How Often Do Cats Poop? Is Thrice A Day Normal?

Although the question raised in the title is strange, but if you have a cat at your home, then you would understand how important is to know ‘ How often do cats poop ’?

If your cat is pooping too much or too less, then it might be a matter of concern. Your cat’s health is of prime importance, and pooping too much can also cause sanitary related issues which can lead to various diseases. If your cat is experiencing regular bowel movements, then it ensures that he/she is not suffering from any digestion related problem.

If you think that there is a simple answer to this, then you are mistaken. The frequency of your cat’s poop depends upon lots of factors which we have thoroughly discussed in this article. We have also described different ways by which you can make your cat poop on a daily basis.

Answering the question ‘How often should cats poop?’ is not simple. Body functioning of a cat is quite similar to human beings. Poop excreted by a cat is majorly dependent upon the food it eats. Apart from food, there are several other factors on which the frequency of poop depends. They are as follow:

It is often noticed that kittens poop more than big cats. This is because of their weak and underdeveloped digestive system.

An adult cat poops thrice daily on an average whereas kittens can defecate as many as five to six times on a daily basis. More than six times can be a symptom of diarrhea, and in that case, you must rush to your veterinary doctor.

It is pure logic that a lazy cat will poop less frequently than a cat that is very active. If you feel like your cat is doing fewer bowel movements, then taking her on a walk and involving her in an activity which involves physical movement can help.

Apart from maintaining regular bowel movements, physical exercise is advised by many veterinary doctors for cats. This is because cats are more prone to heart-related diseases as compared to other pets. These diseases can be prevented by making your cat an active pet rather than a pet that lies in one spot for the whole day.

             Diet plays a significant role in determining the frequency of poop in your cat.

If you are feeding low-quality food to your cat, then your cat will poop more frequently as most of the food is excreted out in the unused form. A similar thing happens when you feed your cat too much.

By reading this, if you are planning to change your cat’s diet from tomorrow onwards then we feel our duty to warn you that any sudden change in the diet of your cat can bring about drastic changes in his/her health.

It is advised that you must change your cat’s diet gradually by introducing a new food in less quantity on a daily basis. Abrupt changes in the diet plan can lead to increased bowel movements, which is a symptom of diarrhea.

4. Water Intake Of Your Cat

5. The Medical Condition Of Your Cat

A lot depends upon the medical condition of your cat. If your cat is suffering from any disease such as arthritis, hairballs, parasites, blockage, hyperthyroidism and other similar diseases, then it will affect the frequency of your cat’s poop.

Other body conditions can also hamper the frequency of poop. For example, if your cat is obese then there are chances that she will poop less frequently as compared to other cats.

6. Medicine Intake Of Your Cat

If your cat is on certain kind of medication then she can alter the number of times she poops. You can consult your vet for possible side effects of the medication including the effects on bowel movements.

7. External Environment

Cats are shy and refrain socializing. If you ambush them while they are pooping, then it can induce social stress in them which can lead to constipation.

Also, a dirty litter box will force them to change their frequency of bowel movements. Other environmental factors such as weather, season and surrounding can have an impact on the number of times your cat poops.

Always make sure that the litter box is clean and kept in its place to instill healthy bowel movements habit in your pet cat.

Considering the frequency of your cat’s poop, there are two thumb rules which should be followed:

General Rule Of Thumb

Your cat must poop at least once daily and the poop excreted must be somewhat solid, brownish in color and not with a foul smell. Also, make sure that your cat defecates comfortably.

Specific Rule Of Thumb

If you experience any change in the pooping pattern of your cat or if your cat doesn't poop for two days in a row then it is time to visit your veterinary doctor for a check up.

Since your cat won't be able to describe if she is going through any difficulty with the digestive system, therefore, it falls upon your shoulders to keep a check on your cat’s poop timing, pattern, color, and smell to make sure that your cat is in healthy condition.

Much like human beings, cats also need to poop once a day to maintain a healthy digestive system. Color, texture, and odor of your cat can be indicative of her health.

Usually, a healthy cat’s poop is deep brown, has a distinctive yet bearable odor and is neither too solid nor too liquid.

If you think that the poop of your cat is nothing like described above, then there are chances that there is something wrong with the bowel movements of your cat and you need to consult a veterinary doctor on an immediate basis.

Considering the question: How often should cats poop? There is no specific answer to this but as we have told you that it is perfectly normal for a cat to poop once in two days so as it mostly depends on the factors mentioned above.

As per Dr. Richard Goldstein who is a famous veterinary doctor, if your cat is pooping three times a day then there is nothing worry about, and the frequency of poop in cats depends largely upon the food eaten. More than that or less than that can be an issue.

Reading the factors mentioned above must have given you an idea about ‘How often do cats poop'. These factors have an important role to play in the frequency of the poop.

Conclusion

You can inculcate the habit of defecation on a regular basis in your cat by involving her in physical activities and feeding more water to her. A high-fiber diet is also a good means to help keep your cat’s excretion controlled.

After reading this article, you must have realized that cats are more or less like human beings and you must have got the answer for the frequently asked question ‘Why does my cat poop too much’?

They need to poop once daily to keep their digestive system in good shape. Sometimes they can poop as much as thrice in a day which is completely normal. By keeping an eye on their pooping pattern, you can save your pet cat from a visit to the vet.