How do I know if my kittens poop is healthy
10 Signs of a Healthy Poop: What is normal? What does it tell you about your health?
3. It should look like toothpaste coming out of a tube. Type 3 or 4 on this chart is best. Anything 1-2 is considered constipation. Anything 5-7 is considered diarrhea. So even if you are going to the bathroom 1-2 times a day it is still important to consider what it looks like.
4. It should feel like a full elimination. Even if your stool looks like 3 or 4, if it is only a couple inches long and you dont feel relieved after going it could be a sign of poor motility (or slow moving).
5. You shouldnt see your undigested food in your stool (corn may be the exception). This can be a sign you dont have enough enzymes or stomach acid to breakdown your foods. Your body is designed to make sufficient enzymes and acid all on its own. Things like gut infections, pathogens, toxins, stress, and some medications can damage the microrvilli that line your digestive system. This damage can prevent your body from producing those beneficial enzymes that help you breakdown food.
6. It should be brown in color for the most part. Stool color can be influenced by what you eat, such as lots of leafy greens or beets.
7. It shouldnt look greasy or float (could be a fat malabsorption issue). If you arent properly breaking down and absorbing your healthy fats, then you arent able to benefit from this amazing nutrient. Fat is important for hormone and brain health. More fat in your stool can be a sign of many things including gallbladder issues since this organ releases bile that helps emulsify fat.
8. You shouldnt have to sit on the toilet for 30 minutes with a newspaper to have a BM (ehm men!). Am I right ladies? Men in particular seem to think this is a normal habit because it is very common. Passing a bowel movement should be fairly easy otherwise that can be another sign that constipation is an issue.
9. If the only reason you go poop is because you drank coffee there may be something going on, especially if you have other symptoms. Coffee makes you go because the caffeine helps to relax the muscles in the digestive system. Dont know for sure if you can go without that morning cup of coffee? Then I encourage you to cut it out for a few days and see if you still have a bowel movement on your own.
10. If you cant go without high doses of magnesium that might not be a good sign. Magnesium helps relax the bowel (kind of like caffeine does) so you can go but doesnt address why you cant go. I do use magnesium citrate sometimes with my clients when we start working together to make sure they get rid of toxins. But I do this while we investigate the root cause of their constipation.
It is important to note that things like fiber (including fiber supplements) and staying hydrated by drinking enough water can be important to have a normal bowel movement. But I have had clients overly depend on these things. At the end of the day also comes down to other symptoms and properly testing to make sure your gut health is optimal and working at its best.
Keeping an eye on your digestive health is important because it is an indicator of your general health. When things start to go wrong, symptoms are the bodies way of letting you know something isnt right. If you dont listen and ignore those symptoms then you might be putting yourself at risk for more health problems later on down the road.
So there you go. Are you a good pooper? If not, then you need to investigate why. When I work with my clients I use good functional lab tests to help get to the root problem.
If you are serious about getting to the root problem of your symptoms and health concerns then click on the button below to schedule your free 30 minute discovery call to see if we would be a good fit to work together!
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How To Make a Kitten Poop? Our Vet Explains What To Do
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn moreIf youve just found or have decided to foster a new kitten thats lost their mom, they may need your help being able to go to the bathroom. After they are born, kittens are very dependent on their mom. The mom will provide milk with vital nutrients for growing and a healthy immune system.
Aside from providing the food that is vital for a kittens health, mother cats also stimulate their new kittens to urinate and defecate by licking them. The mom will do this for their kittens for up to the first 4 weeks of their life. If you have a new kitten who is less than a month old, you may need to help them go to the bathroom.
This article will describe simple things you can do to make your new kitten poop and help make sure they are as healthy as possible in their new beginning.
How Do I Know If I Need to Help My Kitten Go to the Bathroom?
Before we get to how you can make your new kitten poop, a few tips on how to tell how old a kitten might be, so you know how best to take care of them. Kittens are born with their eyes closed and they cannot walk or go to the bathroom on their own. They are completely dependent on their mom or foster parents for care. Kittens will start to open their eyes and start crawling around on their own no later than two weeks of age. By three weeks of age, kittens will be wobbly but walking around on their own. Finally, between three and four weeks old, kittens should be able to go to the bathroom on their own and should be walking and playing with their littermates. If you arent sure how old your new kitten may be, you can bring it to your veterinarian for them to take a look. Aging is important so that you know how best to provide care for the kitten.
Yes, I Have a Kitten Younger Than 1-Month-Old. Now What?
So now onto the pooping. Its important to know that you will need to stimulate your new kitten to go to the bathroom after each meal. Kittens sometimes go every time they are stimulated so come prepared. If your kitten is vomiting, regurgitating, or not wanting to eat their formula, you can also try to stimulate your kitten to go to the bathroom before feeding them. Stimulating them to urinate or defecate may make them more comfortable and able to eat without getting sick.
