How Often Should a Cat Poop? How to Help Your Cat Poop Regularly?

Have you ever wondered how often should a cat poop? Perhaps you’ve noticed that your feline pal hasn’t been passing stool regularly. And her litter box has been noticeably clean the past few days. Should you be worried at all? This article will attempt to answer these questions.

Regular bowel movement in cats

Most veterinarians agree that cats aren’t different from their human masters—they should poop at least once a day.

The poop of your cat can give you an idea on your cat’s health. Healthy cats excrete bowel that’s deep brown in color. It also doesn’t look too soft or too hard. While cats’ poop has that distinctive odor, it shouldn’t have a smell that’s too foul either.

If your cat move bowels thrice a day then don’t fret. It’s pretty normal.

According to veterinarian Richard Goldstein, a professor at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, cats can defecate up to three times a day. The frequency of their poop would depend on the food they eat.

What’s worrisome is when your cat doesn’t move bowels for more than two days. If that happens, then you should bring your cat to a vet immediately.

If you catch your cat pooping, try to observe the way she passes stool. A healthy cat should be able to pass stool without discomfort.

Should you notice that your cat strains a lot when she attempts to poop, then there’s a good chance she is constipated.

Constipation

Like in humans, constipation is a fairly common problem in cats. Aside from difficulty in passing stool, the following are some of the signs of this health problem:

• Dry, hard feces
• Infrequent defecation
• Vomiting
• Limited number of feces
• Liquid stool with traces of mucus or blood
• Lethargy
• Poor appetite
• Vomiting

There are many possible causes of constipation like chronic diseases such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and kidney diseases.

Another disease, called megacolon, may also contribute to this condition. Megacolon is characterized by the large intestine not functioning normally.

Constipation can also be due to arthritis, as cats can’t poop in the litter box regularly.

As a result, cats tend to hold their stool longer. Most old cats suffer from arthritis and constipation.

Obesity and lack of exercise can also lead to constipation. Physical activity stimulates muscle contractions, which makes it easier for feces to move through the colon.

Diarrhea

But what if your cat passes stool multiple times a day? Worse, what if her stool is loose?

Your cat is likely to be suffering from diarrhea if you notice these signs. Don’t worry, as diarrhea is also quite common for felines.

There are many reasons why cats suffer from diarrhea. It can be due to changes in their diet. Food allergies or intolerances may also result to cat diarrhea.

Other common causes of diarrhea are intestinal parasites, as well as diseases like hyperthyroidism, pancreatic disease, and cancer.

​Just like in humans, diarrhea in cats that last for 48 hours should not be a cause of concern. But if the condition persists for more than three days, you might want to see a veterinarian. Diarrhea can cause dehydration.

You should also watch out for other warning signs like black or bloody stool, or if the cat is sick with fever, lacks appetite, and sluggish.​

Treatment of a cat suffering from diarrhea would depend largely on the cause. Prescription medications like prednisolone may be given to control the inflammation.​

If there’s food allergy or intolerance, a special diet may be recommended by the vet.

Since diarrhea is also caused by changes in diet, you should introduce a new type of food to your cat over several days. Mix the new food with the food to be replaced until your cat eventually consumes the new stuff.

How to make your cat poop regularly

So how can you help your cat defecate on a more regular basis?

You can start by increasing her water intake. You should add more water to dry food, or use running water sources to achieve this goal.

Take a look about how to select water fountains for your cat here.

You should also encourage your cat to lose weight by being more active. Perhaps you should devote more time playing more with her. Controlling her weight can be achieved by giving her a high fiber diet.

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Related:

• [Infographic] 16 Harmful Foods That Cats Should Not Eat
• A Guide On Choosing The Best Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach
• No More Cat’s Dirty Paws Anymore! Read The Guide To 5 Best Cat Litter Mat

Conclusion

As you have learned after reading this article, cats are just like humans. They need to defecate at least once a day. Sometimes, they can pass stool two to three times a day. Don’t worry, as that’s just normal.

Felines can also suffer from constipation and diarrhea, similar to their human masters. The good news is that a cat parent like you can do a lot of things to help your pet suffering from the said digestive problems.