Do Cats Fart?

Perhaps you and your cat are enjoying a show on television when suddenly a stench hits you. You know you didn’t do it and the only other one in the room with you is your cat, so you look down and you wonder, Did my cat just fart?

Cats flatulate as we all do. Sometimes it just happens and is a perfectly natural occurrence. Cats, on average, can fart about 1-2 times a day and it’s usually nothing to worry about. However, what does it mean when your cat is tooting too much? Is their flatulence a cause for concern or is it just a silent slip of gas that is completely normal?

Why Do Cats Fart?

In most cases, cats fart for the same reasons we do. It is because they have excess gas created by the bacteria in their gut that breaks down food in their digestive tract. When this occurs, cats usually need to release this air from one of the two exit points, either via burping or farting. In these situations, a toot here or there is normal and there’s no reason to stress.

Of course, if you notice your cat farting more than usual, then we must look at alternative reasons for their flatulence, because it could mean an underlying medical condition that hasn’t been diagnosed yet. In this case, it’s always best to call your vet and ask them for advice.

Conditions That Can Cause Cat Flatulence

Outside of the normal conditions for a cat to pass gas, there could be some medical reasons that a cat might be flatulent. Below highlights a few reasons as to why a cat might be breaking wind more than usual:

• Food allergies or intolerance. Food is one of the main reasons that a cat could be having an upset stomach, especially if you are seeing a lot of itchiness, reduced appetite, skin irritation, vomiting and diarrhea on top of the gas. Just like us, cats have a very complex microbiome filled with different types of bacteria, which contributes to their overall gut and immune health. Sometimes the food we feed them isn’t digesting properly in their system, especially if their bodies are not used to it or if they are getting too much or too little of a certain nutrient, such as fiber. This could lead to cat stomach gurgling and a bloated belly. Other times, it could be a food allergy that is causing them to be sick. Ensuring that they are being fed properly to assist their unique digestive systems and bodies can make a world of difference in your cat’s overall health and well-being.  
• Dysbiosis. This is when there is a microbial imbalance in the gut bacteria. Sometimes if there are dietary changes, antibiotics given, an inappropriate item consumed, or an underlying gut condition, this could create issues. Sometimes a probiotic supplement helps in these situations, but for greater concerns it is always best to reach out to your vet or local animal hospital.  
• Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Just like humans, cats can get sick and come down with various infections. When this occurs, it can disrupt a cat’s overall health, including within their digestive tract. Usually giving them lots of fluids, probiotics, and other forms of aid can help get them back on track. It’s also important to talk with your vet regarding what medications and other forms of supplements you should give your cat to get them healthy again.  
• Parasites. Intestinal parasites, also known as worms, can do a lot of damage to a cat and can even cause colitis, creating a lot of inflammation within the large intestines. Symptoms of intestinal parasites might include blood and/or mucus in the stool, diarrhea, and frequent defecation of small amounts of feces. You might even see the parasites inside their stools. Other symptoms might include weight loss, lethargy, scooting their bottoms across the floor, etc. Your vet will likely prescribe a dewormer to help get rid of these parasites. It is also recommended to give your cat a deworming medication monthly to decrease the chances of them getting an intestinal parasitic worm, such as roundworms.  
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), now known as Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy (CIE). There are many causes to what is now called Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy. The cause of CIE is multifactorial and can include a patient's genetics, immune system, and environment. Symptoms can range from vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss to blood in the stool, total loss of appetite, and more. Usually, veterinarians will suggest a dietary change for CIE, but if that doesn’t help, then there are other treatment options available for your loved one. 
• Endocrine disorders. Endocrine disorders, such as hyperthyroidism, can cause symptoms, such as hair loss, weight loss, GI issues, and more. If your cat is showing any signs of an endocrine disorder, you need to contact your vet right away. 
• Metabolic diseases. Metabolic conditions, such as kidney disease, can affect a cat’s overall system resulting in serious and potentially fatal conditions. These things can cause several symptoms in your cat, such as GI issues, malabsorption of nutrients, increased thirst, poor appetite, lethargy, and more. Your veterinarian will be essential in helping to manage your pet's health condition. 
• Ingestion of a toxin or poison. Sometimes a tooting kitty could have just eaten something that wasn’t good for them. Symptoms could include drooling, decreased appetite, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac failure, seizures, and more. If you suspect your cat ate something poisonous, contact your vet or local animal hospital immediately. You can also contact the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435. 
• Different types of cancer. As we know, cancer is a serious illness that affects different parts of the body. In turn, many symptoms can arise, such as digestive upset, weight loss, growth, lesions, difficulty breathing, and more. If your cat has cancer in their GI tract, this only adds to the GI problems within your loved one. Your veterinarian will know how to test and treat various forms of cancer.

