The characteristics of our cat's feces provide us with very important information when it comes to assessing its state of he alth. Therefore, in this article on our site we are going to talk about the types of feces in cats and their meaning.
When cleaning the litter box daily we must pay attention to the appearance of the feces and, if we notice any variation from normality, we will have to pay attention to the cat in case it shows any disease symptom or we notice changes in their eating habits or in their use of the litter box, in which case we will contact our veterinarian.
What are cat feces like?
Our cat's feces should be consistent and compact, of a uniform color that can vary between various shades ofbrown , depending on the diet you eat. Therefore, when reviewing the types of feces in cats and their meaning, the first thing is that we look at changes in consistency and color.
When the stool shows abnormalities that do not go away, it will be the veterinarywho establishes the diagnosis and treatment, which usually involves a correct diet, a deworming schedule that we must respect and, in some cases and in general, antiparasitic treatments or antibiotics.
Soft feces in cats
Within the types of feces in cats, the most notable are soft feces, which can have different meanings, such as that the cat is suffering from some gastrointestinal condition, parasites, or a problem with your diet.
That one day the stools are softer than normal does not have to be worrying, but if the situation continues for days, the cat uses the litter box or stools more than usualthey become liquid , we must consult our veterinarian.
Generally, loose stools that indicate a disorder in the digestive system are accompanied by vomiting, poor coat appearance, dehydration, anorexia, apathy etc Pasty or soft stools can also be due to the presence of intestinal parasites, more frequent in younger cats, such as worms, giardia or coccidia.
Sudden changes in diet or an inadequate meal can also alter the functioning of the digestive system. In addition, pasty stools can indicate other problems such as liver problems. In any case, it will be our veterinarian who, after examining our cat, arrives at the diagnosis and prescribes the treatment.
Meaning of the color of cat feces
As we have said, the usual color of feces will be brown, but different types of feces can appear in cats, with meanings such as the following:
Dark feces in cats
Very dark brown or even black. In this case, known as melena, it is digested blood and indicates the presence of bleeding somewhere in the digestive system, such as that caused by a gastrointestinal ulcer or lesions resulting from a parasite infestation. Other times there are stools with fresh blood or clots that may originate in the digestive system or in the anal area due to an injury.
White feces in cats
Although rare in cats, a high intake of bones can cause stools to be white and very hard.
Green feces and yellow feces in cats
These shades can be seen when the transit of food through the intestine occurs faster than normal due to some digestive alteration.
In addition to offering our cat a proper diet, abnormal stools like the ones we are commenting on are reason for veterinary consultation.
Findings in cat feces
Finally, within the different types of feces in cats and their meaning, we must know that, sometimes, in the feces we can find elements such as plant remains and the like that are not digested. In addition, it is common that we can observe feces like the following:
Feces with mucus in cats
They are usually stools that also have a softer consistency than usual and, sometimes, in addition to mucus we can observe the presence of blood. They are usually caused by infections or parasites in the digestive system.
For more details, don't miss the article "Bloody stools in cats - Causes".
Feces with worms in cats
Especially in smaller kittens, if they suffer from a considerable infestation of parasites, these can be seen on their way out through the feces, such as spaghetti or like grains of rice, depending on the species. Also, if we deworm our cat and it has parasites, we may see them, dead, in the feces.
Feces with mucus, blood or worms, unless we have just administered deworming, are reason for veterinary consultation.
