My cat's poop is hard and dark after constipation. Is it normal?

Its very difficult to say for sure based on the picture if that is the cotton from a q-tip. My guess would be probably not. A small amount of cotton like that would probably look indistinguishable by the time it exits the body. Constipation in cats, particularly for long periods like you have described, can be painful and have some serious consequence on their well-being and health. Often the cause the constipation goes undetermined, particularly in younger cats. Sometimes dietary change is all that is required, adding something fibrous into the mix. Other times, there is a motility problem in the GI tract that requires intervention with drugs. Either way, if there is truly bad constipation, Bomi probably requires an enema (multiple, more than likely). An x-ray will be able to reveal the extent of constipation as well as the size of the colon. Sometimes cats with severe constipation require hospitalization to rehydrate them. Once the body is better hydrated, somethings the dry fecal material will loosen and pass more easily. Overall, I wouldn't say this is necessarily an emergency, but I would get her in somewhere by tomorrow. Hope his helps.

It sounds like Mr Darcy is constipated. He may not poop in the box because it may be painful to poop and he associated the box with the discomfort. I would consider getting an over the counter hairball laxative such as laxatone at the pet store. These can help mild cases of constipation. If he isn't pooping normally with this or has vomit/lethargy/decreased appetite then a vet exam is needed. You can read more at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=634

The difference in the stools are likely due to the diet change. Once his system gets used to the food they may normalize. The stool change doesn't have anything to do with the kidneys worsening or not. If the stools don't normalize I suggest you talk to your vet about this issue.

Hi there! That stool appears within the realm of normal. It does look a touch dry, so I'd monitor the cats for any signs of constipation and make sure they're both defecating regularly (at least once daily) and eating well. But I suspect it's normal. :-)

I would not say this is a normal consistency of stool to see. I would expect healthy stool to be well formed and a light brown color. However, the color of the stool can vary depending on the diet. The loose stools could also be from intestinal parasites. I would recommend having Hades' stool tested for parasites and if it comes back negative, start a new diet altogether. I would also consider a probiotic such Purina Fortiflora, which can be found online quite easily. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I have seen cats that are constipated leave hard pieces of stool randomly over the house. I would have your Vet do an exam and take a belly X-ray to evaluate for constipation. Constipation is a symptom of an underling condition: sudden dehydration from an illness, kidney disease or intestinal disease (IBD or intestinal cancer). I hope this helps and I wish Midnight the best!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mellow. His still appears to be dry and firm un the pictures. He may be battling constipation. I recommend increasing his water intake and adding canned food to his diet. You can also offer a small amount of canned pumpkin daily. If this does not help him to produce normal stool, then he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!