Cat poop chart and photo checker
Take a photo of the litter box and we’ll match it to the cat poop chart vets use: a fecal score from 1 (very hard) to 7 (liquid), plus any warning signs in the color. You’ll see what it usually means and whether to call your vet.
Free photo scanner · Based on vet sources
- 1Photo
- 2Scan
- 3Result
Photograph the stool
If your cat is struggling to breathe, has collapsed or is bleeding heavily, don’t scan. Go to a vet now.
- Take it from above, with the stool in the middle
- Use good light
- No need to touch or move it
Photos are checked, then deleted. We never store them.
Take it from above, with the stool in the middle
Is the photo clear?
Sharp and well lit works best. If it’s blurry or too dark, take another.
Looking at your photo…
Matching it to a 1 to 7 vet fecal score chart.
This isn’t a diagnosis. A photo can’t show how your cat feels or what’s causing a problem; only a vet can tell you that. Not sure how urgent it is? Check the signs.
Cat poop chart: fecal score 1 to 7
Vets describe stool consistency on a 1 to 7 fecal score. Healthy cat poop sits at 2 or 3. Use the chart if you’d rather not take a photo.
| Score | What it looks like | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Very hard, dry pellets. Small, separate, very hard and dry pieces, often crumbly. | See vet soon |
| 2 | Firm, segmented log. Firm log shape with visible segments, holds its shape, leaves almost nothing behind. | Looks healthy |
| 3 | Moist log, holds its shape. Log shaped with a moist surface, little or no segmentation, holds its shape when scooped. | Looks healthy |
| 4 | Soft, loses shape. Very moist and soft, still roughly log shaped but loses its shape when scooped. | Monitor |
| 5 | Very soft piles. Very moist piles with some shape, leaves residue in the litter. | Monitor |
| 6 | Mushy, no shape. Has texture but no defined shape, spreads out like a puddle. | See vet soon |
| 7 | Watery liquid. Watery with no texture, flat puddle. | See vet soon |
Cat poop color: what to look out for
Normal cat poop color is medium to dark brown, and it shifts a little with the food. These colors and signs are worth acting on:
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Black, tarry stool | Black, tarry stool can mean bleeding higher up in the gut. Call your vet or an emergency clinic today, now if your cat is weak or has pale gums. |
| Red blood | A small streak of red blood on an otherwise normal stool can come from straining, but it should still be checked. More than a streak, or blood that keeps appearing, needs a vet within a day. |
| Mucus or jelly | Mucus on the stool points to irritation in the large intestine. Book a vet visit if you see it more than once. |
| Worms or rice-like segments | Spaghetti-like worms are usually roundworms, and rice-like segments are tapeworm pieces. Book a vet visit for the right dewormer, and treat for fleas if you see tapeworm segments. |
| Pale, grey or yellow | Very pale or grey stool can point to a liver, gallbladder or pancreas problem. Book a vet visit, and go sooner if your cat’s gums or eyes look yellow. |
How the poop checker works
- Take a photo from above. Good light, stool in the middle of the frame. You don’t need to move it.
- We match it to the chart. The scanner only picks a score and checks for color warning signs. It never writes its own advice.
- You see what it means. The advice comes from our chart, built from veterinary fecal scoring scales, with links to the right guide.
One odd stool in a cat that’s eating, playing and acting normally is rarely a worry. Changes that last more than two days, keep coming back, or come with other signs are. Read our guide to cat diarrhea, or use the Should I go to the vet? check.
Cat poop questions
What does healthy cat poop look like?
Healthy cat poop is a firm, log-shaped stool that holds its shape when you scoop it and is medium to dark brown. On a 1 to 7 fecal score, a 2 or 3 is ideal. Most adult cats go once or twice a day.
How often should a cat poop?
Most healthy adult cats poop once or twice a day, and kittens more often. Going less than once every two days, or straining, can mean constipation and is worth a call to your vet.
When is cat poop color a problem?
Black and tarry stool can mean bleeding in the stomach or gut and needs a vet today. Red blood, grey or very pale stool, yellow stool, or mucus should also be checked. Normal brown shades vary with the food.
Do you keep the photo?
No. The photo is analyzed to match it to the chart, then deleted. We never store it or link it to you.
Based on the 1 to 7 fecal scoring scales used in veterinary practice, and guidance from Cornell Feline Health Center and the Merck Veterinary Manual. This tool gives general information and doesn’t replace advice from your vet.
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Should I go to the vet?
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Is my cat in pain?
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