A Guide to Cat Poop: What’s Normal and What’s Not

Healthy cat poop is a rich brown color, formed, and log-shaped with a moist consistency that’s easy to scoop. 

• Medium to dark brown color 
• Log-shaped and formed 
• Moist but not sticky or watery 

Not sure what your cat’s poop color means? Here’s a breakdown. 

Considered normal, healthy stool, brown cat poop is generally medium to dark brown. Some variation can occur depending on your cat’s diet, says Ericka Gillette, DVM, lead veterinarian partner at CityVet in Kingwood, Texas. 

Black or tarry stool is poop that has a sticky, tar-like appearance and consistency. This may indicate potential digested blood coming from the stomach or upper intestinal tract, Dr. Gillette explains. 

Black or tarry stool is not normal and is an urgent matter. You should consult your vet promptly if you see black, tarry poop, and especially if your cat is showing additional signs, such as: 

• Weakness 
• Vomiting 
• Pale gums 
• Not eating 

Bright red blood showing up as red streaks or mixed in with your cat’s stool can be an alarming sight. 

“Bright red streaks usually indicate fresh bleeding from the lower intestine or rectum, sometimes after diarrhea or straining,” says Michael Hyder, DVM, medical director at VEG ER for Pets in Palm Desert, California. It may also occur due to colitis, constipation, or parasites. 

While a tiny streak of blood may be monitored if it occurs just once, it’s best to contact your vet if you notice recurrent or significant bleeding, Dr. Gillette says. 

While diet can affect stool color, Dr. Gillette notes that yellow or orange stool may be a sign of rapid intestinal transit, or gastrointestinal (GI), liver, biliary, or pancreatic disease. 

This is typically not normal if it’s persistent. Consult a vet if it continues or is accompanied by other symptoms. 

Green poop may be due to diet changes or from intestinal contents moving too quickly through the GI tract, says Dr. Gillette. 

Green cat poop is usually not normal. A vet visit is warranted if your cat is having persistent green stool or showing accompanying signs, such as: 

• Diarrhea 
• Vomiting 
• Appetite loss 

Pale, gray, or white cat stool appears to be clay-colored.  

Pale poop is not normal and can sometimes indicate decreased bile reaching the intestines, Dr. Gillette says. This may be linked to issues such as liver, gallbladder, bile duct, or pancreatic disease. 

If you notice pale poop is happening frequently, consult a vet for an evaluation. 

Now that we’ve covered cat poop color, it’s time to (figuratively) dive into different cat stool types to discover what is—and isn’t—normal. 

Firm and formed cat poop is normal and healthy. It should be firm without being extremely hard or dry, as well as easy to scoop out of the litter box, Dr. Gillette notes. 

Hard, dry stool can appear stiff or crumbly and may be indicative of constipation or dehydration in a cat. You should contact your vet if your cat shows the following signs: 

• Straining repeatedly 
• Discomfort 
• Hasn’t passed stool normally within 48 hours 

Because straining to urinate can look a lot like constipation, it’s important to monitor your cat’s bathroom habits. Not being able to urinate is an emergency, especially in male cats, Dr. Gillette says. 

Soft or loose stool in cats lacks some form and firmness compared to healthy stool. This can indicate mild GI upset or a change in diet. 

If your cat’s soft or loose stool doesn’t resolve within 48 hours or if other signs appear, it’s best to contact your vet. 

Watery diarrhea in cats lacks any shape or form, resembling a puddle. There are several potential causes for diarrhea in cats, such as: 

• Diet changes 
• Stress 
• Parasites 
• Infections 
• GI disease 

Watery diarrhea is not normal and poses a dehydration risk to cats. One episode in an otherwise healthy adult cat may be monitored; however, persistent diarrhea or diarrhea accompanied by blood, vomiting, lethargy, or appetite loss warrants veterinary care, Dr. Gillette says. 

Visibly clear or jelly-like mucus in stool can indicate inflammation of the large intestine or colitis, according to Dr. Gillette. 

Potential causes for mucus in cat poop include: 

• Stress 
• Diet changes 
• Parasites 
• Infections 
• GI disease 

Recurrent mucus, especially with blood or diarrhea, should be evaluated, Dr. Gillette notes. 

It can be puzzling when our cat’s poop looks—or smells—unlike it usually does. 

According to Dr. Gillette, common causes of changes in cat poop include: 

• Dietary changes 
• Eating something unusual 
• Food intolerance 
• Intestinal parasites 
• Stress 
• Infections 
• Dehydration 
• Constipation 
• Medications 
• Chronic GI disease 

Sometimes, changes in a cat’s stool can be associated with systemic illnesses, intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, or cancer. However, this is less common, she notes. 

While a single abnormal bowel movement isn’t always concerning, persistent or recurrent changes are important to watch for, Dr. Gillette says. 

Symptoms that are a cause for concern include: 

• Vomiting 
• Appetite loss 
• Lethargy 
• Dehydration 
• Pain 
• Abdominal discomfort 
• A major change in litter box habits (e.g., repeated straining) 

You should consult a vet immediately if you notice the following signs: 

• Black, tarry stool 
• A significant amount of red blood in stool 
• Severe or repeated diarrhea 
• Weakness or collapse 
• A swollen or painful abdomen 
• Inability to pass stool accompanied by vomiting or obvious distress 
• Suspected toxin or foreign-object ingestion 

Dr. Hyder recommends contacting your vet if you notice: 

• A change in your cat’s stool lasting longer than one to two days 
• The change keeps returning 
• The change is accompanied by other symptoms 

“Kittens, senior cats, and cats with chronic medical conditions may need to be evaluated sooner because they can become dehydrated or unwell more quickly,” he says. 

If you have any concerns about your cat’s poops, it’s best to take a clear photo of it and/or bring a fresh stool sample to your vet. 

The key to normal poops? A healthy gut. 

Try these expert-recommended tips on how to support your cat’s digestive health and help keep your kitty happy: 

• Feed a consistent, complete, and balanced diet. 
• Gradually switch your cat’s new food over seven to 10 days.  
• Encourage hydration with fresh water, fountains, and/or canned food. 

• Keep up with recommended parasite prevention, fecal testing, and routine veterinary examinations. 

• Maintain your cat’s litter box to monitor any changes. 

Dr. Gillette encourages pet parents to become familiar with what’s normal for their cat, as changes in stool color, consistency, frequency, or litter box behavior can provide important clues about their health. 

Most healthy adult cats poop about once a day, although some naturally go a little more or less often, Dr. Hyder says.  

He recommends contacting your vet if your cat is approaching two days without passing stool or is showing signs like straining, vomiting, eating less, or acting uncomfortable. 

A cat’s poop may be suddenly or noticeably smelly due to a change in diet or eating something unusual, Dr. Hyder says.  

If poop is persistently foul-smelling or has changed in texture, potential causes include: intestinal parasites, infection, inflammation, or issues digesting and absorbing nutrients. 

Sometimes. A small, temporary change can be normal if a cat’s diet has changed, but a persistent or dramatic color change may indicate an underlying health issue. 

You should call the vet about your cat’s poop if you notice anything unusual, like a change in color, consistency, frequency, or volume.  

Accompanying signs, such as vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, weight loss, or a noticeable change in litter box habits, also warrant a vet visit.