Feline Bowel Incontinence

May 19, 2026

Poop Around Town

By Nancy Kerr

If you have noticed small balls of stool around your home, your cat may have what is known as feline bowel incontinence. While this can be upsetting for both you and your cat, resulting in anxiety and disruption of daily life, there is a good chance that it can be prevented or managed with the right knowledge.

Normally “when the rectum fills with feces, rectal nerves send a message to the brain saying, ‘I need to go.’ If it’s not the appropriate time or place to go, the brain sends a message to the nerves controlling the muscles of the anal sphincter saying, ‘You need to wait.’ This results in tightening of the sphincter to hold the feces in. Once the appropriate time and place have been reached, the brain sends an OK to the anal sphincter, which relaxes, and a normal bowel movement occurs.”¹ Bowel incontinence occurs when the ability to control bowel movements is lost. This can appear in several different ways. In some cases, “cats with bowel incontinence may drop small amounts of feces without any awareness that they are doing so. In other cases, pets may be aware of their bowel movements, but unable to control them.”²

Causes

Bowel incontinence can be divided into two broad categories: reservoir incontinence and sphincter incontinence.

“Reservoir incontinence results from any disease of the rectum (the last part of the large intestine that leads out of the body) that prevents stool from being held or stored in a normal manner. This can occur in cases of diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, or any other disease that affects the intestines. The rectum cannot store a normal volume of stool, which results in the pet being unable to control the urge to defecate. Sphincter incontinence occurs when the anal sphincter (the muscle that closes the anal opening) is unable to remain in a closed position. When the anal sphincter does not close properly, feces can leak out. This inability to close may be caused by a lesion, such as an anal wound or mass, that disrupts the anal sphincter and interferes with its function. Or it may be caused by damage to the nerves that control the anal sphincter (which come from the spinal cord and travel to the sphincter).”²

Sometimes the cause is neurologic; however, there can be non-neurologic causes as well.

“Abnormalities of or damage to the colon, rectum, or anus can cause non-neurologic incontinence. Examples of physical reasons for fecal incontinence include trauma, prior surgery, rectal prolapse (protrusion of the rectum through the anus), and perineal hernias. Severe diarrhea, for whatever reason, can cause ‘urge’ incontinence, where the need to go overwhelms the ability to control it. Simply resolving the diarrhea eliminates the incontinence in these cases.”¹

In geriatric cats, “sometimes it is a combination of ailments that results in dropping stool around the house. Pain from arthritis or other conditions can make it difficult to posture long enough for a full bowel movement in the box. Generalized muscle loss weakens the voluntary muscles of the anal sphincter, making geriatric cats less able to contain any stool left behind in the rectum.”¹

“Neurologic lesions that occur lower down near the pelvic area (lower motor neuron disease) carry a worse prognosis. These are almost always caused by trauma, like being hit by a car and suffering pelvic fractures or a tail-pull injury, which can occur when a cat scoots in front of a motor vehicle and gets her tail trapped by a tire, resulting in stretching or tearing of the nerves at the base of the tail.”¹

Symptoms

The clinical signs vary, depending on the severity of the disease and the underlying cause.

“Cats with sphincter incontinence typically leak small volumes of stool (fecal balls) without being aware. If the sphincter incontinence is caused by anal sphincter damage or disease, there may be redness, inflammation, or drainage from the rectum. Additionally, the cat may lick at the rectum more than usual. If sphincter incontinence is caused by nerve damage, you may observe trouble walking, urinary incontinence (dribbling or puddling urine), and/or changes in how they carry their tail.”²

In cases of reservoir incontinence, “the cat is typically aware of the defecation but unable to control it. You may notice that your pet defecates in strange places, like near the door or litter box (which suggests that they are unable to hold feces until reaching an appropriate location). Pets with reservoir incontinence often have feces that are soft and there may be blood and/or mucus present.”²

Monitoring your cat’s behavior, appetite, and health is key in identifying possible underlying causes of incontinence. Look for changes in occurrence or consistency as well as any accidents outside the litter box. Keeping track of this information can help determine the source of the incontinence by identifying patterns and potential triggers that might be contributing to the issue. This will help your veterinarian to figure out what’s going on.

