There are a multitude of reasons cats get constipated. Some are minor medical issues and some are fatal. Proper treatment for a constipated cat depends upon the cause and the severity of the condition. Treatment may be as simple as the veterinarian sending the cat home with new dietary instructions. Or treatment can require an extended hospitalization and a colectomy, the surgical removal of part of the colon.
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Home Treatment
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If this is your cat's first bout with constipation, it may be a short-term issue and the veterinarian may recommend home treatment. You must ensure your cat gets additional fiber in her diet, often easiest to provide with a bit of canned pumpkin added to her meals. She also needs to drink plenty of water. One way of encouraging a cat to drink more is to provide a source of running water with a small fountain.
Keep the litter boxes clean. She's more likely to "hold" her need to defecate if the litter box is dirty.
Minor Treatment
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If your cat's constipation is slightly more serious, the veterinarian will give him a water enema and will recommend that you follow the home treatment guidelines.
The doctor may also give your cat an oral or suppository laxative. As part of the home treatment, you may need to continue to give your cat laxatives until he has recovered. Grooming your cat regularly will also help to prevent future issues with constipation.
Obstruction
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Many times the cause of a cat's constipation is an object obstructing her colon.
This can range from string she may have swallowed to parts of a rodent she ate. It could also be an intestinal hairball or a tumor. The veterinarian may use an endoscope and remove the foreign object without performing surgery. Occasionally, the veterinarian will need to put your cat under general anesthesia to perform surgery and remove the object that is blocking the colon.
Hairball
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An internal hairball is a common reason cats are constipated. If this is the cause, your cat will be given medications to ease her gas, cramps and fever. The veterinarian will then likely give her a laxative and possibly an enema.
Your cat will probably need to be fed a food specifically designed for hairball removal to prevent another occurrence. Your veterinarian may also recommend that she be given a hairball treatment medication on a regular basis as a preventative measure.
Surgery
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If your cat's constipation has resulted in a severe obstruction, he will likely be admitted to a veterinary hospital for treatment. He will be given laxatives, enemas and may have surgery. During the surgery, which will be performed under general anesthesia, the veterinarian will manually evacuate your cat's colon. If the constipation has caused your cat to become dehydrated, he will also be given subcutaneous fluids during his hospitalization.
Colectomy
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If your cat is severely constipated or if he has had recurring constipation, your final option may be a colectomy. In this surgery, the veterinarian will remove part of your cat's colon. According to Dr. Ronald M. Bright, this option was once presented to cat guardians as a "salvage" procedure, but after nearly two decades of veterinarians performing the surgery, it is becoming a more viable treatment.
Medications
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There are medications that can help manage frequent constipation in cats. According to Dr. Ernest E. Ward Jr., lactulose is a liquid medication given twice daily that has been effective for chronically constipated cats. However, cats do become resistant to the medication and the dosage must be increased or a new treatment option considered. Cisapride is a second medication used in managing chronic cat constipation.
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