Causes of Hard Stool in Felines

Hard stools in felines can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from environmental stressors to changes in diet to potentially life-threatening health conditions. For best results, make note of all extenuating circumstances before consulting with your vet about potential causes and treatments. When visiting your vet, take along a fresh stool sample for analysis.

  1. Constipation

    • Constipation is the passing of hard, dry or impacted feces. Constipation is characterized by your cat straining to complete a bowel movement, frequently visiting the litter box and producing no results, or having infrequent or very small bowel movements. Constipation can be caused by dehydration, by illness such as kidney disease, and by some types of medicines, particularly pain medications and antibiotics. Feline constipation is typically treated with rehydration, a fiber-rich diet, and in severe cases with stool softeners.

    Changes in Diet

    • If you change your cat̵7;s diet and notice resulting dry feces, you may have switched to a food with a lower water content than your previous brand. For best results, introduce new foods slowly by blending small amounts of new food in with your existing brand until your cat becomes accustomed to the new food. Older cats may have different fiber requirements than young ones, so consult your veterinarian when presented with any significant changes to feces or urine output.

    Stress

    • Stress can cause constipation and hard stools in felines. Stress can be caused by many things, such as the introduction of a new pet to the household, the absence of family members or a change in a cat̵7;s normal routine. Cats are very tuned in to their surroundings, and even slight changes can create stress and resulting hard stool. Even simple changes, such as moving or replacing a litter box, having house guests or a loud party can upset your cat's sensitive internal balance. To reduce stress-related constipation and dry stool, make sure your cat has unobstructed access to its own litter box, food and water supply, in a quiet location.

    Health Issues

    • Hard stool can be a sign of disease or illness in cats. Dry stool can indicate kidney or liver conditions, digestive tract problems or bowel obstruction. Hard stool accompanied by blood, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite or low urine output should be reported to your vet as soon as possible.