Diagnosing

It is essential to determine the underlying cause of the incontinence. For bowel incontinence, the veterinarian will need to determine is whether it is “truly fecal incontinence, a behavior issue (inappropriate elimination), or whether it is due to small, ineffective bowel movements secondary to constipation. This distinction can usually be made with a careful history and a thorough physical examination.”¹

A full physical exam will be done, “including a digital rectal exam to check for tumors, polyps, or anal-sac issues”¹ and a thorough “neurologic exam, looking for changes to the innervation of the hind limbs, anal sphincter, and tail (i.e., how the nerve supply is functioning within these areas).”² Based on preliminary findings, further diagnostics may be recommended, such as blood tests, fecal tests, X-rays, and abdominal ultrasound. “If a non-neurologic condition is diagnosed and can be treated, the incontinence or upper motor neuron disease should resolve.”¹

If intestinal disease is suspected, “first diagnosis tests typically include a fecal parasite examination and blood tests (including a complete blood cell count, serum biochemistry, and perhaps additional specialized gastrointestinal blood tests). Further workups may include abdominal X-rays, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, or surgical biopsies of the intestines.”²

Treatment

Since there is no medication that is specifically for bowel incontinence, the underlying cause must be identified and addressed. While there is usually no effective treatment for fecal incontinence caused by lower motor neuron disease, lower motor neuron fecal incontinence due to trauma may resolve with time. Nerve tissue has the ability to heal, though healing takes many months. If extra required care is provided, there is a chance that the cat may gain control. Note: Lower motor neuron fecal incontinence is often accompanied by urinary tract issues. Fortunately, treatment options are available “for cats experiencing incontinence due to spinal cord injuries or diseases. These may include medication to manage urinary incontinence, physical therapy to strengthen affected muscles, and in some cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord.”³

“Reservoir incontinence treatment will be centered on diagnosing and treating the underlying bowel disease. Anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory medications may be used, either as a sole therapy or in addition to other, more specialized treatments. In a cat with ‘sphincter incontinence that is caused by a lesion of the anus (such as a wound or mass), surgical treatment may be necessary,’ requiring referral to a specialist.” ²

In other cases, there is no definitive treatment, and the focus will be on management. A low fiber diet may help decrease the amount of feces that is produced, or a high fiber diet may be recommended to make stool cleanup easier. Restricting your cat to an easy-to-clean area of the home may reduce the stress on the family dealing with fecal incontinence.

When a cat feels stressed or uncomfortable using the litter box, it can exacerbate the problem, leading to more frequent accidents outside of the litter box. It is helpful to use a litter box with low sides for ease of getting in and out. Larger litter boxes are more inviting as well; and consider having a litter box on every floor of your home so your cat doesn’t have to travel far when the urge to go occurs. Though cats see better at night than in daylight, using night lights to keep the pathways to the box well-lit at night is a good idea.

In addition to hygiene, comfort is also vital. Check daily for fecal matter stuck in the perineal area. Shaving or trimming long-haired cats in that area can help a lot. Baby wipes may be used for local cleaning; however, sometimes a bath may be necessary.

Prognosis

Regular check-ups and monitoring will help with treatment plans, ensuring optimal management of symptoms and prevention of further complications. It should be noted that, “age-related incontinence is not a sign of poor care or neglect, but rather a natural process that requires extra attention and compassion.”³ This is rather a common issue in senior cats that can be managed with the proper care.

 

Sources

1. Fecal Incontinence in Cats, Updates May 22, 2023, Accessed 03/12/2026, https://www.catwatchnewsletter.com/health/fecal-incontinence-in-cats/
2. Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Catherine Barnette, DVM, Bowel Incontinence in Cats, 2024, Accessed 03/12/2026, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bowel-incontinence-in-cats
3. Matthew Coleman, Understanding Feline Incontinence Causes and Management Options, May 29, 2025, Accessed 03/12/2026, https://completecatguide.com/understanding-feline-incontinence-causes-and-management-options/