Mild constipation is uncomfortable and can make your cat antisocial. Constipation can lead to refusing to eat, dehydration, weight loss, lethargy and conditions that are more serious. While mild constipation may correct itself, it also might not, and it won't hurt your cat to have a little help. Your first clue that your pet is constipated might come when you clean the litter box. A healthy cat usually defecates at least once a day. Therefore, if feces is absent or small, hard and dry, your cat might be constipated. You may also notice your cat straining, or continuously returning to the litter box. Severe straining to defecate may result in mucous or blood in the feces or vomiting. Alleviate the discomfort by reading on to learn how to stimulate cats with constipation.
Things You'll Need
- Constipated cat
- Fiber supplement such psyllium and wheat bran
- Canned or fresh cooked pumpkin (not pie)
- Dry food designed for hair balls
- Enema
- Medications that are "colonic pro-kinetic agents"
Instructions
Buy a few small cans of canned cat food, containers of the fiber supplements psyllium and wheat bran. In addition, purchase cans of pumpkin but the kind without pie seasoning added. You could also cook down some fresh pumpkin if it is the fall. Purchase a bag of dry cat food that is specifically hairball formula.
Open a can of cat food. Take out a couple of tbsp. of the cat food and stir in a tbsp. of canned pumpkin. Offer it to your cat. Make sure to place a bowl of water beside it. Put the can of cat food in a plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator.
Take the cat food out of the refrigerator in three to four hours. This time add 1/2 tsp. of psyllium to the cat food and stir it in. Offer the food to your cat. If there is still food in the can, cover it with plastic and place it back into the refrigerator.
Fill your cat's water dish frequently to encourage drinking. Water helps constipation and is very important when you are using a fiber supplement. Keep a small dish of the dry hairball formula cat food out beside the water dish all the time.
Take the cat food out of the refrigerator in three to four hours if there was any left otherwise open another can. This time add 1/2 tsp. of wheat bran to the cat food and stir it in. Offer the food to your cat. If there is still food in the can, cover it with plastic and place it back into the refrigerator. Repeat this cycle each day offering your cat three meals with fiber until your cat is back to normal.
Wipe a kittens bottom with a damp warm cloth to help to stimulate defecating. This is only for small kittens. If the additives do not work with your adult cat you can try inserting an enema as long as it isn't Fleet brand.
Seek veterinary intervention if your cat's constipation is not resolved in a few days or if it becomes chronic. The vet may recommend some tests such as a complete blood count, chemistry panel, thyroid test, urinalysis or X-rays to rule out other problems. Other test that may be run are a barium series or colonoscopy. Cats diagnosed with megacolon who do not respond to diet change or medication may require surgery and possibly removal of the colon.