My neighbor asked me a pretty funny question the other day – funny to me at least.
“Why does my cat fart when I pick him up?” he asked.
I happen to know a few possible reasons why cats pass wind when being picked up, hopefully, I can help solve this one for you, too!
Here are 5 reasons why some cats fart when they’re picked up:
5 Reasons Why Some Cats Fart When They’re Picked Up
1. They’ve Been Eating Food That Disagrees With Them
If your cat has been eating food that doesn’t agree with them, it could very well be the reason why they’re farting when you pick them up.
Certain foods can cause intestinal distress and gas in cats, just like they can in people.
Cats can also develop food allergies at any point in their lives, even to foods they’ve been eating for years.
The first thing I’d try is to change up their food. There are plenty of cat foods on the market labeled as being good for cats suffering from food allergies.
Related – Here is why your cat chooses to fart in your face!
2. The Way You Pick Them up Forces Air Out
If you pick your cat up by grabbing them around their belly, you could be inadvertently forcing air out!
Try picking them up by scooping them up underneath their feet or by using one hand under their front legs, and the other under their back legs.
This way you’re less likely to put pressure on their stomachs and cause them to fart.
Additionally, if you’re picking your cat up and holding them close to your body, their movement could also be causing them to fart.
Try giving them a little more space and see if that makes a difference.
3. It Could Be a Sign of a Health Issue
In some rare cases, a cat farting when picked up could be a sign of an underlying health issue.
One example is megacolon, which is a condition that causes the large intestine to lose muscle tone and function.
It could also be a sign that your cat has internal parasites, some form of gastrointestinal obstruction, or any number of other causes.
If you have any concerns or have been noticing your cat has other symptoms, you should seek the advice of a vet as soon as possible.
4. You Might Be Giving Them a Fright
Cats are skittish creatures by nature, and it’s not uncommon for them to fart when they get scared.
If you’re picking your cat up in a way that startles them or if you move too quickly, it could cause them to pass gas.
Try to be as gentle and calm as possible when picking up your cat, and see if that makes a difference.
Additionally, try to avoid picking them up when they’re sleeping or in the middle of playing, and make sure they can see you approaching.
5. They’re Eating Too Much or Too Quickly
If your cat is eating too much or too quickly, it could cause a build-up of air resulting in them passing gas when you pick them up.
Some cats are better off eating smaller meals throughout the day instead of large meals, so it might be worth trying this.
Additionally, some cats wolf their food down so quickly that they don’t have time to properly chew it, leading to them swallowing a lot of air.
There are special bowls on the market designed to slow down how quickly your cat eats that also might be of interest.
Related content:Reasons why cats move their food bowls.How to confine a cat to a room the right way.Here’s why cats wag their tails in people’s faces!
Is It Normal for Cats to Fart?
Yes, it’s perfectly normal for cats to fart.
All animals pass gas – it’s just a natural part of the digestive process.
However, if you feel like your cat is farting more than usual or if their farts are particularly smelly, it could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
Additionally, as I mentioned before, if your cat is farting and has other symptoms, it’s always best to seek the advice of a vet.
What I will say is that it’s not common to notice when a cat passes gas.
Out of all the cats I’ve homed over the years, there has only been one or two that had an obvious flatulence problem.
I was able to lessen their gas problem by switching up their food and feeding them smaller meals, too, so it wasn’t an ongoing problem.
Why Does My Cat’s Farts Stink So Bad?
There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy some downtime, only to catch a whiff of your cat’s gas.
There are a few reasons why your cat’s farts might stink pretty bad.
The first is if they’re eating food that doesn’t agree with them. This is known to cause cats intestinal distress which leads to smelly gas.
Another reason is if they have an underlying health issue. This could also be the cause of foul-smelling flatulence.
As always, if you have any concerns, it’s best to seek the advice of a professional.
In Summary
If your cat has a flatulence problem, it’s amazing how it can go from being funny to being something that you dread, isn’t it!?
There are a few reasons why your cat might fart when you pick them up, but the good news is that it’s usually nothing to worry about.
However, if the problem persists or you have any other concerns, it’s always best to seek the advice of a vet.
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Image credits – Photo by pure julia on Unsplash