Constipation can be an uncomfortable experience for your cat, and downright concerning for you. Here, our Gainesville vets share signs, causes, and treatment options for constipation in cats.
Constipation in Cats
Most cats till pass a stool about every 24 to 36 hours. If your feline friend poops less often than this, strains when attempting to have a bowel movement, or doesn't leave any feces in the litter box, they may be constipated. This is a problem diagnosed relatively often in cats and is typically mild enough to be treated with at-home remedies.
If your kitty doesn't become constipated often, you likely don't have reason to worry. However, you'll need to contact your veterinarian if this condition becomes a common issue or if it has been more than 48 to 72 hours since your cat's last bowel movement.
Constipation may point to a serious underlying health problem and may be causing your cat severe discomfort – or sometimes even significant pain.
Signs of Constipation in Cats
Cat feces are normally a rich brown color and well-formed, and they should be moist enough that litter will stick to them. Symptoms of constipation in cats include dry, hard stools that end up either inside or outside of the litter box, since the discomfort of trying to pass these stools may trigger your cat to leave the litter box before they are finished.
Other symptoms of constipation in cats may include:
- Not being able to poop at all
- Straining or crying in the litter box
- Avoiding litter box
- Entering and exiting the litter box multiple times when needing to go
If you notice your cat has been displaying signs of discomfort when using the litter box, contact your vet because this could be a symptom or a serious urinary tract problem.
Since constipation may indicate another underlying health problem, one or more of these symptoms might also appear in your cat:
- More frequent urination
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Walking stiffly
- Weight loss
- Hiding
- Decreased appetite
- Muscle loss
- Difficulty jumping onto chairs or other objects
- Drinking more or less water
If your cat is showing one or more of the symptoms listed above with or without constipation, contact your vet to book an appointment as quickly as possible
What causes constipation in cats?
If a cat's digestive system is unable to move food and other substances through their intestines normally, your kitty can become constipated. Some factors that may be contributing to your cat's constipation include:
- Not enough fiber in their diet
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Dry food diets (can predispose cats to constipation and dehydration)
- An obstruction such as bones or string blocking the colon
- Pain or other issues in the spine
- Excessive grooming (leads to extra hair in the digestive tract)
- Arthritis pain
- Kidney issues
- Allergies
- Ruptured or impacted anal sacs (can also cause pain with defecation)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Nerve problems
- Chronic diseases such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or kidney disease
- Perianal disease
- Cancer
- Narrow places, tumors, or other problems inside the colon
- Feline megacolon
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.
How to Treat Constipation in Cats
Some constipation problems are mild and can be treated with changes to your cat's lifestyle and diet, along with at-home remedies. Other cases may be deemed a veterinary emergency and require prompt medical treatment.
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. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.