Having a kitten at home feels like you have a hyperactive kid at home. This furkid of yours will be up to no good, getting into trouble, zooming all around the house and making your heart melt with all of its adorable antics.
Another thing that many kittens are good at is being bad with their toilet habits.
Being kittens, they are still coming to terms with using a litter box and might leave you nasty surprises around the house.
But what if your kitten has poop stuck in its anus?
Kittens with poop still stuck in their anuses might be having constipation issues. It could also be due to other health problems that are preventing your kitten from defecating properly.
Let us take a deeper look into this issue and what you can do to help your kitten if it has not been able to poo properly.
Why Is Poop Stuck In My Kitten’s Anus?
If there is poop stuck halfway in your cat’s anus, it is most likely due to the poop being too hard and dry. This prevents the kitten from being able to fully expel the poop fully from its rectum.
One main cause of this is due to constipation.
In such cases, it is more a case of mild constipation as a badly constipated cat won’t be able to poo at all. Constipation in cats is a rather common problem with many cat parents.
My cat gets it once in a blue moon for no rhyme or reason. And I notice that when he is constipated, the poo tends to stick more to his anus that looks like black spots.
However, this isn’t something that we want to become a chronic problem with our cats or kittens.
Let us take a look at what are the causes of constipation in cats followed by prevention methods.
Feeding Your Kitten Dry Cat Food
If your kitten has been weaned off milk formula and is now being fed dry food or kibbles, such a diet can give your cat constipation.
Dry food is devoid of any moisture which is what a cat needs more in its diet.
Cats originate from the desert which makes them less prone to thirst. Their liquid requirements come from the prey that they kill and eat.
Fast forward to modern times, our cats no longer have to hunt for their food. More cat owners around the world are feeding their feline friends dry food due to affordability and convenience.
This means that our cats are definitely getting a lot less water than they need which can lead to constipation and chronic kidney disease.
Poor Water Drinking Habits
This cause ties in closely to the above reason. Most cats aren’t fond of drinking water as it is more in their nature to get hydrated via the food that they consume.
Even if your kitten or cat already has a water bowl, they might only drink from it if they are really thirsty.
We need to ensure that our cats get more water than they think they need.
Hairballs
If you have a cat, hairballs are pretty much part of the feline package.
Although hairballs in kittens are not very common, it can still happen. Kittens learn by imitating and most of their grooming is done by the mother cat.
As kittens get older, they tend to start grooming themselves more. The more a cat cleans itself, the larger the amount of loose hair or fur it will swallow.
Most of the time, cats will either vomit up or poo out the hairball.
If you have ever seen your cat hacking and gagging while struggling to vomit up a hairball, it can be quite a distressing sight.
Cats that are long-haired or groom themselves excessively can accumulate masses of hairballs in their digestive tract that become too big and get trapped.
This can affect their bowel movements and cause constipation.
Dirty Litter Box
No one likes using a dirty toilet, even cats. If you have been doing a poor job of cleaning your cat’s litter box, you can expect your cat to do its business elsewhere in the house.
Your cat might feel constipated because it cannot properly use its own litter box.
Cat owners should scoop out cat poop and pee from the litter box at least once a day. Change out the whole litter box once a week with fresh litter.
Not Properly Groomed By Mother Cat
When kittens are still young and helpless, their mother cat will lick their bottoms to encourage them to poo and also clean them up after pooping.
If your queen cat isn’t doing this to some of her kittens due to inexperience or having too many kittens, these kittens will get constipated.
Intestinal Parasites
Many cats will get infected with some types of parasitic worms at some point in their lives. Kittens are prone to getting intestinal worms like hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms.
These parasites can mess up a cat’s digestive system and make them constipated.
If your kitten is old enough, you can talk to your vet about prescribing them anti-parasitic treatment like Nexgard.
What Should I Do If I See Poop Stuck Halfway?
If you happen to spot poop stuck halfway in your kitten’s butt, take a cotton ball and clean it off with some warm or lukewarm water.
Do not use anything harsh cleaning solutions or scented wet wipes as these can irritate your kitten’s gentle skin. If your kitten has poop hanging out of its butt, do not use your fingers or any sharp object to try and remove it.
