Constipation in cats is a common yet often overlooked digestive problem that can cause significant discomfort for your feline friend. It occurs when a cat has difficulty passing faeces or passes them less frequently, leading to pain, straining, and hard, dry stools. While occasional constipation may not be alarming, chronic or severe cases can result in serious complications like obstipation or megacolon.
Understanding the causes — from dehydration and diet to underlying health issues — is essential for timely treatment. This guide covers everything you need to know about recognising symptoms, seeking veterinary help, home remedies, and prevention tips to keep your cat’s digestive health in balance.
What Is Constipation in Cats?
Constipation in cats means your cat has trouble with bowel movements, where faeces become hard and dry, making it difficult to pass them. This affects the cat digestive system, especially the colon and rectum, causing build-up and discomfort.
Feline constipation can lead to more serious problems like obstipation in cats if not addressed, where the colon gets blocked completely. It’s common in older cat constipation cases, but any cat can suffer from it due to various reasons.
Addressing feline constipation early is key because chronic constipation in cats can result in colon enlargement in cats, known as megacolon. Most healthy cats have bowel movements once or twice a day, so if yours goes longer, it’s a sign something’s wrong. Understanding cat bowel problems helps you spot issues fast and improve cat digestive health overall.
What Are the Signs of Constipation in Cats?
Straining in the litter tray
My cat is straining in the litter tray – that’s a common complaint from owners dealing with constipation in cats. Your cat might hunch over for a long time, digging and pushing without much result. This straining can look like they’re trying to urinate, but a raised tail indicates peeing efforts. Pain from cat faecal impaction makes them tense, and ignoring it can lead to worse feline health problems.
Passing small, hard stools
When cats pass small, hard stools, it’s a clear sign of cat faeces issues. These dry pebbles are tough to expel, often covered in mucus or blood from the effort. Constipation causes in cats like this point to dehydration or diet problems. Checking the litter tray daily helps you catch these early and adjust feeding habits in cats.
Crying or showing pain
Cat crying when pooping is heart breaking and a key symptom of constipation in cats. The cramps from built-up faeces cause real pain, making your cat vocalise or avoid the litter tray. Their abdomen might feel hard, and they could hide or become irritable. This shows how serious constipation can be in cats, especially if it leads to loss of appetite.
Loss of appetite or vomiting
Loss of appetite or vomiting often accompanies constipation in cats as toxins build up in their system. Your cat might refuse food because they feel full or nauseous from the blockage. This can quickly lead to dehydration in cats, worsening the cycle. Monitoring for these signs ensures you know when to see a vet for cat constipation.
Frequent but unproductive litter tray visits
Frequent but unproductive litter tray visits mean your cat keeps trying but achieves little, a classic sign of obstipation in cats. Sometimes, liquid faeces leak around the hard mass, looking like diarrhoea. This frustrates both you and your cat, highlighting litter tray problems that need fixing.
What Causes Constipation in Cats?
Pain and Mobility Issues
Pain and mobility issues like arthritis and constipation make it hard for cats to use the litter tray comfortably. Older cats with joint pain might avoid squatting, leading to stool retention in cats. Injuries or high-sided trays add to the problem, causing them to hold it in longer.
Dehydration
Dehydration in cats is a top cause of hard stool in cats, as low water intake dries out faeces. Can dehydration cause constipation in cats? Yes, especially in those with kidney issues or dry food diets. Encouraging more drinking is vital for feline dehydration prevention.
Behavioural and Lifestyle Factors
Behavioural and lifestyle factors such as stress or litter tray aversion contribute to constipation in cats. In a multiple cat household, competition for trays can cause avoidance. Dirty or wrong-type litter, like hard clumping ones, discourages use, leading to holding patterns.
Metabolic and Neurological Disorders
Metabolic disorders in cats, like thyroid problems, slow down the gut, causing chronic constipation in cats. Neurological issues in cats from spinal injuries disrupt signals for bowel movements. These need veterinary diagnosis for constipation to manage properly.
