Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,
Have you ever sat in a room and smelled a foul odour? Well did you take a look around your room to see what could have caused the odour? Was there nothing but your cat staring blankly at you? Well, that might be because your cat may be the cause of the scent.
SO DO CATS ACTUALLY FART?
Let’s put it like this. Cats can experience gastrointestinal issues and can experience gas buildup, however, vets have left it up to debate whether or not they actually “fart.” The reason for this is the fact that vets have not been able to pinpoint whether or not cats actually make a sound while they release gases and oftentimes release these gases in other ways.
IS IT NORMAL FOR CATS TO FART?
Yes and no. It is 100% okay for your cat to fart, but oftentimes it is a sign that there is something else happening inside of their bodies. If your cat is constantly farting, you may have a more serious issue on your hands, however, most of the causes of gas build up tend to be a quick fix!
DO CATS KNOW THAT THEY ARE FARTING?
It’s up for debate as well. As most vets believe that all cat farts are silent, they also believe that cats aren’t actually aware that they are farting.
WHAT ARE SOME REASONS CATS FART OR EXPERIENCE GAS BUILDUPS?
- Low-Quality Foods with lots of filler
- This was the main reason our cat, Kalista, was “farting” all of the time. My partner and I used to often comment on how stinky she was, especially because when she did “fart” they were extremely foul. At the time Kalista was eating Whiskas Wet Food, which is known to have a number of by-products and fillers that cats don’t really need. However, it was very difficult for us to get Kalista to switch onto a higher quality food which is now a mixture of Natural Balance Wet and Open Farm Kibble.
- Remember, better quality food does not need to be expensive and you don’t have to feed the absolute highest end food to help your cat out. If you think that this is the problem with your cat you can easily speak to a pet store employee or your vet for recommendations of higher quality food. I would also do some personal research on pet foods to see which would best suit your cat’s needs.
- Why Is Filler Bad? Simply because fillers are harder for cats to digest causing cats to have an upset or gassy stomach.
- Dairy Products
- Although it’s very common to see cats drinking milk in cartoons, the majority of cats are actually lactose intolerant. Similar to us humans, lactose intolerant cats will experience bloating and gas buildup. Cats may experience the same thing with milk alternatives like almond milk and soy milk.
- Parasites
- This is a more concerning reason for your cat’s gassy or upset stomach. The most common parasites are worms and they often cause an upset stomach, diarrhea as well as gas. I would strongly advise you to go to a vet to receive treatment and not do so from home. Many “over the counter” dewormers are extremely harsh and ineffective.
Eating Too Fast
- It’s weird to think that eating too fast can cause gas, but think about how much air is going to get trapped inside your body if you don’t take the time to breathe out. A number of cats become very gassy because they’re eating too fast and may even throw up. You may want to get your cat a slow feeder or a puzzle feeder if they’re a vaccuum kitty!
- Eating Garbage or Spoiled Food
- It’s no surprise that garbage or spoiled food is bad for a kitty, but due to the upset, it may cause your cat’s stomach they may develop some excess gas.
- Human Foods Like Tuna
- In general, you should limit your cat’s intake of “human food.” A lot of it isn’t great for your cat and may upset your cat’s stomach. Oddly enough, one of the biggest culprits is tuna!
- Hairballs
- Hairballs are an annoying cat trait that I’m sure everyone wishes didn’t exist, especially your kitty. The buildup of hair in the stomach or intestines may make it difficult for gas to pass through your cat’s body causing them to release it in a stinky cat fart. Always make sure to brush your cat and it may be time to check out some hairball control products to help your cat pass the hair quickly and effectively.
- A Sudden Dietary Change
- It’s hard to remember that cats are not like us and are not used to switching up their diet every day and because of this we can actually cause them more harm than we realize. When switching food make sure to always do it slowly. Adding a bit more and more of the food you hope to feed them over a week or so. Now, some cats have stronger stomachs than others and may experience no discomfort, however, the regular cat usually deals with gas or even vomiting and diarrhea. Try to avoid this as much as possible!
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS RELATED TO GAS THAT ARE SIGNS THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAT?
Again, in most cases farts are going to be completely normal and unproblematic, however, some of the symptoms that may suggest otherwise include:
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- A gurgling or rumbling stomach
- Blood in Feces
- Abdominal Pains (Your cat may groan when touched)
- Excessive Drooling
- Scooting Along the Floor
- Decreased Appetite
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH KITTY FARTS?
- Malabsorption
- When the intestines cannot absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- The inflammation of the digestive tract
- Parasites & Worms
- Intestinal Virus
- Commonly caused by contaminated fecal matter
- Pancreatic Issues
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Most common for cats with Pica or cats who swallow foreign objects that are not their food
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EASIEST SOLUTIONS TO GET MY CAT TO STOP FARTING?
- Feed a higher quality food
- Slow down your cat’s eating habits with toys, like the slimcat ball
- Avoid human foods and dairy
- Ask your vet if your cat is getting too much or too little fibre
- Exercising your cat
- Transition new food slowly
- Get a full physical on your cat
CONCLUSION
So while most cat farts are completely harmless and natural, they may also be the sign of a more serious issue that your cat may be hiding. If your cat is always gassy make sure to take them to the vet for a full physical. If they’re just gassy every so often, they’re probably just experiencing one of the problems listed above.
So Pet Parents, do any of your cats fart? Let me know in the comments below!
Pasha was my Champagne cat.
‘What’s a Champagne cat?’ Visiting friends would ask, after Pasha had installed himself on their lap and then excitedly infused the air with another of his nose-wrinkling emissions.
Paraphrasing from one of Peter Mayle’s delightful Provence books: A young couple samples wines at an old abbey. The blushing bride wonders, ‘You make such great wine, so why not Champagne?’ The rotund abbot looks at the woman and smiles indulgently, ‘Ah, ma chère, what really is Champagne? Champagne is but a perfectly good wine that breaks wind.’
Pasha is a perfectly good cat.
[Excerpt – “Pasha, From Animal Shelter to A Sheltered Life.”
And there you have it. My sweet Pasha farted lustily whenever admired.
And it can stink !! Claire learned a lot about cat nutrition, but 20 years ago, she was feeding Angel Hercule and Angel Isis kibbles : it looks like it was not the best food for them because a fart happened here and there and it was… awful ! A true chemical weapon, MOL ! Purrs
For sure. I find kibble tends to be worse than wet food (in regards to farts), although it really depends on the kibble. I’m always reading up and researching the latest cat foods. I think Claire and I would have a great discussion 😀
Wow, a topic that I’ve never seen on a cat blog before! I hear rumbling tummies sometimes, but don’t think I’ve experienced a cat fart yet. Something to look forward too?!? 😉
Hahaha! I thought it was a fairly important topic to talk about, as awkward/funny as it can be. Hope you found the piece informative 😉