As much as you love your cat, there are times when they can be a little rude. Times like how they keep shoving their butt in your face or how they fart when you pick them up. While some of the less desirable cat behaviors cannot be changed, because they are cats in nature, you can do something about others.
If your cat always farts when you pick them up, you’re probably wondering why he does it and if it can be prevented. A cat that constantly farts is experiencing excessive gas or flatulence, which can be for a number of reasons. Knowing which of these reasons applies to your cat can help you reduce the chance of this happening.
The 5 Reasons Why Cats May Fart When You Pick Them Up
1. Dietary Related
You know how sometimes you eat something that doesn’t agree with your stomach. Well, the same thing can happen to your feline friend, and this could be why they fart when picked up. This could be a one time thing if they have a new treat or steal some of your food. However, it can also be a long-term issue related to their regular cat food.
If a cat’s food does not agree with their stomach, they may experience more gassiness, as well as gastrointestinal distress. Increased flatulence can also mean that your cat has developed a food sensitivity or allergy to a food that they have been eating for years. If you think your cat’s food may be to blame, try switching them (slowly!) to a different food. Choose something with high-quality, soluble ingredients. However, if your cat has dermatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea, it is worth consulting a veterinarian because these are signs of a food allergy among other things.
2. Eating Habits
Sometimes, the problem isn’t the food your cat eats but how they eat it. Cats that eat too quickly or tend to overeat may ingest excess air that accumulates until it causes flatulence. This problem has a simple fix, though.
If your cat eats too quickly, you can give them a slow feeder to help them eat more slowly. If your pet tends to overeat, you may want to divide their meals into several smaller meals a day rather than several large meals. In either case, these items should help the cat swallow less air resulting in fewer chances of farting.
3. How You Handle Them
Your cat farts when you take them can be completely up to you! The way you hold your cat when you pick them up may be forcing air out of their body in the form of farts. This is especially true if you often pick up your cat by holding them around their belly. Instead of picking them up this way, try picking them up by placing one hand under the front legs and one under the back legs.
The issue is that you can also hold your cat too close to your body after you pick them up, which can cause air movement and passing out. If this is the case, loosen your grip. Basically, you want to avoid squeezing your cat’s stomach when picking them up or holding them to prevent farting.
4. A Bad Panic
There is no doubt about it; cats tend to be skittish. And this nonsense may be why they fart when you pick them up. What if? Well, you might accidentally startle your cat when you try to pick them up, which can cause them to pee, as kittens usually fart when they’re scared. To avoid this, try to let your cat know you are there before picking them up. Also, try not to pick them up while they are playing or sleeping. Read their body language and don’t pick on them if they thrash, pinch their ears, swish their tail, scratch, or bite when you do. These signs are your cat telling you that they are uncomfortable being handled.
5. Health Issues
If your cat didn’t fart often before, but now they pass gas every time you pick them up, there’s a good chance it’s related to a health issue. Persistent heartburn is often associated with gastrointestinal problems. Infections, parasites, inflammatory diseases, and cancers can affect the gastrointestinal tract and interfere with digestion, possibly leading to more flatulence.
If you notice a recent increase in flatulence in your cat or signs such as lethargy, weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, take them to the vet for a check-up.
Is Flatulence Normal in Whites?
Flatulence is completely normal in cats, but when it is excessive or accompanied by other signs, you should seek veterinary advice. If your cat has recently started farting, there may be something going on with their digestive system. The same goes if your cat’s farts suddenly become smellier. But unless your cat seems to have a lot of gas or suddenly has a loud fart, there’s rarely any need to be alarmed.
Why Does My Cat’s Fart Smell?
Farts are never smelly, but sometimes your kitten’s farts are particularly strong. If your cat has strange smelly gas, he may be having problems with his food, whether it’s a sudden allergy to something in it or just difficulty digesting it. It can also indicate an underlying health issue, such as internal parasites. Again, if your cat’s gas is foul-smelling and won’t go down, contact your vet to make sure all is well with the cat.
Conclusion
Cats can experience flatulence for many reasons, and this is not uncommon. However, if you notice that your cat continues to fart when you take them out, it’s probably because of one of the reasons mentioned here. If you can identify the cause, you will likely be able to reduce the amount of gas your pet has, which will lead to less chance of them farting when picked up.
Featured Image Credit: Veera, Shutterstock
