How often should a cat poop?

Everybody poops. And our cats are no different. If you’ve ever looked a bit too close to inspect your cat’s poop, snapped a photo to send to your vet (or partner, lucky them), or obsessed over whether they’re pooping too little or too much, you’re not alone.

Taking your cat’s poops seriously is a great way to make sure they’re happy, healthy, and eating the right stuff. Let's take a closer look at that litterbox. And learn more about your cats' 'presents'. How often should a cat poop?

A healthy cat on the best diet possible should be pooping once to twice a day. It takes between 12-20 hours for their food to make it through their system. So you’ll probably notice around one poop a day depending on their breakfast or dinner time.

A normal cat poop should be brown in colour and should be soft but not runny or loose. It might come out in one, long piece or be broken into three or four pieces. But shouldn’t look like lots of compacted pebbles.

Of course, there are different factors that can affect how often your cat goes, which we’ll cover in a bit.

We’re all guilty of accidentally forgetting to scoop the litter tray right away. But making sure you scoop it regularly can help you keep an eye on your cat’s toilet habits.

Some cats go more often than others. But if they haven’t pooped in around 3 days, this might be a sign of constipation, or worse, a bowel obstruction. So take them to your vet.

There are plenty of factors that can affect how often your cat poops as well as how smelly they are. And even the consistency.

Just like humans, age tends to play a big part in how often your cat uses the litter tray. Kittens will poop more often than adult cats. And you might find that your senior cat might poop less often than they did as an adult.

Drinking plenty of water is key to staying regular. Unfortunately, cats are pretty rubbish at drinking enough water. Refresh water bowls everyday to make sure they’re drinking enough.

Have you got a picky sipper? Make sure water bowls are kept away from food (cats don’t like the scent of food near their water), try out a cat fountain as many cats are motivated to drink by the sound of running water, or flavour their water with a little unsalted tuna juice to tempt them.

As humans, our diet can directly affect how regular we are. And our cats are the same. A good diet designed with their natural 100% meat needs in mind (like KatKin) will ensure your cat doesn’t become constipated and will mean less smelly litter boxes (hooray!).

An unsuitable diet can cause stomach issues in your cat – commercial cat food is stuffed full of rubbish (like fillers, carbs, and preservatives) which your cat can’t easily digest, resulting in looser, smellier poop.

Kittens and young cats explore the world with their mouths and can eat things they’re not supposed to, which can lead to an upset stomach. If you think they’ve eaten something toxic or if their diarrhoea is paired with vomiting, take them to the vet.

A variety of health conditions can affect how often your cat uses the litter tray. If your cat is being treated for a health condition you might notice that their bathroom habits change as well.

Allergies to certain foods can also cause stomach issues for cats. Check out our guide to Common allergies in cats for more information. If you think your cat has a food allergy, speak to your vet about your concerns.

It’s not uncommon for cats to catch parasites, especially if they spend a lot of time outdoors. Some parasites like worms can cause stomach problems for your cats and affect how often they go to the toilet. If they do have worms, you might be able to spot them in your cat’s poop (another good reason to have a little look when you scoop). Thankfully, many worms are easy to treat and prevent with worming medication from your vet.

Colitis is a health condition that affects the colon and causes inflammation which can change their bathroom habits and how often they poop.

Bacterial infections can be nasty and cause upset stomachs or bloody vomit. If you suspect your cat has a bacterial infection, make sure you take them to the vet ASAP.

Just like people, cats can also come down with IBS. Commonly caused by food allergies or viruses, your cat might poop more often or have diarrhoea.

Have you ever been nervous about something and needed to rush to the toilet? Cats can also become anxious or stressed which can result in upset stomachs or more visits to the litter box.

It’s important to take your cat to the vet if:

• They have had diarrhoea for 3 days.

• If they haven’t had a bowel movement for 3 days.

• If you spot blood mixed in with their stools.

• If they are vomiting and have diarrhoea at the same time.

• If they appear to be very lethargic, go off their food, or stop accepting treats.

• If you’re concerned at all – better to be safe than sorry. 

To keep your cat’s poop regular and of a good consistency, feed KatKin fresh cat food. Made from fresh, gently cooked, 100% human-quality meat, KatKin provides all the nutrients your cat needs. Conveniently pre-portioned. Completely delicious. Just ask our cats.