Stool consistency can vary depending on many issues from converting to a new food to allergies to stress.
Diarrhea is specifically a stool that is liquid and will flow downhill on its own accord and lasts for more than two days. Liquid stool is rare when changing a cat’s food, if it is food related, your cat may have had a preexisting parasite or bacteria that was able to proliferate to harmful levels due to the additional stress of changing the food. Liquid stool could also signify an allergic reaction to the new food. If the diarrhea persists, switch back to your cat’s previous food and if diarrhea continues, see your veterinarian.
Soft stool can best be described as having the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Soft stool is very common when changing a cat’s food and will generally last 3-5 days, gradually firming up until it reaches the consistency of a tootsie roll. Soft stool is not diarrhea and is not harmful to your cat. Most cats adjust easily to a new food and others will take several weeks depending on eating habits, health and personality.
The primary cause of soft stool is overeating. Stool is firm because of the non-digestible fibers in the food that aid in proper digestion. When a cat consumes excess food, they cannot properly digest the excess and it passes through the digestive tract not fully digested. Incomplete digestion has the effect of diluting the fiber portion of the stool causing it to soften. It is like adding too much cream or butter to your mashed potatoes, they lose consistency. This effect is much more likely when changing from a high carb cat food (35% protein) to a high protein cat food (50% protein) as carbs are much easier to digest than protein.
Some cats overeat simply because they love the flavor, other cats due to food competition. Even if you think your cats are best friends, they will still compete over food. Always have a bowl of food and water for each cat in the house. The bowls should always be full and each bowl should be in different parts or rooms of the house.
At other times, your cat’s stool may soften after starting a new bag of food. This is usually because the food is fresh or has more flavor. Again, the soft stool should disappear with a few days. Cats can also experience soft stool if they are sick from a cold. This can affect every cat in the house and last up to 10 days.
About 60% of today’s cats are overweight; When you change some of these overeaters to Young Again, they will initially overeat our food (old habits die hard) and the result will be soft stool. The reason is simple: you can eat as many crackers (high carb foods) as you want with little ill effect, but how many cheese curds (high protein/fat foods) can you eat before you have had enough? After a few days, your cat will learn the proper amount of Young Again to eat and as they do, their stool will normalize. Most cats will consume 40-50% less of Young Again cat food. This has the added benefit of loss of excess body fat usually within the first 3 months of feeding Young Again.
Some people are convinced soft stool is only food related because when they switch to another food, the soft stool stops. If the food is a high carb food (more than 5% carbs), it is less likely to cause soft stool because the carbs digest quickly and easily. But high carbs can lead to many other health concerns down the road, most notably obesity. Obesity can lead to diabetes which can lead to kidney disease. Additionally, when a cat overeats, she consumes excess minerals which can lead to crystals in the urine, kidney stones or other urinary tract issues.
In conclusion, short term soft stool is common in cats especially when changing to a new high protein food and will generally last less than a week. Continually changing their diet will only create more problems. Our recommendation is keep an eye on it, but it is almost always best to wait it out. Once your cat’s system has adapted to the high protein in Young Again Cat Food, you will see a lustrous coat, a trim well-muscled kitty and few if any health issues.
FAQs
The most common frequency is once every 36 to 48 hours. However, because Young Again is nutrient dense, cats generally poop less while eating Young Again cat foods. You can expect the frequency to be once a day to once every three days. Your cat's stool will probably be smaller in diameter, very firm and segmented.
What can I feed my cat to firm up poop? ›
Certain types of cat diarrhea tend to respond to fiber supplementation—particularly conditions that make cats defecate frequently but produce only a small amount of feces. Unflavored psyllium and canned pumpkin or pumpkin powder are available fiber supplements.
What ingredient in cat food causes diarrhea? ›
What foods give cats diarrhea?
- Rich or fatty foods.
- High carb-foods, including some commercial kibble.
- Dietary allergies.
- High-fiber foods, like too much plain pumpkin puree.
