What is a 'normal' poop w/high protein food?

Over the last month I've transitioned my cats (ages 2,4 & 9) from Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul dry to Wellness Core dry. It was gradual, I mixed the two with more and more Wellness each day, over the course of 2 weeks. They're now eating total Wellness Core dry. The 2 & 4 yr olds also eat Wellness canned, but the 9 year old won't eat canned, dry is her entire diet.

I've noticed that the poops in the litter box over the last couple days are very small and round, kinda like big rabbit-turds. I have three cats, and I'm not finding ANY (what I would consider normal) poops.

I've seen in other threads where people have given up on Wellness Core for this reason. I guess my question is, is this even a sign of a problem? Or is this normal for such a high protein food because their bodies are using the majority of the food and therefore producing less waste?

If these little turds mean they aren't handling the food properly, I'll switch back. The kids themselves seem fine.. healthy, (even more) playful, eating, drinking, softer coats... my lola, who already had the softest coat I've ever felt, is even softer.

Thanks for any advice... I know there are lots of food experts here!

I have noticed that since I switched to raw feeding they aren't pooping nearly as much. Not sure how to descibe it but it is all one piece, about 2 inches long.

Milo and Mikey though get all canned and they have "big rabbit terds" like yours do.

I wouldn't feed Wellness CORE to a cat that isn't eating any canned. Grain free dry food is more dehydrating than normal dry. If you are doing timed feedings it shouldn't be to hard to feed two types of food - something like normal Wellness for the non wet food eater and than Wellness CORE for the two eating canned.

Since our cats have been on higher quality foods (dry, canned and raw) I noticed a lot less stool and much smaller pieces (some more rounded, some a little longer). But at least 1/2 the stool that you normally see.

They are not constipated either. I think it means they are digesting the food in a better way, so less stool. I do notice that cats feed cheaper foods have a lot more stool because most of the food is filler and passing thru the system - causing the cat to get lower quality out of the food.

I would keep an eye on it .... I have one cat who naturally does rabbit like poops, yet all five eat nearly the same diet... IMHO not a worry unless it was loose stool

Thanks all! Sharky, definitely no loose stools going on here. This food has actually cured Marvin of his previously frequent loose stools.

Originally Posted by furryfriends50

I wouldn't feed Wellness CORE to a cat that isn't eating any canned. Grain free dry food is more dehydrating than normal dry. If you are doing timed feedings it shouldn't be to hard to feed two types of food - something like normal Wellness for the non wet food eater and than Wellness CORE for the two eating canned.

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Hmm...furryfriends, your comment about not feeding CORE to one who eats no canned gives me pause. I DON'T schedule feed, our kitties free feed. Different foods would be a problem (although I certainly will do that if and when I have to for health reasons). I have noticed that Spivey (the 9 yr old dry-only eater) has been drinking more water lately. Could this be sufficient to make up for the more dehydrating food, ya think? She's the one I worry about most, as she's our oldest, and has the most exclusive diet. The others will basically eat whatever is put in front of them. CORE just seemed like a good choice, but I'm no expert.

I'll be doing my best to observe each one's potty habits to make sure no one is struggling in any way, or not going at all.

Grain free is NOT more dehydrating ... All dry food HAS between 8-12% moisture, technically they dehydrate because cats are not fine tuned to drinking water in proportion to the lack of moisture in their diets... Grain free with a senior cat can cause some issues that I pmed to you... IMHO a mix is a good thing for protein and fat ratios and some nutrient ratios

When I was feeding all raw (including home made and commercial) without supplements, but with all the bone ratio balanced, my cats are having about 2 inches long poop.

Recently, I added some omega oil and bone meal to 1/2 of their meal instead of bone, and their poop are smaller and round, most of it less than 1 inch. But I also see occasion long ones of about 3 inches long.

I am not sure what do all these mean, but I think they are healthy and playful.

Originally Posted by sharky

Grain free is NOT more dehydrating ... All dry food HAS between 8-12% moisture, technically they dehydrate because cats are not fine tuned to drinking water in proportion to the lack of moisture in their diets... Grain free with a senior cat can cause some issues that I pmed to you... IMHO a mix is a good thing for protein and fat ratios and some nutrient ratios

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"Dry food typically contains 35-50% carbohydrates, mostly as starch. (The new "grain-free" foods may be as little as 20% carbohydrate). This is necessary because the equipment that makes dry food requires a high-starch, low-fat dough for proper processing. Cereal grains provide an inexpensive and plentiful source of calories, which allows manufacturers to produce foods containing adequate calories at an affordable price. A few dry foods provide less carbohydrates, in some cases substituting starchy vegetables and soy for cereal grains; but they are still heavily processed and just as dehydrating (if not more so) than regular dry food."
-Jean Hofve, DVM

"Grain free foods have a very high protein content and protein is a diuretic. So a diet that is extremely dehydrating to begin with is made even more so with the amount of protein being fed. Yes, cats need a high protein diet, but their systems are 'designed' to eat high protein within a diet that is 70% water."

Originally Posted by furryfriends50

"Dry food typically contains 35-50% carbohydrates, mostly as starch. (The new "grain-free" foods may be as little as 20% carbohydrate). This is necessary because the equipment that makes dry food requires a high-starch, low-fat dough for proper processing. Cereal grains provide an inexpensive and plentiful source of calories, which allows manufacturers to produce foods containing adequate calories at an affordable price. A few dry foods provide less carbohydrates, in some cases substituting starchy vegetables and soy for cereal grains; but they are still heavily processed and just as dehydrating (if not more so) than regular dry food."
-Jean Hofve, DVM

"Grain free foods have a very high protein content and protein is a diuretic. So a diet that is extremely dehydrating to begin with is made even more so with the amount of protein being fed. Yes, cats need a high protein diet, but their systems are 'designed' to eat high protein within a diet that is 70% water."

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Where is the Study to back that up? Nowhere as that is ONE vets Hypothesis .. ie educated guess... Does she have a possible point yes but I would guess that we would have a big issue with grain free dry feed cats having issues of dehydration yet the journals are not noting that.

A quick search on the subject only noted : the kidneys breaking down protein and a diuretic being used to flush said kidneys...

a few studies noted when dry matter protein increased so did drinking of water and output ... This would say thirst increased with protein going up ... not likely causing dehydration but the opposite
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7705476

back to poop


diet changes do and can affect poop : amount , texture and color... you know the normal for yours and as long as it does not change again it is likely the better digesting food