How often you should feed your new kitten depends on their age. If they are less than a month old, a good rule of thumb is to feed the kittens every few hours around the clock.
To stimulate your new kitten to use the bathroom after they eat, you will first need to get a clean, soft washcloth, cotton balls or a clean soft towel.
Next, run the cloth or cotton balls under warm water and ring them out so that they are moist but not dripping wet. Do not use any lotions, creams, oils, or products either on the kittens skin or on the cloth as they may be fatally toxic.
Take the rung-out cloth and gently rub the kittens belly, anal area and genital area while holding the kitten in your other hand. Move your hand in a small circular motion using very gentle pressure. This motion and pressure imitate a mother cat licking her babies.
What To Expect
The new kitten should start to urinate or defecate within about a minute. Once they have stopped going to the bathroom, you can stop the motion. If the kitten is pushing to poop, keep gently rubbing their anal area until they are done going and have stopped pushing.
If the kitten has not started to go with this stimulation after a minute, stop the motion. Excessive pressure and/or rubbing may irritate the kittens skin and cause a wound.
Once the kitten eliminates, you can use the damp cloth or cotton balls to gently wipe them clean. A plain unscented baby wipe can be used for messier situations.
A kitten should urinate after most if not all feedings and defecate at least once a day if not more.
Important tip
Its also very important to know that new kittens should be eating kitten formula, or kitten milk replacer (often abbreviated KMR) only. Introducing any other type of milk such as cows, goat, human or sheep may be harmful to a new kittens intestinal tract. KMR can often be purchased from your veterinarian or local pet store.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better idea what to expect from your new foster or orphaned kitten in the first few weeks of life, take a moment to congratulate yourself. Being a new parent is hard! Kittens take a lot of work when they lose their mom and will need continued support for the first few months of their life. Getting through the first 1-2 months is the most difficult. Once your kitten can use the bathroom on their own and you can transition them to a litterbox, you will finally start to get more sleep. Enjoy those moments because your new kitten wont be that small and cute forever!
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Featured Image Credit: Stefano Garau, Shutterstock
Cat Poop Chart Is Your Cats Poop Normal?
Cat Poop Chart Is Your Cats Poop Normal?
A cats digestive habits can offer a peak into their overall health. While it may seem a bit gross to examine your cats poop, its an easy way to ensure that you are offering a diet that works for them.
Not only can your cats stool give you the okay on their food intake, but changes in their poop can point to developing illness as well. So how do you know if your cats poop is normal?
In this article we will discuss the many forms of cat poop that you may see in the litter box, and help you understand what healthy stool should look like in our feline friends!
What Does Poop Tell You About The Health Of Your Cat?
Before we dive into the different types of cat poop, you should first be aware of just how important it is to stay on top of your cats litter box habits.
While we tend to think of our cats poop as something we should quickly scoop and avoid looking at, a quick glance is more helpful than you may think.
A cats poop appearance can tell you quite a bit about their digestive health. Their stool can be a direct reflection of how theyre feeling, and if they are battling any unseen medical complications.
Some of the many conditions that can affect the appearance of your cats poop include:
- Food intolerance
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Intestinal parasites
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Digestive abnormalities
- Kidney and liver disease
- Toxicities
- And more
What Does Healthy Cat Poop Look Like?
If you are going to identify abnormal poop in your feline friend, you must first know what healthy cat poop looks like.
Cat droppings can come in many forms, but there is a general description of what you should expect in a healthy cat. Healthy cat poop should be classified by normal color, consistency, and frequency.
Healthy cat poop should be formed (yet pliable) and brown in color. Cats should also have at least one bowel movement a day, or at least follow a normal schedule in terms of their litter box habits.
Not only should their poop be brown in color, but the color should not change if their diet remains the same. If their stool texture or color ever has a sudden change in appearance, its best to contact your veterinarian for further advice.
What Are The Different Types of Cat Poop?
Now that we have discussed what healthy cat poop should look like in a cat, lets dive into our detailed cat stool guide.
Changes in a cats diet and health can cause abrupt changes in their poop, making it important to be aware of all the stool forms you may see.
To better understand your furry friend going forward, lets discuss the different types of cat poop.
Hard Balls Or Pebbles
Hard balls or pebbles of cat poop can point to constipation in your furry friend. This stool will often be a rich brown color, and may occur inside or outside of the litter box.
You may notice your cat straining each time they attempt to pass stool, or may take longer in the litter box than usual. Some cats are even noticeable struggling each time they have a bowel movement, or may begin to avoid the litter box all together.
Not only will constipation cause their stool to be noticeably hard, but you may also notice that litter does not stick to this stool.
Stool in constipated cats will often lack moisture, meaning litter will have nothing to cling to.
Poop in constipated cats will also be in hard segmented balls, as their stool is often separated during passing due to struggling so much.
