What Color Should a Kitten's Stools Be?

If your kitten is newborn to 4 to 5 weeks old and is healthy, the color of her poop will be brown with a slight yellow cast. It will be firm and she will poop a couple times a day. This is true if she is being fed and cared for by her mom or if she is an orphan who you are bottle-feeding. Kittens can't go potty on their own until they are about 10 to 14 days old. Their mom will stimulate them to go potty by gently licking their genital areas after she feeds them. If you're bottle-feeding your kitten, you must take a warm washcloth and gently rub her genital area after each feeding to stimulate her to potty.

By the time your kitten is getting most of her nutrition from solid food and less from milk, her poop should be a dark brown color. Her poop may be slightly darker or lighter, depending on her diet, but it should be firm and somewhat moist, though not runny. Your kitten's poop is going to be somewhat stinky, of course, but if she is healthy and eating a high quality diet, the smell shouldn't be too bad. She should have at least one bowel movement a day and if you notice that there's nothing in the box (or accidents outside the box) for a couple days, she should see a veterinarian.

Orange, yellow and white poop indicates your kitten is not well and you should take her to a veterinarian. In addition, if your kitten’s poop is black and tarry in appearance, you should seek medical attention. This can indicate bleeding in her bowels. Of course, if you see blood in your kitten's stool, you should take her to a vet. An abnormal stool color may indicate nothing more serious than that your kitten has an intestinal parasite and your veterinarian will give her a de-worming medication. However, an abnormal stool color can also indicate life-threatening conditions, so don't delay in seeking medical treatment.

Besides color, there are other messages in your kitten's poop. When you scoop the box (or clean up an accident) notice the texture and consistency of your kitten's bowel movement. Note how frequently your kitten is going potty and the odor. Is there mucus or hair in her poop? What's normal for one kitten isn't always normal for another. If you learn what is normal for your kitten, you'll be able to tell much more quickly when there is a change that indicates she may be sick.