How Many Times A Day Should A Cat Poop? Here’s The Answer

Want to know how many times a cat should defecate?

In this article, you will learn –

1) How many times in a day your cat should poop

2) Different timing for different categorized cat

3) When to worry and when not to worry about cat pooping.

4) & Few critical warnings

Let’s get started

You can tell a lot about your cat’s health from his poop. From how it looks, how it smells, its consistency, and how frequent they are being eliminated.

Whether it is your first time to own a cat or you have had one for quite some time, cat poop or pooping, in general, is still an undesirable topic to talk about.

Cats can’t tell when they need to go to the bathroom. It is up to you to monitor their cat litter box, not only to make sure they are tidy, but to inspect the poop’s appearance, smell, and the amount and frequency of their waste.

How Often Should My Cat Poop?

The general rule of paw, as with humans, the cat should pass at least once daily. This bowel movement should be formed but not too hard, with the usual brown color. Most importantly, they should be able to pass it without sweat or discomfort.

If your cat displays signs that don’t match up to what the general rule of paw says – not as frequent, poor consistency, or smelly.

Especially if it has been going on for more than a day or two, then it is time to consult with your vet as there could be an underlying reason for what your cat manifests.

All About Cat Poop

There are more than a few things to consider when you are trying to figure out how often your cat should defecate. While generally, they should defecate at least once a day, sometimes the situation they are in just won’t allow them, too.

Here are some situations you must take into consideration:

How Old Is Your Cat?

Don’t let the rule of paw confuse you if you are someone who just brought home a kitten. Since they are still relatively young, their digestive systems are still developing, therefore it is normal for them to pass on more than once a day.

However, as they grow out of kittenhood, they should be able to use the bathroom less frequently. Then, eventually lay down roots to form regular habits.

How Active Is Your Cat?

Less active cats may not pass as much as those who get some form of daily exercise.

An ample amount of playtime can be a form of exercise for cats. And, these can help with their healthy and stress-free motility.

How Is Your Cat’s Diet?

Diet plays a main role in your cat’s motility. You must feed them with superior, good-quality, and high-protein cat food.

Cats that go with low-quality food exhibit more frequent bowel movements since most of what they intake end up being useless for the body.

Felines are omnivores and their diet doesn’t require grain, whether whole or otherwise.

Also, foods that have a heavy emphasis on vegetable components may cause digestive issues in cats.

Take into account that cat foods are prepared and formulated for cats, so it is what they are supposed to eat and not your food or your dog’s.

Make sure that they are not over or underfed. Hasty changes in food, whether intake or kind of diet results in a change in how frequently your cat poops.

This may either cause diarrhea or constipation. Take note that food allergies also cause loose bowels.

How Is Your Cat’s Medical Condition?

Your cat’s frequency of bowel movements is largely affected by underlying medical conditions. Inflammatory bowel disease and constipation may be due to different issues like:

• Changes to their diet or food allergies or intolerances
• Colitis
• Worms (intestinal parasites)
• Pancreatic disease
• Cancer
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hairballs
• Blockage
• Megacolon
• Arthritis

Overweight cats may experience constipation and could poop less often. This is something that the vet should take a look into. A change into a more appropriate nutritional program may be advised.

Is Your Cat Under Any Medication?

Cats’ medication may include side effects like changes in pooping frequency. Always ask the veterinarian of any possible adverse reactions for medications prescribed.

How Is It Like in Your Cat’s Environment?

The environment holds a role that influences your cat’s pooping habits. A tense or unhealthy environment may cause them stress

Stress causes so much in cats. This includes them containing their bowel movement just to avoid being near anything that displeases them.

Another thing you don’t want to happen is your cats eliminating outside of the litter box because of social stress. Not a lot are fans of cleaning up after poops. I don’t think anyone is.

Cat Poop – When & When Not To Worry

As discussed above, a cat’s bowel movement varies as he grows older. Here’s giving you a breakdown of the cat’s stages of life and when and not to worry.

Kittens

Veterinarians would always refer to kittens as eating and pooping machines. Because they are.

Kittens are in the process of forming their digestive system and the foundation of their health.

They will feed on their mother’s milk as frequently as they can or eat kitten food. And, defecate as many times as necessary.

However, just because they are too small and that they are known to eat and take the bathroom so much, doesn’t mean you should disregard their bowel movement.

Worry Not: If they miss a day in the cat litter box. If she doesn’t poop in a day, keep an eye on her. If constipation lasts for more than a day, a call to the vet may be necessary

Worry If: They show signs of diarrhea. Call your vet right away. Diarrhea in kittens is always a big concern since their small bodies make them at risk of dehydration. Do not wait until they become dangerously ill.

Adult Cats

Most pooping issues with adult cats are brought by a transition from old to a new diet.

Whether they are changing their food due to allergy or other reasons, the process includes their digestive system to adjust to the new food, resulting to change in frequency and consistency of poop.

Worry Not: if your vet concludes they are not serious. Constipation in old cats is most often caused by a hairball.

You may either use a hairball ointment to treat constipation or change the diet to one that can act as a stool softener.

Worry If: your vet says it is colitis. This can be brought by a lot of possible causes. This includes more than just a change in diet but eating something new, overeating, food allergies, bacterial infections, parasites, Giardia, or stress.

Colitis in cats is not unusual, however, if it happens too many times, a regular check-up should be in place.

Senior Cats

Old cats experience ravenous appetite while losing weight and having excessive thirst, urination, and vomiting. These symptoms along with diarrhea can be signs of hyperthyroidism.

Worry Not: A lot of cats experience diarrhea at several points during their life. A bout with motility may last a day or two.

It can be unpleasant and you may have to clean the litter back more often, but it is not uncommon.

Worry If: Diarrhea or constipation has lasted for more than a couple of days. Cats at this stage are more fragile and their health may decline quickly if not attended immediately.

A Few Crucial Warnings About Your Cat’s Poop

Irrespective of the rule of the paw and the when and not to worry list we discussed, here are some red alerts you should be on the lookout for if you are not confident about your cat’s poop.

-> Blood in the stool –

The most important sign that is an exemption from the lists we have. If you notice blood in your cat’s poop, even once, or just a droplet, have them and their stool checked by the vet immediately.

-> Straining bowel movement –

This should be identified correctly as it may often be mistaken as difficulty in urinating. Be sure that it is defecating they are having a hard time to do. While constipation is uncomfortable for cats, urinary obstruction is even more fatal.

-> Do not, at any cost attempt to give an enema to your cat at home –

It won’t just cause you scratches and battle scars from your cat, but your cat, too. Enema if administered inappropriately can cause rectal tears and its phosphate-containing enema can be fatal for your cat.

-> Notice a dental floss-like or string-like hanging out from your cat’s rear?

Do not just jump in and pull them out. Do a very gentle tug. But, if you feel resistance, stop and consult your vet in an instant.

Your vet will help you understand poop problems better, but this chart may help you find out what may be causing what your cat is currently experiencing.