Sausage Shaped & Slightly Firm
Sausage shaped stool that has the consistency of soft playdough is a sign of a healthy digestive system.
This often means that your cat is responding well to their daily diet, and are likely free of any intestinal parasites that cause diarrhea.
This stool should be brown in color, and remain consistent in texture and color as long as their diet remains the same. Litter will also stick to this form of cat poop, as each passing will contain some moisture.
Formed but Slightly Mushy
Formed by slightly mushy stool can be normal in some cats, but may also point to minor irritation in their digestive tract.
This description refers to stool that can still be easily scooped when cleaning the litter box, but may seem to contain more moisture than usual.
The stool may also have a more pungent smell than their usual stool, and may even have a slight change in color.
Mushy stool does not have to be a major cause of concern, but should be monitored for any additional changes.
If their stool resolves back to its usual form within 24-72 hours and is not accompanied by any other symptoms, you generally have nothing to worry about.
Mushy Blobs
If your cats stool is in the form of mushy blobs, this can be a sign that they are lacking fiber in their diet or are beginning to show signs of gastrointestinal upset.
Mushy stool may stick to the scoop when you are trying to clean their litter box, and will likely have a change in color from their usual stool.
Not only will this form of poop have a change in appearance, but it may also have a more pungent odor.
This type of stool can tell you that your cat needs a bit more fiber in their diet, but if their diet has remained the same, this likely points to another underlying issue.
Sudden mushy stool should warrant a trip to the vet, as this could mean your cat is displaying symptoms of a developing illness.
Mushy & Very Challenging To Scoop
If a cat is passing mushy stool that is unable to be scooped, this is often considered to be diarrhea.
Diarrhea in cats may vary in color, and will often be accompanied by a strong odor. Your cat may be passing stool frequently, and may be displaying other gastrointestinal symptoms as well.
The sudden appearance of diarrhea in your cats litter box can point to gastrointestinal illness, intestinal parasites, or other complications that can cause GI upset.
Diarrhea should always warrant an immediate trip to the vet, as this requires medical intervention to treat.
Liquid Diarrhea
This type of diarrhea is extremely watery, and is unable to be scooped unless it is coated in litter.
Liquid diarrhea in cats is never normal, and always points to some type of underlying complication.
Diarrhea is not necessarily a disease in itself, but rather a symptom to another cause. Because of this, liquid diarrhea in cats should always lead to a prompt visit to your veterinarian.
Liquid diarrhea in cats is a serious symptom, and will lead to dehydration if it is not addressed quickly. Not only can liquid diarrhea cause dehydration, but it is also extremely uncomfortable for our feline friends.
If your cat is experiencing diarrhea of any kind, you should always contact your veterinarian for further advice.
My Cat Has Hard Poop
If your cat has hard poop, you may be wondering how to get them through their constipation. If your cat is still able to pass their stool and is not straining too much in the litter box, then there are a few changes you can implement in their routine.
First, you can monitor their daily water intake and make sure they are spending enough time at their water bowl.
If you dont think they are consuming enough water, you can entice them by purchasing a cat water fountain, putting more water bowls around your home, or even flavoring their water with a taste they enjoy.
Another option you can consider is discussing your cats daily diet with your veterinarian. Your vet may be able to recommend a diet that has more fiber, or may even point you in the direction of cat approved laxatives and probiotics.
Some cats also benefit from a prescribed laxative in severe cases of constipation.
Another way to relieve constipation in our feline friends is through daily exercise or weight loss. Obese cats struggle with constipation more than others, and can benefit from daily exercise to help promote bowel movement.
If your overweight cat is struggling with constipation, it may be time to implement more daily exercise.
My Cat Has Loose Poop
If your cat has loose poop, it is usually best to visit your veterinarian. While slightly loose stools that only last for a couple days may not be a major cause of concern, anything that lasts longer than 48 hours or transitions into diarrhea should be taken seriously.
Loose stool can be due to minor GI upset or inflammation, but diarrhea is often a symptom of something more.
Diarrhea in cats can be a result of dietary indiscretion, unhealthy diet, intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, kidney disease, liver disease, and many other medical complications.
Diarrhea in cats can quickly lead to dehydration, so we always suggest contacting your veterinarian for further advice.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are multiple types of cat poop that can point to different issues in our feline friends. Be sure to review the information that we discussed above, and you can stay on top of your cats digestive health going forward!
My name is Amber. I am a dedicated animal lover that turned my passion into my career. I am a Licensed Vet Tech with 12 years of experience in veterinary medicine, but I recently took my career online to help spread accurate information on animal care. With how vast the online world is, I have a strong desire to ensure that the reader always walks away with helpful pet advice. With the experience Ive gained from my time in this field, I have been able to travel the world, offering my services to as many animal rescues as I can find. If I am not at my laptop, or back home visiting family, you can find me somewhere in the world, cuddling every furry friend that I can find! More About Us
