Cat poo: What does it reveal about your cat's health?

What should cat poo look like?

Is your cat's poo compact, not too firm and not too soft? That is the ideal consistency! The odour could be more difficult to judge, as cat poo naturally has an intense smell. However, it should not be too smelly. A light brown cat poop to a dark brown cat pile indicates healthy digestion.

Checklist: The “healthy cat poo”

• Shape: like a uniform sausage
• Consistency: medium (not too hard, not too soft)
• Colour: brown
• Odour: slightly foul

Cat poo is too soft?

Changes such as new food or new flavours can quickly upset your tiger’s stomach. If your cat has yellow diarrhoea (or other coloured), do not panic straight away. Use the following characteristics to assess the possible reasons - and when you should consult your vet.

Cats with a sensitive digestive tract benefit from food such as our IAMS Dry food Sensitive Digestion Adult rich in Turkey, which specifically supports the intestinal flora.

Checklist: Recognizing diarrhoea in cats and possible causes

If the diarrhoea persists for a few days or if you are unsure, please always take your cat to the vet!

• Sticky, very greasy, acrid odour: “Fatty stools" often indicate diseases of the pancreas. Please have it checked by the vet.
• Sticky with lots of mucus: This may indicate a lack of fibre in the diet. Our IAMS cat food contains selected dietary fibres that support healthy digestion. Additionally, it may suggest the presence of one of the common infectious diseases. Please consult a vet to have the symptoms checked.
• Jelly-like/pudding-like, intense odour: This may be an indication of feed intolerance and/or chronic intestinal inflammation. Please consult your vet for clarification.
• Soft, sometimes foamy, slimy, greasy: May be a sign of parasite infestation. Please have the symptoms checked by a vet. You should make an appointment as soon as possible, especially if there is blood in the faeces or a strong sour smell.
• Tarry-black, liquid: Please go to the vet immediately! A deep dark cat poop is often an indication of blood.

Cat poo is too hard?

Is your cat constipated? This can be very painful and make it stop pooping. You should know the symptoms.

Recognizing constipation in cats

Small, hard, dry pieces of poop can be a sign of dehydration - make sure your pet always has fresh drinking water. If the faeces do not return to normal after a few days: Please consult the vet!

You find hair in those hard pieces? Then your cat has probably swallowed a lot of fur while grooming. A special diet such as our IAMS Dry Food Hairball Adult with Fresh Chicken will help to significantly reduce hairball formation.

How often does a cat poo?

If you feed your cat every day, it should go to the litter tray daily. It takes about one day for cat food to pass through the gastrointestinal tract. How long digestion actually takes and how many times a day your cat needs to defecate is individual and can vary.

Cat poo changes in colour?

If your cat's poo colour changes, it may signal illness or a change in diet. Consult a vet promptly for clarification.

Recognising possible diseases by poop colour

Dark cat poop/black cat poop: Usually indicates bleeding in the upper digestive tract.

Yellow cat poop/grey cat poop: May indicate disorders of the liver or pancreas.

Red cat poop: Visible blood in cat poo often indicates inflammation or disease in the lower digestive tract.

White spotted: Small white dots, like grains of rice, are signs of a tapeworm.

How to support your cat's health

To strengthen your cat's immune system and reduce the risks of diarrhoea, you can help it to live a long and happy life by providing it with high-quality cat food, high standards of hygiene, fresh air and plenty of exercise.

At IAMS, we support your cat's general well-being with advanced nutrition that is tailored to the natural needs of cats at any age and in any situation. You can find more helpful tips on cat nutrition and health in our Cat Guide.