Do Cats Fart? The Honest Answer

In this guide

Understanding the basics of feline digestion is genuinely useful for any cat owner, and that includes an unglamorous but real topic: flatulence. Not every animal passes gas, but cats certainly can, even if it happens less often and less noticeably than it does in dogs or humans.

As with people, gas builds up when there is too much of it in the digestive tract. Cats rarely burp, so that escape route is largely unavailable to them, meaning gas has to travel the length of the digestive system before it is expelled. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association classifies flatulence as an altered gastrointestinal function; it is not usually dangerous, but any deviation from a cat's normal digestion is worth investigating, since it can mean discomfort, and the underlying cause is often simple to fix.

What causes it

The most common trigger is simply swallowing air, which any cat can do, especially if it eats too fast or too much. According to veterinarian Dr Kristine Hoyt of Cats on Call Hospital, gas is also frequently down to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the colon, crowding out the beneficial flora that aid digestion, often triggered by overeating or the wrong type of food. Hairballs, digestive disorders, and allergies (including to things like pollen and fleas) can also play a role.

If flatulence is infrequent and not particularly smelly, air-swallowing is the likely culprit. If it is not, diet is the next suspect, and it is worth paying close attention to how your cat reacts whenever you change their food. Low-quality, heavily processed ingredients tend to be harder to digest than minimally processed ones, and some cats are surprisingly sensitive to dairy and tuna specifically. Human food can also throw off a cat's digestion, since commercial cat food is formulated for their particular system; stick to foods known to be cat-safe, and stop immediately if you notice gas or discomfort after feeding something new. It is also worth cat-proofing the bin, since old, rotting scraps are appealing to a curious cat and can wreak havoc on digestion.

Reducing flatulence

If air-swallowing seems to be the cause, a slow feeder can help by turning mealtime into more of an activity than a race. If diet is the suspected cause, some trial and error with simple, quality ingredients is usually needed; reintroducing more complex ingredients one at a time will help identify the culprit if symptoms return. Fibre plays a role too. A modest increase can help regulate digestion, but overdoing it can make gas worse, so it is a balance worth getting right, and probiotics can also support regularity.

When to see the vet

Frequent, very foul-smelling gas can point to a digestive issue such as Tritrichomonas foetus infection. If flatulence comes with other symptoms like diarrhoea or vomiting, a vet visit is warranted, and bringing a fresh stool sample along will help with diagnosis. Most of the time, though, a little gas is simply a normal part of digestion, and your vet is the best resource if you have any lingering questions or want tailored feeding advice.

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