Feline constipation is a fairly common condition that many cat owners may encounter over the course of their kitty’s lifetime. Since healthy cats normally will pass one healthy bowel movement a day; if your cat is only defecating every few days, is consistently passing hard, dry stool, straining while trying to defecate, has a poor appetite, swelling around the anal area, vomiting occasionally, has a sore abdomen, or acting lethargic; these are signs that your cat is constipated.
Because constipated cats may also have an underlying medical condition which is causing the problem, it’s crucial to have your cat examined and treated by your veterinarian without delay. Chronic constipation is a serious condition which can lead to obstipation; a more significant condition. When a cat is obstipated, the colon is blocked entirely with feces, making it almost impossible for the cat to defecate. Obstipation can lead to megacolon; an even more serious condition. In megacolon, the nerves and muscles in the cat’s colon have been damaged, making defecation virtually impossible.
It’s extremely painful for cats who are seriously constipated and straining to defecate. These cats may even develop litter box avoidance or start house soiling since they associate the pain with the litter box itself. In fact some cats who have are severely constipated or obstipated may start attempting to defecate or passing hard stool on soft surfaces such as pillows, blankets quilts or carpets. These cats are in need of immediate veterinary attention.
According to expert feline veterinarian, Dr. Jean Hofve, some of the causes of feline constipation can range from an unacceptable dirty litter box, dehydration, blocked or abscessed anal sacs, ingesting foreign objects, such as string, wool, cloth, plastic, etc., excessive grooming and hairballs (see thinning out the coat), neurologic issues, inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic injury.
An inadequate or inappropriate diet can also be a major cause of feline constipation. In discussing diet issues, Dr. Hofve said,
“In more than 18 years of experience as a feline veterinarian, I have not personally seen constipation problems in cats who do not eat dry food. It’s logical, therefore, to think that diet plays a significant role in development of the problem.”
Dr. Hofve added that although she has heard from people who feed their cats an exclusively wet or raw diet have developed constipation issues she thinks this is fairly unusual.
Since canned food, raw meat diets and homemade cat food is low in fiber, Dr. Hofve suggests that some cats may need some addition fiber to help prevent constipation issues. She recommends adding a pinch of ground flaxseeds, or chia seeds (Salba) since they work well and are fairly palatable.
Many veterinarians recommend adding 1/8th of a tsp of Miralax or a generic product called Polyethylene glycol twice a day mixed in wet food. Polyethylene glycol is an osmotic laxative. Osmotic laxatives work by retaining water in the stool, resulting in softer stools with more frequent bowel movements. Polyethylene glycol does not affect glucose and electrolytes in the body. Since psyllium and powdered cellulose can be overly harsh, Dr. Hofve doesn’t highly recommend them. See a list of page on home treatment of cat constipation.
One of the most first things to help cats that are constipated is increasing their hydration. Veterinarians treating constipated cats will give them either sub-q (sub-cutaneous) fluids or intravenous (IV) fluids. Slight cases of constipation may be treated with intermittent enemas, but other treatments will depend on the severity of the condition.
Since many cats generally don’t drink enough water, to help prevent feline constipation, finding ways to increase their fluid intake can somewhat challenging. Some cats prefer drinking out of a running faucet over a water bowl, so by leaving water tap slightly open for their convenience might entice them to drink more. Michael used microwaved frozen fish and added water.
Providing cats with a commercial water fountain can be very helpful. Since plastic water fountains are noisy they are noisy, hard to clean and impossible to get rid of mold. One of the best water fountains on the market is the Glacier Point Water Fountain. While it is may seem costlier than other fountains; in the long run it is the one of the most economical products since it is built to last, is quiet, easy to clean, made in the USA and has fabulous customer service.
Make sure that your cat gets sufficient exercise to help stimulate peristalsis which helps keep that “poop” moving more easily down the colon. Watch the litter box like a hawk to make sure that your cat is defecating normally and regularly. Take immediate action if there is a problem.
Have you had issues with feline constipation? What have you done to correct this condition? Tell us in a comment.
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Absolutely Michael.
My feeling is that dry food was made JUST for the convenience of cat owners- not for the best welfare for the cat. It is so easy to plunk a bowl of dry food down so cats can “graze” during the day-many owners feel they are doing a good thing for the cat- I must add- but feeding small portions of wet food several times a day will satisfy this need very nicely. We feed four times a day- small portions divided into between 5 to 5 1/2 oz for the size and caloric needs of our kitties, and they do extremely well. I know it’s hard for folks who work and are not home all day, but it can be done creatively- or set the portions to three times a day- very doable and that right before bedtime “snack” for the third portion actually is GREAT for kitties right after playing with them. They sleep better- and often so do their humans.
Like you Jo, I prefer to feed my cats small meals several times a day. I think it better mimics their natural hunting/eating patterns too.
I agree that diet is probably a strong contributing factor. From childhood, all I’ve the cats I’ve had, have only been fed wet food and none of them ever suffered from constipation.
I thought the Dr Hofve quote is very telling. She is more or less saying dry cat food is a mojor cause of cat constipation. I didn’t realise it was such a big factor. It must the dehydration element of kibble that does it. It also affects urination so another black mark for dry cat food.