Cats have quite a few strange habits. You have even noticed your feline eating their own poop. This behavior is a health condition known as coprophagia, and it’s widespread in cats and dogs.1 You may be wondering why this happens, how to help your feline, and how to stop them from engaging in this activity.
Cats may eat their own feces simply due to curiosity, but it can also indicate serious health issues. You should know how to determine the cause of your pet’s poop eating so you can figure out what can be done for them.
Read on as we discuss this behavior throughout this article and provide more information about it.
Is It Normal for Cats to Eat Their Poop?
When it comes to cats, eating their poop is quite normal and helpful in certain stages of life. Young kittens may develop this habit when they notice their mother licking and grooming, or it can happen as an instinct to ensure proper gastrointestinal tract development. Mother cats may eat their feces to prevent the kittens from eating it, as it can sometimes contain parasites. Most felines grow out of this habit, especially if they’re potty trained, but some cats continue doing this even in adulthood.
Also, cats love to be clean and groom themselves often, so if your feline has accidentally defecated on themselves, they will simply lick the area to be cleaner. Although this habit is disgusting to most humans, it isn’t necessarily bad for your feline’s health, but it does depend on the cause.
The Reason Behind This Strange Habit
There can be multiple reasons that your cat is eating their poop. These can be both medical and behavioral, so you should look for clues that will help you figure out what’s going on.
Medical Reasons
First, let’s go over the most common medical reasons that your cat may eat their poop.
- Enzyme deficiency. If your feline’s pancreas is not creating enough enzymes, the kitty won’t be able to absorb the nutrients and may lose weight or suffer from hunger. When a cat suffers from an enzyme deficiency, they will excrete all enzymes through their poop instead of adequately digesting them.
- Parasites. Another common reason behind poop eating in cats is intestinal parasites. You should be able to notice this issue by examining your cat’s feces. The worms are usually visible, so be sure to consult your vet if you see them.
- Diet deficiency. If your cat only eats dry foods that are not rich in nutrients, they might eat their feces to make up the nutrients.
- Diabetes and thyroid disease. These health conditions can affect your cat’s appetite, and they may eat their feces due to hunger, even if they have ready access to proper cat food.
Behavioral Reasons
Behavioral reasons can also be a cause for coprophagia. Cats may have a behavioral urge called pica, making them eat inedible materials, including poop. If your cat has pica, their body will make them think that they’re hungry, even when they’re not. Felines also tend to eat their feces if they are prone to stress and anxiety.
This habit can also be a sign of boredom or lack of playtime. Some cats may even eat their poop if they’ve used the wrong spot as their bathroom, to avoid possible punishment from their owners.
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How to Make a Diagnosis
If you notice this issue, it’s best to schedule a vet checkup. Your veterinarian will be able to determine if the feces-eating pattern has a medical or behavioral cause. They will likely do complete blood tests and a urinalysis to ensure everything is okay in your feline’s organs. If the reason for poop eating in your cat is not medical, your vet will need to know everything about your feline’s eating habits, history, and environment.
Do not play doctor yourself, and do not deny the problem, as it can lead to severe consequences.
Does Eating Poop Cause Sickness to Felines?
Although coprophagia is not a severe medical condition and is not unusual among felines, your cat can still suffer from various problems if they develop this habit. When ingesting poop, cats can catch diseases like Salmonella or Escherichia coli and parasites. Also, your cat might have tummy issues due to eating the feces. These diseases can also harm you, so be cautious.
If you notice your cat doing this, do not allow them to lick you, and ensure that you wash your hands regularly until you resolve the problem with your feline.
The 5 Ways to Prevent Your Cat From Eating Their Poop
Poop eating in felines is a habit that’s difficult to break, so be prepared and patient with your kitty. There are a few things you can do to prevent your cat from eating their poop.
- See Also: Why Won’t My Kitten Poop?
1. Clean Up After Your Cat
The best way to prevent your cat from eating their feces is to pick it up or dispose of it when you notice your feline pooping. Constant cleaning after your cat defecates might be daunting, since you’ll need to be extra careful, but it will help with the issue. You could even buy an automatic litter box that immediately scoops off feces once your cat goes. If you’re taking your feline outside, it might be useful to have a leash or a harness so you can pull them away if they try to eat their poop.
2. Slow Down Your Cat’s Eating
When cats eat too fast, they don’t digest the food properly, which can lead to your cat later eating half-digested food in their feces. It would be helpful to slow down your cat’s eating so they can chew the food better and improve the consistency of their feces. It would be good to create a feeding routine for your feline and try to predict when they will need to go potty. This way, you can monitor their behavior and know when you need to clean the litter box.
3. Increase Their Activity Level
Since cats can sometimes eat their poop as a sign of boredom or anxiety, you could increase the activity level of your kitty. Provide opportunities for them to explore, play, and be adventurous. Try to engage your cat in family activities and give them needed love and care. Exciting activities will make your kitty less stressed and bored, which will take their mind off of eating poop.
- See Also:Best Cat Exercise Wheels
4. Make a Diet Change
Since poor diet and food quality can also lead to coprophagia, it would be helpful to make a diet change for your feline. Provide a diet that’s high in protein and fiber, and ensure that you give your cat enough meat products. Before deciding on this preventive step, consult your vet to verify which foods you should include in your cat’s diet.
5. Be There for Your Cat
If you notice that your cat is eating their poop, do not punish or scold them. Such a reaction from your side can make your feline even more anxious or scared, so they might continue to eat feces to avoid punishment. Consider giving potty training one more go, and ensure that you reward your cat when they don’t eat poop in the situations when they previously did. Your positive attitude toward the problem will help your cat and encourage them to stop this habit.
- See Also: How to Make a Kitten Poop?
Conclusion
Poop eating is a habit that can be hard for your cat to break, but you shouldn’t be discouraged. Try to notice the problem early, and be there for your feline throughout the process of stopping the pattern. Always consult your vet to ensure that the issue is not medical, and in case it is, you should provide the required treatment and medication.
Remember that your cat needs someone to rely on when times are tough, as this situation can be complicated. Your kitty will appreciate you taking all the required steps to help them fight this habit and develop a healthy diet.
See Also:
Featured Image Credit: Tanya Plotnikova, Shutterstock
Contents
- Is It Normal for Cats to Eat Their Poop?
- The Reason Behind This Strange Habit
- How to Make a Diagnosis
- Does Eating Poop Cause Sickness to Felines?
- The 5 Ways to Prevent Your Cat From Eating Their Poop
- 1. Clean Up After Your Cat
- 2. Slow Down Your Cat’s Eating
- 3. Increase Their Activity Level
- 4. Make a Diet Change
- 5. Be There for Your Cat
- Conclusion
