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Cat poop is normally an undesirable topic in general, however there is alot of information that’s hidden in just poop. It basically gives you the sign that everything is going well internally, but does the amount of poop really matter.
So how much does cat poop weigh ?From what I’ve experienced an average 8-10 pound cat, poops around 1.2 to 2 ounce per day under normal situations provided that the cat has two meals a day. This amount that your cat poops depends on a variety of factors which include the type of food, appetite, snacks ,medical issues, cats weight and water intake.
However the amount and weight of cats poop may change on a regular basis since other factors are not quite controlled. For outdoor cats you cannot be certain as they are subject to digging in the trash or even hunting around for insects and other food source.
Therefore a bigger cat that lives outdoors is subject to make more poop since they require more food to nourish their bodies and lifestyle.
Indoor domestic cats that are average weight and less energetic tend to not require as much food as other high energy cats since they are not burning as much energy, thus their appetite will be more controlled.
So basically the more energetic the cat is, the more the appetite the more the poop.
Cat owners track their cats poop for a variety of reasons, such as
- To check if their cats digestive system is functioning well.
- Cats with constipation, owners must check regularly.
- To check if their cat indegested anything like cat litter, sand, or even a toy.
- Cats with colon issues.
- Consistency of their cat poop, in regards to water intake.
Owners also watch for changes and characteristics seen in the poop that can be a great measure of your cat’s health.
Cats typically have at least one bowel movement a day, but this varies depending on age, diet, and health. Normal stool should have a long, round shape and a chocolate-brown color.
There are four common characteristics cat owners should keep an eye on that might indicate a health problem: color, consistency, smell and diet.
Color
Cat poop is generally dark brown in color, almost like chocolate. This color normally resonates with the diet of normal wet food and kibble.
The appearance of different colors can be symptoms of various health issues. Yellow stool, for instance, while normal for some diets, can suggest liver or gallbladder disease, while red or black stool could indicate gastrointestinal bleeds.
Yellow poop is also associated when the cat drinks milk on a regular basis, therefore the milk substitutes water and that causes visible changes in the stool color.
A black color is usually seen when blood has been digested, meaning that it likely came from the upper digestive system, could be a stomach ulcer or could be that your cat was outside preying on some creature.
Red stools generally signify that the damage is coming from the lower gastrointestinal tract, or the colon. Inflammatory bowel disease or blood clotting disorders often result in red stool. Also colon cancer could be a possibility.
Therefore as a pet owner you must regularly check your cats poop so that you can identify when something is not right, often your cat will also behave in an unfamiliar way. These are signs to watch for.
Smell
In general cats poop smell very bad, this is the number one complain I always hear from cat owners. But why is this so ?
The smell of cats poop depend on a variety of factors such as diet, colon bacteria, hormonal changes, health issues, raw meat or even a parasite.
In this case you can monitor and make changes to the cats daily routine, diet and hygiene to change the outcome of the smell.
However in some cases when the smell is extremely bad like a foul smell, you would want to monitor the cat. If the smell persist over a long period of time, you should visit your nearest veterinarian for a full checkup.
Since digestive disorders and other gastrointestinal issues may be associated. As a result the bad stench from poorly digested food.
consistency
Cat poop should feel mushy but not too soft or too hard, almost like play dough, firm yet squishy. However this is not the case in all cats. Some may experience diarrhea or constipation which is normal but shouldn’t be permanent.
Diarrhea is normally caused by a change in diet, inflammatory problems, parasite or infection. This isnt uncommon but if it lasts for a long period of time you should check-in with your vet.
Constipation on the hand is caused by a change in diet (lack of fiber) , colon issues where the colon muscles are not working and the lack of water and exercise.
It’s practically impossible to do a diagnosis since there are so many different possibilities. Therefore you must talk to your local vet on any poop related issues.
Diet
The type of diet your cat follows is directly linked to their health, wellness and excretion. Cats that have a higher protein diet releases poop that is much more strong and horrible in smell.
They are also certain foods that may cause diarrhea. For example foods of a lower quality or something that doesn’t agree. Also too much milk can be the cause in this case.
Another important factor is the water intake. Cats normally shy away from water but it’s an essential and it affects their well-being. The water intake effects the consistency of cats poop and bowl movements that’s why its important to track an healthy intake of at least 5-7 ounces per day depending on their bodyweight.
