How Often Should Cats Poop?

How Often Should Cats Poop?

Once a day is the general guideline for how often an adult cat poops, but up to three times a day is still considered normal. If your cat is pooping less than once every 24 hours or pooping more than three times a day, it may be an indication of constipation or diarrhea. Prolonged constipation needs to be taken seriously as it may be a sign of colon or kidney issues. Diarrhea is also dangerous, as it may be caused by changes in your cat’s diet to various diseases. If you notice any changes, visit your local veterinarian for a professional opinion.

Factors that play a role in how frequently a cat poops:

Age

Age plays a big role in how frequently a cat poops. Many kittens go more than once a day, while older cats may go once a day.

Activity Level

How active your cat is also plays a role in their bowel movements. Cats that are more active tend to have more frequent bowel movements compared to less active cats.

Diet

Cats that are fed a diet that's higher in fiber may go more frequently than those on a lower-fiber diet. Wet foods also tend to help with a cat’s bowel movements.

P.s. Please also note that cats need time to adjust to a new diet. When switching your cat’s food, it is recommended to slowly transition them onto their new meal plan. If you change their diet too quickly, it could cause digestive issues, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Changes in Bathroom Habits Could be Serious

Cat’s are unable to tell us when they're having trouble going to the bathroom, so it is up to us to regularly monitor any changes in their bathroom habits. If you aren’t able to manually check the litter box, we recommend getting a self cleaning litter box, such as the Petree Litter Box, to help you automatically monitor and track how often your cat is using the litter box.