Obstruction of the Colon
Obstruction of the colon from tumours, foreign bodies, or pelvic deformities blocks flow, leading to severe cat bowel problems. This can result in faecal impaction in cats if not treated, requiring imaging to detect.
When Should You See a Vet?
When to see a vet for cat constipation is important to avoid complications. If your cat has no bowel movement for two or more days, that’s a red flag. How long can a cat go without pooping? Usually not more than 48 hours without concern. Visible pain or bloating means immediate help is needed, as it could signal a serious blockage.
Vomiting or loss of appetite alongside constipation in cats suggests toxins are affecting them. Passing only liquid stool may appear like diarrhoea but often masks hard faeces inside. What happens if a cat can’t poop? It can lead to megacolon or rupture, so don’t delay a visit.
How Vets Diagnose Constipation in Cats
Vets diagnose constipation in cats through a step-by-step process to find the root cause. They start with a physical examination, feeling the abdomen for hard faeces or swelling. Blood and urine tests check for dehydration or underlying metabolic disorders in cats.
X-rays or ultrasound provide images of the colon to spot blockages or enlargement. In some cases, a colonoscopy for cats explores the inside for biopsies if tumours are suspected. This thorough approach ensures accurate treatment.
Treatment for Constipation in Cats
Veterinary Treatment Options
Veterinary treatment options include a range of methods tailored to your cat. Laxatives or stool softeners are common for home management after diagnosis. For recurring issues, probiotics help restore gut balance.
IV fluids for dehydration
IV fluids for dehydration rehydrate your cat fast, making faeces softer and easier to pass. This is crucial for cats with kidney problems exacerbating the issue.
Enemas to soften stool
Enema for cats, given by vets, softens impacted faeces under sedation to avoid pain. It’s effective but not for home use due to risks.
Surgery (subtotal colectomy in severe megacolon)
Subtotal colectomy in cats removes part of the colon in severe megacolon cases. Recovery involves diet adjustments, but it greatly improves quality of life.
Cat Constipation Home Remedies
Increase Water Consumption
How to make my cat drink more water? Try fountains or adding broth to food. This combats feline dehydration and softens stool naturally. Place bowls in quiet spots for easy access.
Feed a High-Fibre or Wet Diet
What to feed a constipated cat? High-fibre cat food or wet food for cats adds moisture and bulk. Best food for constipated cats includes pumpkin puree as a natural aid. How to soften cat stool naturally? Gradually introduce these for better digestion.
Keep Your Cat Active
Keep your cat active with daily play to stimulate the gut. Exercise helps overweight cats slim down, reducing constipation risks.
Manage Stress and Litter Trays
Why my cat won’t use the litter tray? Stress or dirty trays cause aversion. Use soft sandy litter and clean daily in a multiple cat household for comfort.
Use Vet-Prescribed Laxatives (If Advised)
Use vet-prescribed laxatives if advised, like safe doses of lactulose. Avoid human remedies as they can harm.
How to Prevent Constipation in Cats
How to prevent constipation in cats starts with daily habits that support health. Feed a balanced diet with adequate moisture from wet food to keep faeces soft.
Provide multiple clean litter trays in quiet areas to encourage regular use. Encourage hydration and regular exercise through playtime to aid digestion. Manage medical issues like arthritis early with vet check-ups to avoid mobility-related hold-ups.
Here is a simple table of prevention tips:
Recovery and Long-Term Care
Recovery from constipation in cats takes time, with softer stools appearing after treatment. During this period, monitor bowel movements daily and note any changes in a journal for patterns.
Dietary adjustments like switching to high-fibre or moisture-rich foods support ongoing cat hydration and diet needs. For how to manage chronic constipation in cats, regular vet follow-ups are essential. How to care for an older cat with constipation? Gentle exercise and joint supplements can help.
Some facts about long-term care: Most cats recover fully with lifestyle changes; megacolon cases might need ongoing meds; brushing reduces hairball-related issues. For more info, check PDSA on constipation in cats or International Cat Care advice.
Cat lover extraordinaire! Kitty Corner Blog is where I share advice on cat training, food, and care. Come along for tips to make your cat’s life amazing!
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