Causes of Feline Constipation

It is not unusual for cats to experience difficulty passing a bowel movement, a condition known as feline constipation. Additional signs of constipation include passing hard, pebble-like stools with crying and some amount of strain or discomfort. Feline constipation is caused by a number of factors.

  1. Identification

    • Feline constipation is particularly common in cats with long hair who ingest loose fur after cleaning themselves with their tongues. The excess fur is not expelled easily with the feline's waste and feces, and it leads to constipation.

    Types

    • Other causes of feline constipation include unclean litter boxes which discourage your cat from utilizing them for the intended purpose. Obstructions caused by tumors, birth defects or foreign objects which were swallowed can also result in this. Painful anal infections and pus-filled cavities--called abscesses--which cause the cat to avoid defecation and prescribed drugs can also result in feline constipation.

    Significance

    • Older cats suffer feline constipation at greater rates, and the condition for them may be more significant than in younger cats. It may indicate an electrolyte imbalance, often observed in pets suffering kidney failure.

    Misconceptions

    • There is not just one form of feline constipation; there are 3 categories of the ailment: general, obstipation and megacolon. General cases are most often described and are caused as mentioned previously. Obstipation is caused when hardened fecal matter builds up in the colon creating a blockage. Megacolon results when that blockage causes loss of colon muscle control. That leads to constipation that is normally only relieved through surgery.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Feline constipation can be prevented by regularly cleaning your cat's litter box, frequent combing to remove loose fur from your cat's coat, keeping your cat properly hydrated with water, increasing the amount of dietary fiber, and reducing intake of meat products.

    Considerations

    • Feline constipation is often treated with use of laxatives, enemas, high-fiber diets, or medications such as Lactulose, Propulcid or Ranitidine. Critical cases may require surgical removal of a large portion of the colon to bring about more ease in the defecation process.

    Warning

    • Mild constipation is common, but long-term episodes most likely are indications of more serious health ailments. It is advised to take your feline to the doctor immediately if he shows prolonged symptoms of feline constipation.