- Toxic foods.
- Dairy products, including milk and cheese.
Wet food may make cats poop less because it has less fiber than grain-filled kibble.
How can I make my cat's poop more solid? ›
Unflavored psyllium (e.g., Metamucil) and canned pumpkin are two easily available fiber supplements. No hard and fast rules for how to dose psyllium or pumpkin in cats exist, but starting with 1-2 teaspoons of either mixed into your cat's food over the course of the day is a reasonable place to start.
What home remedy can I give my cat for diarrhea? ›
Common at-home remedies for cats with diarrhea include temporarily withholding food, probiotics to reintroduce beneficial gut bacteria, or feeding a bland food diet. However, seeing a vet in person or speaking to an online vet before administering home remedies is always best.
What is the most common cause of diarrhea in cats? ›
Infectious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, coccidia, and intestinal worms (hookworms, roundworms, whipworms), or non-infectious irritants, such as chemical toxins or poisonous plants, are some of the more common causes of diarrhea.
Is it normal for cats to have loose stools but seem fine? ›
If your pet has a single episode of diarrhea but is otherwise acting normally, it's likely not a cause for concern. Monitor your pet's bowel movements to see if things clear up.
Can cats get diarrhea from dry food? ›
Examples of diets that may cause your cat to have diarrhoea include raw cat food or a BARF diet, or a diet higher in fibre. Cats can also be sensitive to cow's milk, which in some cases causes diarrhoea. Even swapping from dry to wet food or vice versa can upset a cat's stomach.
What deters cats from pooping? ›
Mix one of the scents with water and spray the garden. Cats also don't like orange and lemon peels, cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, lavender oil, lemongrass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil. These are other cost-effective and non-toxic options.
Diet. From kibble and wet food to raw—what your cat eats has an impact on how often she poops. "A high-carbohydrate dry kibble diet results in more bowel movements," Matejka says. Wet and raw diets have higher digestibility ratios, which means fewer bowel movements than a kibble-fed feline.
Do cats poop more on dry food? ›
The easier digestibility of wet food means cats absorb more nutrients, resulting in less undigested material in their system. Additionally, wet food is generally lower in fiber compared to dry food, which can contribute to increased bowel movements as fiber adds bulk and regulates stool consistency.
Is there a stool softener for cats? ›
Over-the-counter laxatives can work well for mild constipation, but your veterinarian might need to prescribe Lactulose or Microlax or even administer an enema in more severe cases.
What does unhealthy cat poop look like? ›
Unhealthy cat poop may have a soft or runny consistency and be difficult to scoop; it may be very hard and pebble-like. Any color other than brown is cause for concern, especially if the color change can't be attributed to diet.
Why does my cat poop immediately after eating? ›
They often poop right after eating because eating stimulates their digestive system which stimulates their bowels.
How can I soften my cats stool naturally? ›
Contents
- Keep Your Cat Well Hydrated.
- Feed Canned Wet Food.
- Change Your Cat's Diet.
- Keep Your Cat at a Healthy Weight.
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety.
- Provide Multiple Litter Trays.
- Ensure Your Cat is Getting Enough Exercise.
- Increase Dietary Fiber.
Mushy or Soft Cat Poop: Soft or mushy cat poop often indicates an upset stomach. This is often related to a sudden diet change, but it can have other causes. If the condition is ongoing or your cat develops other symptoms, call your vet for advice.
How do you loosen a cat's bowels? ›
Listed below are the 6 ways you can help your cat:
- Hydration. Hydration is the most important step in helping your cat deal with constipation. ...
- Diet. ...
- Exercise. ...
- Stress- Adding Litter Boxes. ...
- Over-the-Counter Laxatives (MiraLax and Lactulose)
If it's mushy or rock-solid, your cat might be having a health issue. If it's watery, your cat is likely having a bout of diarrhea, which can be caused by: Eating toxic substances, such as harmful foods or plants (see a list of troublesome plants)
