My cat eats poo, is this a problem?

Why is my cat eating his own faeces?

Coprophagia is the term for eating poo (faeces). There are various medical reasons your cat may be doing this, including a vitamin or mineral deficiency, parasites, malnutrition, or certain disease conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disease.

In addition, there are behavioural reasons your cat may eat faeces, such as a response to recent punishment, to attract attention, because he is cleaning his environment, or because he is hiding a mistake.

What should I do if my cat eats poo?

Treatment will depend on whether the underlying cause is medical or behavioural. For instance, if it is behavioural, changing your cat's environment may help. You should ensure they have a private, quiet area for using their litter tray and keep your cat's living area clean and dispose of faeces as soon as possible.

Make sure your cat is up to date with their worming, and you could also consider changing your cat's diet to ensure they are getting all their nutritional needs. You can ask your vet for further advice on suitable foods.

If their poo-eating habit continues or your cat is showing any other signs of ill health, we would recommend you speak to your vet. They may run some blood tests to check for any underlying medical reasons for the habit.