When in doubt, always call your vet if you suspect your cat has an underlying health condition causing them to be gassier than usual.

How Often Do Cats Fart?

On average, it is normal for a cat to fart a couple times a day, which is a lot less than the human average of 21 toots a day. Just like in humans, their diet and how their bodies produce energy influences how much gas they release each day. If your cat is healthy and is only flatulating a couple times a day, then this is completely normal. However, if you notice your cat’s stomach seems more upset than usual, then it is best to reach out to your veterinarian for assistance.

Why Do Cat Farts Smell So Bad?

Generally, cat farts don’t smell that bad. If they do smell, it can be one of two reasons: either it is their food or an underlying medical condition that needs to be treated.

Foods with too little or too much fiber can also lead to unfavorable stool quality and flatulence. Some cats may experience dietary intolerance leading to their poop coming out smellier and softer than usual. When your cat is eating a diet that is appropriate for them, their poops and toots won't smell as bad. Thankfully, there are many high-protein cat food options for your furball which can assist your cat’s digestive tract.

Sometimes a cat that eats fast could consume too much air as well. Typically, we will see cats belch more when this happens, but this can also cause them to fart more than usual, on occasion. However, it might not necessarily smell that bad. If this is the case, you can always switch your cat’s food bowl to a slow feeder so they can consume less air while they guzzle down their food.

If a food bowl and dietary change isn’t helping, then it could be a more serious health concern, in which case you need to contact your vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Why Cats Fart on You

Sometimes your kitty can’t always help it when they pass gas. Pay attention to your loved one and see if it was just a slip. If they are farting more than usual, then talk to your vet about different options that can help your kitty’s tummy.

How to Relieve Gas in Cats

The best way to relieve gas in your loved one is to figure out the underlying cause to your kitty’s flatulence issue and get them on the right treatment plan. This might mean changing their diet, getting them on certain medications, taking specific preventative measures, and more. Cats can’t always tell us what is wrong with them and sometimes their expressions are so subtle we don’t always pick up on it until it’s too late. Therefore, by keeping a close eye on your precious feline, you can provide them with the support that they need before a potential condition gets worse.

Veterinarian Diagnostic Tests for GI Conditions

If there is a serious health concern, your vet might need to run different tests to figure out what is causing these issues. Below are a few examples of the types of diagnostics that they might run:

• Fecal tests 
• Blood tests 
• X-rays 
• Ultrasounds 
• Endoscopies
• Biopsies
• Other diagnostic tests

These tests will provide deeper insights into what is happening with your kitty and their health.

How to Prevent Cat Farting

• Changing their diet. Sometimes changing a cat’s diet could be all that is needed. There are so many options that are out there for cats, including foods for sensitive stomachs; foods with probiotics in them to assist with their gut and immune health; foods that are made specifically for a cat’s microbiome which balances bacteria in the gut; and more. Talk to your vet and see which food option(s) is best for your adorable feline.    
• Adding a daily probiotic supplement to their food. Another thing that can assist with gut and immune health is adding a probiotic supplement to their meals every day. These supplements can even be used to help with diet-related vomiting and diarrhea. You can either pour these supplements over their dry foods or mix them into their wet foods for a tasty and healthy meal.  
• Put them on a monthly deworming medication. There are a few flea, heartworm, and tick medications which also have some type of deworming medication in them to protect cats from roundworms, hookworms, and other intestinal parasites. Giving them this medication as prescribed will drastically decrease the chances of your cat getting parasitic worms. This is especially true if they are an outdoor cat that likes to eat different critters, such as birds.  
• Putting them on a slow feeder if they are a fast eater. Sometimes kitties eat too fast and take in too much air causing bloating within them. By placing them on a slow feeder, this will decrease the amount of air they consume by slowing down their mealtimes.  
• Getting your cat properly diagnosed by their vet. It’s important to know and understand what is causing your cat discomfort and GI issues, especially if you are seeing other serious symptoms on top of their flatulence. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, then your vet will know how to treat their condition effectively.   
• Getting them on a treatment plan which works for them. The best way to minimize your kitty’s toots when there is an underlying medical concern is getting them on a treatment plan that can counter whatever is causing such symptoms within them.

There are many ways to assist your cat when they are experiencing an unusual amount of flatulence. Talk to your vet and see which of these tips and tricks is right for them.

For more expert tips on cat health, explore our other cat digestion articles.