Identify Cat Stool Problems

There are a variety of stool problems that can affect your cat. Many of these problems can make your cat uncomfortable or even be indicative of a larger health problem. To determine whether or not your cat has a stool problem, you’ll need to monitor its behavior and inspect its litter box. You will also need to determine which cat has the problem, if you have more than one cat, so that you can provide proper treatment.

Steps

Monitor Your Cat’s Behavior

  1. Notice your cat’s litter box behavior. You can tell a lot about your cat by how it acts in and around it litter box. Watch how often your cat goes to the bathroom. Listen for any crying or painful sounds while your cat is using the litter box. Notice if bathroom trips were successful or not.[1]
    • A constipated kitty may make frequent trips to the litter box (often unsuccessful), and may cry in pain because of its inability to pass the stool.
    • A cat suffering from diarrhea may make frequent trips to the litter box as well (usually successful). It may also have some feces stuck in the hair around its anus.
  2. Look at your cat’s stools. One of the easiest ways to determine if your cat is having stool problems is to look inside the litter box. You will be able to tell if your cat is having diarrhea from the runny feces you find in there. You may be able to see some parasites or worms in the feces that could be causing your cat’s stool problems.[2]
    • Typically, your cat’s stool should be brown and somewhat firm. If the color or consistency of your cat’s stool changes and becomes irregular for more than a few days, consider consulting your vet.
  3. Monitor your cat’s diet. Many stool problems are often caused by what the cat eats. If you have just changed your cat’s food (brand or type), this may upset its digestive tract for a few days, but should normalize shortly. If your cat is not staying hydrated, this could cause constipation.[3]
    • If you let your cat free-feed, you may want to consider switching to controlled feeding times to help regulate its bowels.

Determining Which Cat Has the Problem

  1. Isolate each cat one at a time. If you live in a multiple-cat household, it may take a while to figure out which cat is having a problem. Take one cat at a time and isolate it in its own room for a day or two. Give the cat its own litter box so that you are certain about where the stools come from since no other cats are sharing the box.[4]
    • Be sure to give the isolated cat all of the things that it needs including a litter box, fresh water, food, toys, and daily attention.
  2. Reintroduce the cats slowly. Whenever you separate your cats, you’ll need to take some time to reintroduce them slowly – even if they were only separated for a few days. You may want to bring the cat back into the home inside its carrier and let the others smell the cat before you release it.[5]
    • Allow the cats to smell each other through a closed door. Or you can pet the isolated cat and allow your other cats to smell your hands.
  3. Treat all cats if there is a virus or parasite cause. Once you figure out which cat is having the problem, remember that all of your cats have been exposed to the feces of the infected cat. This means that treatment may be necessary for all of your cats, especially if there are certain kinds of worms or parasites involved. Contact your vet for treatment options for all of your cats.[6]
    • If you leave some of the other cats untreated, it could cause a cycle of reinfection for your other cats that may be difficult to break.

Treating Cat Stool Problems

  1. Make an appointment with your veterinarian. If your cat continues to have stool problems for more than a few days, you may want to consider consulting your veterinarian. Your vet will be able to run tests to determine the cause and provide you with recommended treatment options.[7]
    • Diarrhea can cause dehydration if it lasts longer than 48 hours. Constipation can cause extreme pain or distress for your cat, and lead to further digestive problems.
    • You should definitely call the vet if you notice any blood in the stool or if your cat has black stools. Also call your vet if your cat is experiencing fever or vomiting in addition to stool problems.
  2. Regulate the cat’s diet. If your cat is having stool problems, you may need to exert a greater amount of control over what the cat eats. Limit the number of treats your cat eats, switch from free-feeding to controlled feeding, and maintain consistency in food type. You should also try to determine whether your cat is eating anything else (like human food) that it should not be eating.[8]
    • Remember to transition your cat slowly (over a period of several weeks) to any new food.
    • If your cat is suffering from constipation, you may need to transition it to canned wet food to help hydrate your cat more effectively. Or consider switching to a low protein, high fiber diet.
  3. Provide extra sources of hydration. Make sure your cat has constant access to fresh drinking water. You should rinse out the water bowl and provide clean water every day. You should also provide several sources of fresh drinking water.[9]
    • You may also need to consider adding water to your cat’s dry food or switching to canned wet food to provide more hydration for your cat.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/litter-box-problems
  2. ↑ http://www.catdocmaine.com/catfeces.html
  3. ↑ http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/04/28/cat-constipation.aspx
  4. ↑ http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/solving_litter_box_problems.html
  5. ↑ http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/pams-think-like-a-cat-reintroduction-method/
  6. ↑ http://www.science20.com/news_articles/diarrhea_in_cats_especially_in_homes_with_multiple_cats-156578
  7. ↑ http://www.petassure.com/newsletters/011511/011511article4.html
  8. ↑ http://www.cat-world.com.au/constipation-in-cats
  9. ↑ http://www.vetstreet.com/care/constipation-in-cats
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