Cat Poop: Normal, Problems, Constipation, Diarrhea, and More

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The Scoop on Cat Poop

(continued)

Cat Poop Problem: Constipation continued...

There are a number of things that can cause cats to become constipated, including:

Over-grooming, which leads to extra hair in the digestive tract
Kidney problems
Feline megacolon
Some type of obstruction, including string or bones
Diets that are low in fiber
Colon abnormalities such as strictures or tumors
Spinal problems or pain

To help ease your cat’s constipation, your veterinarian may suggest increasing the fiber in the diet, such as by adding canned pumpkin to your cat’s regular food. Or your veterinarian might recommend switching to a diet that is very easily digested, thereby lessening the amount of poop in your cat’s digestive tract.

Encouraging your cat to get more exercise and drink more water may also help poop move through her system more readily.

The chart below may help you to identify the cause of your cat’s poop problems:

Symptom	Appearance	Frequency	Possible causes
Constipation	Small, hard, dry stools	Less than once a day	Dehydration, megacolon, dietary issues
Constipation	Small, hard, dry stools containing large amounts of hair	Less than once a day	Hairballs, over-grooming
Constipation	Thin, ribbon-like poop	Less than once a day	Tumor or stricture
Diarrhea	Black, tarry, loose stools	Variable	Stomach or intestinal bleeding. Seek immediate veterinary attention.
Diarrhea	Smelly, pudding-like stools	2-3 times daily	Dietary intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease
Diarrhea	Gooey poop filled with mucus	Multiple times daily	Inadequate dietary fiber; colitis