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My cat poops frequently. What's causing this and what can I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my cat poop so much?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on January 16th, 2017

Normally cats defecate (poop) about once per day. If your cat is pooping more than that, you may be feeding a diet that is exceptionally high in insoluble fiber, which means that the fiber in the food cannot be digested and is passed out of the body. Typically, low quality grocery store brands fall into this category. Look for a higher quality food that is labeled to be lower in carbohydrates in order to decrease the volume and frequency of defecation.

34Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on January 13th, 2018
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. This could be diet related or a bacterial related problem in which there is not enough good bacteria in the GI tract to aid in digestion. I would consider switching the food to a hydrolyzed protein diet such as Hills Z/D or Royal Canin ultamino. I would also consider adding a probiotic such as Purina fortiflora which can be found online quite easily or at your local pet store. If this does not help I would recommend an abdominal ultrasound to help rule out other causes. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why does my cat poop so much, and her stool is soft but she's fine?

This probably is due to the food she eats. Some cat food has more undigestible bulk (lots more fiber) than other cat food. If you want her to poop less poop, you will need to get low residue cat food, which is usually a prescription food for cats with constipation. If you put "low residue cat food" in your browser , it will bring up many different kinds.

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Is it normal for my cat to poop twice a day if she seems healthy?

Yes, some cats may poop twice a day - their schedules can vary a bit, just like people :) As long as her stools are normal in color and consistency and she is acting normal, I wouldn't be concerned about this at all.

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Is it normal for my 6-month-old kitten to poop often and stink?

Congrats on your new kitten! Yes, it is normal for a kitten to pass multiple times a day, especially if she is being fed multiple times a day or has food left out at all times. Poop does stink lol! It could be the combination of the food causing the smell, but I would continue to feed it to Ovey because it was recommended by your vet :-)

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How often should a 4-month-old kitten poop, and what's normal?

Hello. At 4 months of age, a kitten might defecate 2-3 times a day, but once a day would not be alarming as long as the kitten seems comfortable & is eating well. The consistency should be well formed, perhaps a little soft. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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How long can my cat go without peeing or pooping? When to worry?

There is no set time frame, however a cat should poop at least once every two days (if it does not eat much) and it should urinate at least once daily. If your cat is not urinating at least once a day and not eliminating properly , it should be seen by a veterinarian for an exam. It may not be eating enough which in turn could be caused by a health condition.

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My cat poops a lot, but it's healthy. Is his food quality an issue?

If he is not overweight then I would not worry about him not digesting his food well. If that was the case he would be very skinny (ribs showing). Usually increased poop volume is dietary related. I don't know what you are feeding him so it is hard for me to comment on the diet. If his poops look normal and healthy and he is not skinny I would not be worried and I don't think you should change his diet if he seems fine.

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My new 5-month-old kitten isn't pooping. Could he be constipated?

Young kittens will normally toilet frequently, often up to 6 times a day but I would be very concerned by repeated trips to the tray without producing anything as this may indicate an obstruction or severe spasm and inflammation which is quite common in cats and can be triggered by stressful events such as moving house. I recommend an urgent vet check to determine if he is constipated or bladder pain and to prescribe the most appropriate treatment and ongoing management to prevent recurrence. In the meantime I would try to encourage fluids with flavoured water (freshly boiled chicken broth or a little cod liver oil on the water bowl) and provide wet food to maximise fluid intake which can help soften stool and flush the bladder

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