We all want happy and healthy cats, and understanding our cat’s normal routines and behaviour is the best way to notice when things aren’t quite right. As well as body language and appetite, our cats’ litter tray habits can reveal more about their health, so we’re taking a look at the question, how often do cats poop?
All cats are different and there are different factors that can affect a cat’s digestions and litter tray habits. If you’ve ever asked yourself “how often should my cat poop” it’s important to know that there’s no definitive number of times per day that a cat should pee and poop, but there are some basic signs that can help you better understand your cat’s health.
How often should a healthy cat poop?
A healthy cat should poop once or twice a day. All cats are different, so this can vary from cat to cat. At least once a day is considered normal, but age can affect how often a cat poops: for kittens, this can be more frequent, while older cats may poop slightly less.
How often should a healthy cat pee?
A cat should pee between 2-4 times a day, and at least twice is considered normal. As with pooping, all cats are different so this number will vary. Factors like age and diet will influence how often your cat pees.
Factors that can affect how often a cat poops
When asking “how often do cats poop”, it’s important to understand the factors that can affect or influence their litter tray activities. These figures are intended as a guide only, and you know your cat best, so if you notice your cat pooping a lot more (or less) than usual, always contact their vet. Let’s look at some factors that can affect how often cats poop.
What they eat
What your cat eats will affect how often they poop. As with humans, fibre plays an important role in a cat’s digestion, and hydration affects it too. Wet food vs dry food diets can also influence how often cats poop, and if you’re gradually switching your cat’s foods, you may notice this affects their regularity.
Their age
As cats age, this can affect how often they poop. Kittens poop more frequently than adult cats, and cats may begin to poop less often as they get older. If senior cats begin to poop more frequently, it may be a sign of underlying health conditions, so it’s always best to speak to their vet.
How active they are
Your cat’s activity levels can impact how often they go to the toilet. Activity can boost metabolism and increase how often they poop. If your cat is not pooping regularly, increasing their activity during the day - by adding a bit more play, for example - may help to improve their metabolism.
They may be stressed
Cats are sensitive to stress and this can impact their toilet habits. Stressful events, like moving house, changes in the household, or trips to the vets, can result in your cat going to the toilet less often than usual. Recognising the signs of stress in cats can help you understand whether this is behind your cat’s change in pooping habits.
Nowhere to go
Preferences when it comes to litter trays can also affect how often cats go to the toilet. If the litter tray isn’t clean, its location is too busy, or it doesn’t offer enough privacy, it’s possible your kitten or cat won’t use the litter tray at all. Learning how to train your cat to use the litter tray will allow you to create the best and most encouraging environment for your cat.
Health issues
Changes to your cat’s litter tray habits can also point to health issues, with some health conditions affecting how often cats poop. Food allergies or intolerances may cause cats to poop more often, and other conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, colitis or worms can cause diarrhoea or more frequent pooping.
Conversely, some conditions can cause cats to become constipated and poop less often. These include intestinal blockages, kidney issues, and a condition known as feline megacolon, among others. If you have any concerns about your cat’s health, always speak to their vet.
Factors that can affect how often a cat pees
As with pooping, there are several factors that can affect how often a cat pees, and these can vary from cat to cat. Let’s understand the factors that can impact how often cats need to pee.
Hydration
Your cat’s hydration levels will have an impact on how often they pee, and it’s not just how much water they drink that affects their hydration. Cats on a wet food diet will generally have a higher level of hydration than cats on a dry food diet, as the food also contains additional liquid.
Illness
How often your cat pees can be affected by a number of health issues, and there are some signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Peeing less than normal
If your cat is struggling to pass urine, or appears to be in pain while struggling to urinate, contact their vet. Being unable to pee may be a sign of an obstruction. Other reasons for less frequent urination include kidney problems or cystitis.
- Peeing more than normal
More frequent urination in cats can be a sign of a variety of health problems, including UTIs, bladder infections, kidney problems or thyroid issues.
If you are concerned about any changes to your cat’s peeing habits, always contact their vet.
What Does Normal Cat Poop Look Like?
Healthy cat poop should be dark brown in colour and a small sausage shape. Black or very dark stools may indicate the presence of blood, while small, hard balls of poop can be a sign that your cat is constipated. If you are concerned about your cat’s poop, speak to their vet.
What Does Normal Cat Pee Look Like?
Healthy cat pee should be clear and range from pale yellow to amber in colour. If you’re worried about your cat’s pee, talk to their vet for advice.
What Are The Signs of a Constipated Cat?
There are several signs that your cat may be suffering from constipation. A constipated cat may exhibit the following behaviours or symptoms:
- Producing little to no stool
Your cat may try to go to the toilet but leave no sign of stool in their litter tray, or less than usual. They may visit the litter tray more often, and you may notice them straining.
- Small, hard, dry stool
If you notice that your cat’s poop has changed to become smaller, harder or dryer - often in small round balls - this can indicate that they’re constipated.
- Showing signs of pain
Constipation can cause abdominal pain or pain while trying to go to the toilet, so your cat might demonstrate signs of discomfort. Their abdomen can also become tense or distended.
- Lethargy or decreased energy
Your cat may be less energetic than usual, or even show less interest in interacting with you or your family.
- Lack of appetite
In some cases, a constipated cat may eat less than usual or avoid food, as constipation can decrease their appetite.
Understanding how often a cat should poop is vital when it comes to monitoring your cat’s health. All cats are different, so knowing your cat’s normal routine means you can spot any changes to their litter tray habits which may indicate that something is wrong. If you have any concerns about your cat’s health, always speak to their vet.
If you’ve found your answer to the question “how often do cats poop”, you can discover more about important cat topics in our Cat Guide articles, including grooming your cat, and which cat litter is best.
FAQs
How often should indoor cats poop?
Indoor cats should poop once or twice a day.
How long can a cat go without pooping?
Cats may not poop for up to 48 hours. Not pooping regularly may be a sign of an underlying health condition. If you are concerned about your cat’s health, contact their vet.
Is it normal for a cat not to poop everyday?
A healthy cat should poop at least once a day, but all cats are different and there are factors that can cause cats to poop less often, including age, diet, and stress.
Do cats poop less on wet food?
Cats on a wet food diet may poop more often, as their diet provides them with more hydration.
27/07/2023 by NatuTeam