look like and when you should be concerned.

What does healthy cat poop look like?

Normal cat poop should be medium brown and log-shaped, with an odor that is not overly strong or offensive. Your cat should be able to pass stool easily without prolonged straining, and there shouldn’t be any foreign material present in the stool. Cat poop can vary slightly in color, consistency, and odor, but abrupt or drastic changes can be signs of an issue.

Cat stool color

Cat poop is usually a deep brown color. The shade can vary slightly, but overt color changes aren’t regular. Here are what some color changes may mean:

Dark brown/black:
Digested blood appears black, so a dark, tarry stool often indicates bleeding higher up in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, such as the stomach. Melena — the technical word for dark blood in the stool — has many potential causes, including bleeding stomach ulcers, hookworms, cancer, and toxin ingestion.

Red:
Hematochezia is a fancy word for the presence of frank blood in the stool. Cats can have frank red blood in their poop if they are experiencing blood loss in the large colon, rectum, or anus.

Yellow/green:
Stool with a yellow, green, or orange tint could indicate liver or gallbladder issues.

Cat stool consistency

The ideal consistency for poop is formed and semi-firm yet pliable, like fresh Play-Doh. There may be mild variation day to day, but nothing too drastic.

Hard stool:
Hard, dry stool could indicate constipation. Dehydration is a common cause of constipation, especially in senior cats. Dehydration can result from kidney disease, diabetes, or poor water intake. Other causes of constipation include a low fiber diet, certain medications, and avoiding the litter box due to hygiene or pain issues.

Loose or watery stool:
Diarrhea often occurs when inflammation in the GI tract interferes with fluid absorption. Inflammation can develop secondary to dietary indiscretion, stress, infection, parasites, or intestinal disease. Persistent or large-volume diarrhea can lead to dehydration.

Slimy, mucoid stool:
Mucus is a normal part of digestion, and seeing a small amount of mucus on your cat’s poop is not cause for concern. However finding feces that is coated with an excessive amount of milky mucus can be a sign of inflammation in the GI tract.

Cat stool content

Normal cat stool shouldn’t contain anything extra. Additional material or organisms you may see in your cat’s stool include:

Hair:
Spotting the occasional piece of hair is expected, as swallowing a little bit of hair is a normal part of a cat’s grooming process. However, finding large clumps of fur is not normal and may be a sign that your cat is overgrooming or has an issue causing hair loss. Reasons for cats to overgroom include stress, anxiety, allergies, and skin parasites.

Tapeworms:
Tapeworm segments look like small grains of rice coating a cat’s stool. Cats typically get tapeworms from ingesting fleas.

Roundworms:
Finding what looks like pieces of spaghetti (sorry for all the food references) usually indicates a roundworm infestation. Roundworms can cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, reduced appetite, and poor coat quality in cats. Healthy adult cats often do not have any symptoms (except for the spaghetti in the poop), but they can still pass the parasite along to other cats and humans.

Foreign objects:
Your cat should be able to fully digest everything that they eat, so there shouldn’t be any foreign material present in their poop. If your cat eats something that is not food, like a hair tie or piece of a toy, it may end up in their stool. The alternative is the object getting stuck in the GI tract, which can cause vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain. Some kitties are attracted to linear objects like yarn and shoe laces. Swallowing these is a huge no-no and can cause dangerous intestinal obstructions.

Cat stool odor

Of course, your cat’s stool will have an odor. It’s poop, after all. While your cat’s poop isn’t going to smell like roses, it shouldn’t make you gag from across the room. Tritrichomonas foetus, a single-celled protozoan, is known to make a cat’s feces super stinky. Intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth can cause cat stool to have a foul odor.

How often should a cat poop?

In general, most adult cats poop once or twice a day. Factors like age, diet, water intake, and overall health will affect how often a cat poops. While at least one bowel movement a day is considered normal, it's not unusual for some cats to poop more or less frequently. Excessive trips to the litter box may be caused by inflammation, causing a constant urge to go. Infrequent bowel movements or straining to poop are consistent with constipation.

Tips for preventing kitty poop problems

Clean the litter box regularly so you can easily monitor any changes in your cat’s stool and prevent litter box avoidance.
Feed a high-quality, highly digestible diet like Smalls fresh food to help prevent diarrhea, constipation, and other digestive issues.
Ensure your cat has access to fresh water at all times.
Stay on top of routine veterinary care to prevent intestinal parasites and to help catch health problems early.
Create a chill environment for your cat to minimize the likelihood of stress-related diarrhea or constipation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my cat pooping outside of the box?

A cat may poop outside the litter box for behavioral or medical reasons. Behavioral reasons can include stress, anxiety, disapproval of the litter box’s location, or refusal to use a soiled litter box. Possible medical issues include inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, or arthritis. Be sure to rule out medical issues if your cat is using the bathroom in inappropriate places.

How often should I check my cat’s poop?

Ideally, you should check your cat’s poop daily. This will give you a good sense of what is normal for your cat and help you catch changes quickly. If you notice abnormalities in your cat’s stool, contact your veterinarian.

What should I do if my cat is straining in the litter box?

Straining in the litter box can be a sign of constipation, diarrhea, or difficulty urinating (which is a medical emergency). Seek veterinary attention immediately if your cat is straining in or outside of the litter box.