When we asked for topics that you all wanted advice and insight on, quite a few people asked us (some variation of) this question… How often should my cat go? Show It’s an important question and one that — of course — has a not-so-straightforward answer. As with many things about cats, there are several factors that will influence the answer. These factors include, amongst other things:
General Rule of Thumb: All other things being equal though, the general "rule of thumb" is that a cat should pass a bowel movement at least once daily. Furthermore, that movement should be formed, but not too hard, a normal brown color, and they should pass it without difficulty or discomfort. Specific Rule of Thumb: Perhaps a better, more specific “rule of thumb,” though, is that if your cat’s bowel movements start to differ from their normal frequency, consistency, color, odor, or anything else, and that change persists for longer than a day or two, it’s time to visit your veterinarian, as this could be a sign of a problem.Important Warnings About Cat PoopRegardless of which “rule of thumb” you choose to follow, watch out for these warning signs.
If your cat is eliminating outside the litter box that's a whole other ball of proverbial wax. There are many potential reasons for such a change in behavior, and you should work with your veterinarian to try and figure out why your cat has taken up this new (and undesirable) habit. Below are some simple things you can check and address on your own, too. (Nifty trick: if you have several cats in your home and you need a trick to figure out which one is pooping outside the box, check out this nifty trick using crayons.) Picking the Right Size Litter Box for Your CatYou should first check whether they have an appropriately sized box. Oddly enough, for most cats, the "best overall litter box” for general use usually isn’t a traditional litter box! The thing that most often fits the bill is actually a large, plastic under-the-bed clothes storage box. They’re typically plenty long and wide enough, with just the right depth, too. I love using the inner drawers of the ones linked below, as they've got great dimensions for most cats: approximately 27" long, 15" wide, and 4.5" tall — and you can get them in multi-packs to save money! You might also try the following boxes for "sprayers," "kickers," and cats with bad aim. Nature's Miracle High-Sided Litter Box, Easy Clean Spout BetterBox LARGE Cat Litter Box Using Litter Attractants and Pheromones for Cat Potty ProblemsIf your cat is still going outside of their boxes, you can try a litter attractant, which does exactly what you'd expect: attracts a cat to their litter boxes. Dr. Elsey's Ultra Litter Attractant And since stress can cause a cat to eliminate outside of their boxes, consider placing a calming pheromone diffuser in the same rooms as their boxes so they feel comfortable and safe when they're ready to do their business. FELIWAY Classic Diffuser for Cats (30 Day Starter Kit)
We are conducting a survey of cat owners to learn more about the eating and litter box habits of cats. It will only take about 1-2 minutes to complete. Your experiences will help us help cats everywhere by providing better information to cat lovers. Cat feeding & litter box survey is anonymous.
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