If you foster kittens, your phone may be filled with adorable photos of growing kittens. Playing and learning all while in the safety of a loving home and caring humans. And while showing friends, you’ll keep scrolling through those photos and come across poop photos. Lots of them. In all colors. And when they stare at the phone in disgust, the fosterer will simply laugh before they explain how important those photos truly are.
Because cat poop is a great indicator of cat health.
Catster Magazine took the time to speak to numerous veterinarians to compile wonderful information on the taboo subject.
Photo: Catster.com
While changes in your felines feces can be related to food or diet, there are numerous other medical reasons that could be present.
You should make an urgent vet trip if your cat has black, sticky poop that looks like tar. It is a sign that your cat is suffering from internal bleeding in their stomach or upper intestines, which could be life-threatening.
Poop changes in young kittens.
When you are fostering neonatal kittens, poop is the best indicator of an issue in miniature felines. And this needs to be monitored CLOSELY! Because for the fragile new lives, it can be a swift death sentence should infection occur. While many fosters are likely caring for kittens that were rescued from outside where numerous concerns can arise. Most often its worms, but these can be easily treated with a few doses of dewormer medication. But monitoring their bowel movements is where you have to confirm that they are later worm free.
Photo: Baby Jugg getting into her slurry
As they are weaned onto slurry, a mix of kitten formula and wet food, their bathroom breaks will reflect this. Just like with adult cats, when changes are made to their diets, you may see this in the litter box too. Some occasional diarrhea or constipation can occur. But usually this corrects itself in a day or so. However, if you are seeing this regularly or for more than a day or so, you should make a vet visit to confirm nothing more serious.
Photo property of Cole and Marmalade ~ Baby Marm visits Ehrlich Animal Hospital back in 2013
The importance of cleaning your litter box manually.
While there are certain automatic litter boxes on the market that are safe for your cats, they have one flaw. You can’t monitor your cats poop if you aren’t seeing it. In our house, we have 6 cats. So the rule is to have ONE LITTER BOX FOR EACH CAT PLUS ONE MORE; here that means 7 litter boxes. We have 1 automatic and 6 manual so we can still be “poop supurrvisers”.
To help cat owners, there is one item on the market, Pretty Litter, that can be very beneficial in your manual litter boxes. This amazing item has indicators in the litter that change color based on your cats urine. It will indicate a range of medical issues that may prevent further issues, catching them at their onset.
Photos: Catster.com
So while talking about and examining poop may not be on your mind or your daily to-do list, it’s important you do so. So next time the zoomies hit, you’ll know it’s time for you to grab your “poop police” scooper!
Photo: CaM foster Anita (Jugg’s sister) -Niti’s first litter use; CLEARLY thrilled mom was photographing her private moment =)
