What Causes a Cat to Not Move Its Bowels?

An inability to move the bowels is also known as constipation. Cats experience constipation for reasons stemming from infection, disease, nutrition and environmental factors. Cats may also intentionally not move their bowels. Because lack of bowel movement can be a sign of a serious condition, you should always consult a veterinarian when symptoms appear. A healthy cat will move its bowels one to three times per day, according to Dr. Richard Goldstein of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

  1. Disease

    • Constipation is common in cats with kidney disease, which can cause dehydration. Dehydration cause hard, firm stool that is difficult for the cat to pass. Frequent constipation can be a sign of megacolon, when the cat's colon becomes permanently distended and chronically unable to process fecal matter. Feline hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver disorder, can cause constipation in advanced stages. Urinary tract infections may mimic constipation, especially since the cat may yowl or strain when defecating and urinating.

    Other Causes

    • Hairballs can cause constipation, and should be suspected if the cat is also vomiting hair. Cats are easily influenced by their environment -- they often refuse to defecate in an unclean litter box, or in an environment that is unfamiliar or frightening to them. A cat that is very overweight or elderly may be less active; lack of movement can result in constipation. Cats with spinal deformities and the resultant impaired lower-body nerve function may not void easily; this also can occur if a cat has suffered a pelvic injury.

    Medicinal Remedies

    • For temporary and acute constipation, stimulant laxatives may be prescribed by a veterinarian. For conditions such as megacolon, regular treatment with stool softeners may be necessary. If the feces is very impacted within the colon, your veterinarian may need to administer an enema to the cat. If the constipation is a tertiary effect of a larger health problem, therapeutic laxatives and stool softeners may be administered when not contraindicated for the primary condition.

    Alternative Remedies

    • In cases of chronic constipation, a high-fiber diet may be helpful. Therapeutic kibble formulations are available for weight control, hairball reduction and increased fiber intake. Some veterinarians believe that a low-carbohydrate and low-fiber diet is beneficial for chronically constipated cats, according to WebMD. Such a diet may include canned, wet cat food combined with natural laxatives such as rice bran or psyllium husk. Unsweetened, unflavored canned pumpkin and wheat bran also promote healthy bowel movements and can be safely administered on an ongoing basis.