- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Before you blame your dog for that foul-smelling fart, you might want to consider another furry culprit—your cat. Cats can fart, just like people, dogs, and many other animals. Cats fart for the same reason other animals do: To expel excess air from the digestive tract.
Most cats fart about once or twice a day, according to Dr. Candy Akers, a holistic veterinarian at Journeys Mobile Veterinary Services. That said, every cat is different, and some may be naturally gassier than others.
The sound, smell, and length of cat farts can vary. Cat farts generally go unnoticed unless the cat has other symptoms, says Dr. Preston Turano, veterinarian and medical advisor at Felix Cat Insurance.
Flatulence with no other symptoms isn’t very common, he says, adding that frequent flatulence might point to an underlying medical condition. Diet and other factors may also cause your cat to have more air in their intestinal tract than usual.
Read on for 10 reasons why cats fart, plus when to take your cat to the vet and tips to reduce feline flatulence.
Dietary Changes
Dr. Turnao says flatulence in cats most commonly happens after a diet change.
For example, some commercial cat foods may contain ingredients that are tougher for a cat to digest, like vegetables or carbohydrates. A change in protein or fiber content can also change the way their gas smells.
Food Allergies
Dietary sensitivities and food allergies can also cause gas in cats, Dr. Turano explains.
Most cats with allergies will develop skin issues, but about 10%-15% of cats with food allergies will develop gastrointestinal symptoms, like excess gas.
Human Food
Sometimes, cats can get gas when they eat foods not intended for feline consumption.
For example, cats are lactose intolerant. So, if they snacked on a table scrap that contained dairy, like a piece of cheese, or licked ice cream off a spoon, they may experience gas and other stomach symptoms later.
Swallowed Air
If your cat gobbles down their food at lightning speed, they may end up swallowing air along with it. Naturally, that air will need to come out sooner or later. Some cat breeds, like brachycephalic (flat-faced) cats, may swallow more air than others.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like farting, Dr. Turano says.
IBD most commonly affects middle-aged and older cats. Cats with IBD may also have other symptoms like a loss in appetite, lethargy, or bloody diarrhea.
Intestinal Parasites
Parasites often cause gastrointestinal distress in cats, and the most common culprit is giardia.
In addition to gas, giardia can cause symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.
Infections
Dr. Turano says infections can also lead to gas in cats.
For example, both viral and bacterial infections can trigger gastroenteritis, a condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
Antimicrobials
Cats who have recently taken antimicrobial medication may experience gas.
Antimicrobials may kill the healthy bacteria in a cat’s gut microbiome, which helps cats digest their food. So, your cat may experience digestive issues when their gut microbiomes are out of whack.
Malabsorption Syndrome
Some cats don’t correctly digest nutrients, like carbohydrates, due to a health issue called malabsorption syndrome.
If your cat has malabsorption syndrome, they may eat more than usual but still lose weight. You may also notice soft stool or diarrhea.
Cancer
Cats who have intestinal cancer may also have a lot of gas, Dr. Turano says.
Male cats are more likely to get intestinal cancer than female cats. Most cats who develop intestinal cancer are middle-aged or older.
When To Ask A Vet About Your Cat’s Farts
If your cat seems healthy and has no symptoms other than the occasional fart or two, you probably don’t need to worry, Dr. Turano says.
He recommends contacting your vet if:
- Your cat starts farting more than usual
- Their farts have a stronger smell
- Their flatulence happens along with symptoms like soft stool, diarrhea, lethargy, or vomiting
Your vet can help identify and treat underlying health issues. For instance, if your cat has giardia, they’ll prescribe anti-parasitic medication.
How To Reduce Your Cat’s Farts
If your cat farts a lot, you can do a few things to help improve their digestive health and prevent flatulence.
A few helpful strategies include:
- Changing their diet: If your cat’s flatulence happens after you change their cat food, ask your vet about trying a food with a lower fiber content.
- Giving them cat food only: Avoid giving your cat table scraps of dairy and other foods they may not be able to digest easily. If your cat likes to sneak scraps out of the trash, consider investing in a pet-proof trashcan.
- Try slow feeding: Cats who eat too fast and swallow air may benefit from special feeding dishes that force them to pace themselves, like a slow-feeder bowl or puzzle feeder. If you have multiple cats, you can also try feeding them in separate rooms to cut down on competition.
- Try free feeding: On the other paw, some cats who gobble their food may do better with free-feeding, or having access to food all day. If your cat knows they’ll always have food, they may not feel such an urgent need to eat. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to monitor your cat’s eating habits to make sure they don’t end up eating more than they should—free feeding won’t work for every cat!
You may not be able to prevent cat flatulence entirely, but a little farting is perfectly natural—for everyone!
