How Can I Assist My Cat With Constipation? Our Skilled Recommendation

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Final Up to date on: August 21, 2023 by Crystal Uys

cat on a green litter tray

Constipation is an disagreeable however comparatively widespread prevalence in cats. It occurs when cats’ poop turns into so dry and arduous that it will get caught. Cats usually have a bowel motion each 24 to 36 hours, and their poop usually accommodates a good bit of moisture.

Constipated cats produce dry, arduous stools after they lastly get issues transferring. It normally signifies the presence of a well being concern that must be recognized and addressed. Attain out for assist in case your cat goes for 48 hours with out having a bowel motion. Nevertheless, you possibly can assist your cat in the event that they’re constipated by rising their water and fiber consumption and implementing stress-reducing measures.


What Causes Feline Constipation?

Constipation is commonly attributable to dehydration, nevertheless it will also be linked to a number of circumstances, corresponding to kidney illness and hypothyroidism. When indicators corresponding to nausea, vomiting, weight reduction, and hiding are seen, along with constipation, it’s usually a sign that one thing systemic is occurring.

Stress, inflammatory circumstances, and allergy symptoms could cause bowel issues. They will additionally change into constipated in the event that they maintain issues in for too lengthy, which might be attributable to ache, stress, mobility points, worry, or hygiene issues. Obese cats generally undergo from constipation since they’re susceptible to growing intestinal irritation.

gray british shorthair kitten in cat litter box
Picture Credit score: New Africa, Shutterstock

Are There Methods to Enhance the State of affairs?

Sure. You may assist your cat by tweaking your pet’s food regimen and rising the quantity of train they get.

Change Your Cat’s Food regimen

Constipation can generally be a aspect impact of meals allergy symptoms and sensitivities. They will trigger digestive tract irritation in some cats, which might result in constipation. Avoidance is normally the most secure and best solution to cope with meals allergy symptoms and sensitivities, so tweaking your cat’s meals could make it simpler for them to go to the lavatory.

Nevertheless, earlier than making any adjustments to your pet’s food regimen, communicate together with your veterinarian to make sure you choose a product that’s proper to your cat’s age and meets all their dietary wants.

Improve Your Cat’s Water Consumption

Cats generally have hassle pooping in the event that they’re not consuming sufficient water, and indoor cats are infamous for not ingesting sufficient. Two merchandise might help cats enhance their fluid consumption: cat fountains and moist meals. Since cats normally choose to drink operating water, giving your companion a cat fountain might also encourage them to devour extra water. Moist meals accommodates a considerable quantity of moisture, and a few manufacturers have 75% or extra.

Spend money on Enrichment Toys

Cats are delicate and might change into bored and confused in the event that they don’t have sufficient to maintain them busy. Pressured cats can expertise different digestive difficulties, corresponding to vomiting and diarrhea, along with constipation. Rising the quantity and number of toys out there to your cat could assist scale back any nervousness they might be feeling and calm down them sufficient to go to the lavatory.

clever siamese cat playing with puzzle toy to get treat
Picture credit score: Agata Kowalczyk, Shutterstock

Improve Your Cat’s Bodily Exercise

Like people, cats have to get transferring to remain bodily and mentally match. Cats that don’t get sufficient train usually find yourself with pent-up power that manifests as stress. Enjoying with cats for 20 to 45 minutes every day will get their hearts pumping. It’s greatest to maintain the play classes quick; 10 or quarter-hour of exercise per spherical is nearly proper for many cats.

Brush Your Cat Extra Typically

Cats develop hairballs when fur doesn’t go by way of the digestive tract. They’re usually vomited up, however hairballs also can get caught in your cat’s abdomen or intestines, resulting in constipation. Repeatedly brushing your cat can scale back the quantity of fur they ingest when grooming. Quick-haired cats should be brushed about as soon as per week, however long-haired cats are notably susceptible to growing hairballs and require every day brushing.

Assist Your Cat Keep a Wholesome Weight

It may be difficult to find out in case your cat is a wholesome weight, however you possibly can communicate together with your veterinarian for steering. To assist your pet drop a number of kilos, measure their parts and restrict treats to about 10% of their food regimen.

Add Vertical Dangle Outs

As a result of constipation is commonly linked to emphasize in cats, giving cats locations to hang around the place they really feel protected and comfy can go a great distance in direction of limiting constipation-causing nervousness. Cats profit from having excessive locations to calm down and nap, like cat cabinets, timber, and perches. In addition they give cats locations to retreat after they need to escape a loud customer or irritating canine.

black cat on modern wallscapes
Picture Credit score: RJ22, Shutterstock

Create a Peaceable Area for Your Cat

Cats have delicate listening to, in order that they usually change into confused when uncovered to loud, repetitive noises. Creating an area to your cat to calm down away from all of it could assist enhance stress-related constipation. Decide a peaceable location as far-off from the noise as attainable, and ensure your cat has all of the necessities close by, together with a litter field, toys, water, a mattress, and a scratching put up.

Clear the Litter Field Each day

Cats generally change into constipated as a result of they’re holding it in to keep away from utilizing a smelly litter field. They are often extraordinarily choosy about their bogs. Merely cleansing your cat’s litter field extra often could also be useful in case your pet avoids the lavatory out of hygiene issues.

A number of Cats

Be certain that to have no less than one litter field per pet, plus one further when you’ve got a number of cats, to stop conditions the place one cat systematically prevents the opposite from accessing the litter field. Keep away from inserting litter bins in the identical space as your pet’s meals and water bowls since cats dislike utilizing the lavatory near the place they eat.

Senior Cats

Senior cats and pets with mobility points generally have litter field points on account of ache and problem getting round. Litter bins positioned near the place older cats like to hang around could make it simple for them to succeed in the lavatory, and enormous litter bins with low sides are sometimes simpler for pets with painful joints to navigate.

Add Fiber to Your Cat’s Food regimen

Rising the fiber in your pet’s food regimen can assist their gastrointestinal well being and encourage environment friendly intestinal motion. It additionally helps water keep within the digestive tract, which minimizes constipation. Sugar-free canned pumpkin is commonly advised as a tasty solution to enhance a cat’s fiber consumption. Nevertheless, it’s greatest to contact your veterinarian earlier than giving your cat fiber for constipation to make sure it’s applicable to your pet.

cat eating food from bowl
Picture Credit score: Seattle Cat Photograph, Shutterstock

Conclusion

Occasional constipation in cats might be managed by rising your pet’s water and fiber consumption. It’s usually associated to dehydration however will also be linked to inflammatory circumstances, allergy symptoms, and stress. Nevertheless, in case your cat has not defecated in 48 hours, they need to be evaluated by a veterinarian since there’s usually an underlying challenge accountable for the issue.


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