Some cats will start scooting or dragging their bums around on the floor if they have dried feces stuck to their butt. Make sure to clean up the cat properly before it starts leaving poop and poop stains all over the house and carpet.
This also includes any stained fur around the butt hole area as well.
How Often Should My Kitten Be Pooping?
Kittens are pooping machines due to their huge appetites and somewhat poor digestive system.
In general, kittens can poo from 1-6 times a day depending on their age, food consumption and stomach health.
As they mature into adult cats with a more efficient digestive system. they tend to only poo 1-2 times a day.
Some cats poo once every other day.
It is also normal if a kitten doesn’t poop after a day. But if it doesn’t poop after 48 hours or if you notice your cat has poop stuck halfway in its anus, it is having constipation.
What Should I Do If I See A Foreign Object Stuck In My Kitten’s Anus?
Kittens are generally more curious in nature and get end up ingesting non-edible objects.
If you happen to see something a piece of string or fabric mixed with poo and sticking out of your cat’s butt, please do not forcefully pull it out.
Try to gently remove it but if you feel any resistance, immediately stop.
There’s a chance that it could already intertwined with your cat’s intestines or some other vulnerable body part.
Take your cat to the vet where they are more equipped to handle such cases.
Symptoms Of Constipation In Kittens
Not pooping after a day isn’t a sign of constipation. But if your kitten has not had a bowel movement after 48 hours, you need to start looking out for symptoms of constipation.
These symptoms will include:
- Going in and out of the litter box many times
- Struggling to poop but nothing comes out
- Loss of appetite
- Looking less active
- Vomiting
Do not wait to bring your kitten to the vet if you kitten has not popped after 72 hours as it can result in serious complications.
How To Prevent Constipation In My Cat?
If your kitten or cat has been suffering from chronic constipation or you would like to prevent your cat from getting it, here are the best methods to use.
Stop Feeding Your Cat Dry Food
If you have been feeding your cat dry food all this while, please stop and switch to wet food or a raw meat diet. The larger amount of moisture in raw or wet food will benefit your cat greatly with the extra hydration.
With more water in your cat’s body, it will help soften its stool thus making it easier to pass out.
It is a lot easier to get your cat started on a new diet when your cat is still a kitten. As the cat gets older, its eating habits get more ingrained and making the switch takes more effort.
Encourage Your Cat To Drink More Water
Besides providing your cat with a bowl of fresh water daily, you can also eat more water in your cat’s wet food.
Many cats like the taste of broth and homemade tuna water is a great way to get your cat to drink more water.
If you have a cat that likes playing with water or drinking from the tap, getting a cat fountain can encourage it to drink more water as well.
Groom Your Cat More Often
If your cat’s constipation is usually due to hairballs or if you have a long-haired cat, you need to brush your cat more often.
Some cat owners prefer to shave down their long-haired cats during the summer months to minimize shedding.
Daily grooming sessions can help remove the loose with a brush rather than letting your cat ingest it.
Observe The Mother Cat
If your female cat has recently had kittens who have not been weaned, make sure that she is regularly licking her kitten’s bottom to encourage them to poo.
If she seems overwhelmed, you can help her by taking a warm cloth and rubbing the kitten’s bottom after each meal to get them to poo.
Remember to also clean up after them as kittens can’t groom themselves yet.
Feed Your Cat More Fiber
By more fiber I do not mean giving your cat an apple or a bowl of salad. Cats are still carnivores and can’t digest plant matter.
The occasional serving of fresh pumpkin or psyllium husk can help regulate your cat’s bowel movements.
You don’t have to feed your cat much, just 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon a day is more than enough.
Do not use canned pumpkin that contains sugar or add ingredients as it can be harmful to cats.
Play With Your Cat
Cats that are more active tend to have better bowel movements. Kittens are naturally active so you don’t really have to encourage them to play.
Cats tend to get lazier as they get older so make it a point to play with your cat daily that involves them chasing something.
Conclusion
Try not to panic if you happen to see poop stuck halfway in your kitten’s anus. It is a rather common occurrence for younger cats.
Always make the change to your cat’s diet and water habits if you want the best results. Chronic constipation in cats can lead to other health issues.