Constipation in Cats

Constipation can be an uncomfortable experience for a cat while being concerning for pet owners. Today, our South Salem vets talk about the causes, signs, and treatment options for constipation in cats.

Constipation in Cats

The majority of cats will pass a stool about every 24 to 36 hours. If your kitty poops less often than this, strains when trying to have a bowel movement, or doesn’t leave any feces in the litter box, they could be constipated. This is a problem seen relatively often in cats and is usually generally mild enough to be cared for with remedies at home.

If your feline friend doesn't become constipated often, there is probably no reason to be worried, but you need to contact your veterinarian if it becomes a common issue or if it has been more than 48 to 72 hours since your cat's last bowel movement.

Constipation could be a symptom of a serious underlying health problem and might be causing your kitty considerable discomfort - or sometimes even severe pain.

Causes of Constipation in Cats

Cats can become constipated if their digestive system can't move things through their intestines normally. Some elements that could be contributing to your cat’s constipation are:

Though elderly cats experience constipation more often than kittens, the condition can develop in cats of any breed or age who eat a low-fiber diet or don’t drink enough water.

Signs of Constipation in Cats

Normally, cat feces is well-formed, rich brown in color, and moist enough that litter will stick to it.

Signs of constipation in cats include hard, dry stools which end up either inside or outside of the litter box - the discomfort of trying to pass these stools may have your cat leaving the litter box before actually being finished.

Other symptoms of constipation may include:

• Avoiding litter box
• Straining or crying in the litter box
• Entering and exiting litter box multiple times when needing to go
• Not being able to poop at all

If you see your cat displaying signs of discomfort when using the litter box, call your vet because it could be a sign of a serious urinary tract problem.

Because constipation could be a sign of another underlying health problem, your cat might also display one or more of these symptoms:

If your cat is showing any of the symptoms listed above with or without constipation, you need to call your vet as quickly as possible.

Treating Constipation in Cats

Some constipation problems are mild and can be treated with changes to your kitty's lifestyle and diet, along with at-home remedies. Other cases can be severe and require veterinary attention and warrant a veterinary emergency.

Your cat's constipation has to be treated as quickly as possible to lower the risks of permanent damage as a result of prolonged distension of the colon.

To treat constipation in cats, the underlying disorder must be identified and if possible, corrected.

Impacted feces should be removed and recurrences prevented. The inability to pass urine or feces, or pain when passing urine or feces, is considered an emergency. Your veterinarian may first run any applicable diagnostic tests, then provide fluids or an enema for immediate relief, and prescribe medications or recommend over-the-counter meds.

A qualified veterinary professional can safely and effectively perform an enema for your cat - NEVER attempt to do this yourself - some types of enemas designed for humans are toxic to cats.

If your cat’s constipation is long-term or if your kitty is suffering from obstipation (the inability to empty her colon on her own), they may have megacolon, which is an enlarged intestine due to a defect in the colon’s muscle strength.

Cats with chronic constipation or megacolon that do not respond to medical treatment may need to have the section of the large intestine that’s affected removed.

Treating Your Cat's Constipation at Home

These at-home remedies could help to alleviate your cat’s constipation:

• Help your cat maintain a healthy weight
• Provide probiotics
• Minimize stress and anxiety
• Over-the-counter laxatives (consult your vet, as these may worsen symptoms in cats with underlying or chronic diseases)
• Try a new diet (lamb, chicken, special limited ingredients, or hypoallergenic diets) to reduce inflammation and allow intestines to move things normally
• Try fiber-rich foods, a teaspoon of canned, pureed pumpkin once or twice a day, or ginger as natural remedies
• Increase exercise to help with weight loss, reduce anxiety and promote normal movement of intestines

Monitoring Your Cat's Constipation

Track the frequency of your cat’s litter box deposits and stool consistency, initially at least twice a week, then weekly or biweekly.

If you see hard, dry feces, or if you notice that your cat is straining while defecating or exhibiting other symptoms of constipation, contact your veterinarian - especially if diarrhea is a factor since dehydration can quickly become a problem.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.