The color chart
Color depends on diet and how fast food moves through the gut. One odd stool after a food change is usually nothing. A change that lasts, or comes with other signs, deserves attention.
| Color | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Brown | Normal, healthy digestion | Nothing. This is the goal. |
| Black and tarry | Digested blood from the stomach or upper gut | Call a vet today. |
| Red streaks or blood | Bleeding in the lower gut, colitis, or straining with constipation | Call a vet. Go now if there is a lot of blood or your cat seems unwell. |
| Yellow or orange | Food moving through too fast, or a liver or bile issue | Call a vet if it lasts more than a day or two. |
| Green | Food moving through too fast, or eating plants | Watch for a day. Call a vet if it lasts or comes with other signs. |
| Grey, pale or greasy | Fat is not being digested, which can point to the pancreas or the gut lining | Call a vet, especially if your cat is losing weight. |
| White rice-like specks | Tapeworm segments, often passed on by fleas | Ask your vet about deworming and flea control. Bring a photo. |
Consistency matters as much as color
- Firm, log-shaped, easy to scoop: normal.
- Small, hard, dry balls: constipation or not enough water.
- Soft with no shape: a mild upset, often diet-related.
- Watery diarrhea: fluid is being lost. Kittens dehydrate quickly.
- Coated in mucus: often a sign of large-bowel inflammation.
When to call a vet instead of waiting
- Straining in the litter box with little or no urine, especially in a male cat. This is an emergency, and it can look like constipation.
- Black, tarry stool, or more than a streak of red blood.
- Diarrhea together with vomiting, weakness or not eating.
- No stool for two or three days, or straining without passing anything.
- Any diarrhea in a young kitten, or diarrhea lasting more than a day or two.
How Miyu helps with stool checks
Photograph the stool and Miyu reads the visible color and consistency, then gives one of four care levels: watch, keep an eye, see a vet today, or see a vet now. It keeps the history, so you can show your vet how things changed over several days.
Miyu never says all clear. A photo cannot rule everything out, and the list of red flags above is always free in the app.
Frequently asked questions
What does healthy cat poop look like?
Brown, firm and log-shaped, easy to scoop, and passed about once or twice a day. The exact shade varies with food.
Why is my cat's poop black?
Black, tarry stool can mean digested blood from the stomach or upper gut. Call a vet the same day, and mention any medicines or supplements.
What do worms look like in cat poop?
Tapeworm segments look like small, flat, white grains of rice on the stool or around the tail. Roundworms look like strands of spaghetti. Ask your vet about deworming and flea control.
Can an app diagnose my cat from a stool photo?
No. Miyu is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. It reads what is visible in a photo and suggests whether to watch or call a vet.
Sources
General guidance consistent with these veterinary sources. They did not review this page.
- Diarrhea in Cats · VCA Animal Hospitals
- Constipation in Cats · VCA Animal Hospitals
- Diarrhea · Cornell Feline Health Center
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Miyu is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. If your pet seems unwell or you are worried, contact your vet.
