Why is my cat farting a lot?
Occasional flatulence is normal in cats and rarely means anything serious on its own. Frequent or particularly smelly episodes are usually down to something in the diet, such as a recent food change, something scavenged, or a food that doesn't quite agree with your cat, rather than being a disease in itself.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The short answer
A little gas now and then is a normal part of digestion for cats, just as it is for most animals, and it usually isn't noticeable enough to worry an owner. It becomes worth paying attention to when it's frequent, unusually smelly, or turns up alongside other symptoms.
In most cases where it does become noticeable, the cause sits in the diet somewhere rather than pointing to a more serious underlying problem, which is genuinely reassuring, though it doesn't mean it should be ignored if it doesn't settle down within a reasonable amount of time.
Common causes
A sudden change of food is one of the most common triggers, since a cat's gut needs time to adjust to a new recipe, especially a different protein or fat level. Introducing any new food gradually over a week or so tends to reduce this considerably.
A cat that eats very quickly can swallow more air along with their food, which adds to the gas produced by normal digestion. Scavenged scraps, sudden treats, or a genuine food intolerance can also be behind it, and cats prone to hairballs sometimes show more digestive upset generally as hair moves through the gut.
Cats with an ongoing sensitive stomach
Some cats seem to run a more sensitive digestion than others for no single obvious reason, showing recurring bouts of gas, soft stools or general digestive grumbling that never quite becomes a serious problem but never fully settles either. This pattern is worth mentioning to your vet even if no single episode seems urgent on its own.
For a cat like this, consistency tends to matter more than any particular brand of food: fewer sudden changes, fewer table scraps, and a settled routine around meals often does more good than switching products repeatedly looking for a fix.
When it's more than diet
Frequent flatulence that comes alongside vomiting, diarrhoea, noticeable weight loss, or a cat that seems generally under the weather is a different picture to occasional gas after a food change, and points toward something that needs a proper look rather than a dietary tweak.
Blood in the stool, a swollen or uncomfortable-looking abdomen, or a cat going off their food entirely alongside the gas are all signs to take seriously and get checked promptly rather than waiting to see if they pass.
What actually helps day to day
Introducing any new food gradually, over a week rather than overnight, is one of the simplest ways to reduce diet-related gas. Sticking to a consistent, good-quality diet rather than switching foods often also helps a sensitive digestive system settle.
A cat who eats very fast can benefit from a slow feeder or a puzzle-style bowl that makes them work a little harder for each mouthful, which reduces the amount of air swallowed along with the food. Regular grooming also helps manage the amount of hair a cat ingests, which can ease digestive load generally.
When to see a vet
If the flatulence has been going on for more than a couple of weeks with no obvious cause, or if it's accompanied by any of the red flags above, it's worth getting your cat checked by a vet rather than continuing to wait it out.
A vet can rule out an intolerance, parasites or another underlying cause properly, which is a far more reliable route than guessing at dietary fixes indefinitely. Bringing a note of when it started and what, if anything, changed around that time helps them get to an answer faster, rather than trying to remember details on the spot during the appointment itself.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
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Whiskas 1+ Salmon Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete salmon dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
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3M Synthetic Under Bandage Padding for Pets
A soft, breathable non-woven polyester padding layer designed to protect and cushion beneath bandages on dogs and cats.
From£9.49
AniWrap Cohesive Bandages for Dogs & Cats
Stretchy, self-adhesive cohesive bandages that stick to themselves — not to fur — so removal is completely pain-free.
From£4.99
Common questions
- Is it normal for cats to fart?
- Yes, occasionally. Cats produce some gas as a normal part of digestion, and it's usually not noticeable enough to be an issue. It's worth paying attention to when it becomes frequent or particularly smelly.
- Can multiple cats in one household affect this?
- It can complicate things indirectly, since a cat that steals another cat's food, or eats too quickly out of competition at a shared bowl, may show more digestive upset than usual. Feeding cats separately in their own space, at their own pace, can help rule this out as a genuine factor.
- Can changing my cat's food cause gas?
- Yes, especially if the change happens suddenly. Introducing a new food gradually over a week or so, mixed increasingly with the old food, usually reduces this kind of digestive upset considerably.
- Does eating too fast cause gas in cats?
- It can contribute, since swallowing air along with food adds to the gas already produced during normal digestion. A slow feeder or puzzle-style bowl can help a cat who bolts their food.
- When should I worry about my cat's flatulence?
- If it's persistent, unusually smelly, or comes with vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss or lethargy, it's worth a vet visit rather than waiting it out, since those signs suggest something beyond a simple diet issue.
- Can hairballs cause gas in cats?
- Hair moving through the digestive tract can disrupt normal digestion in some cats, contributing to gas alongside the more familiar signs like vomiting. Regular grooming can help reduce how much hair a cat swallows.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.