How to Correct a Cat's Constipation

A few simple methods can cure your cat's constipation.

Constipation occurs when your cat cannot produce a bowel movement, which may be caused by dietary indiscretion, illness or disease, obstruction of the colon or medications that your cat takes. Symptoms of constipation include straining to defecate, painful defecation, and lack of, very little or bloody stool production. Constipation is both painful and dangerous for your cat. If left untreated, constipation leads to obstipation, a condition that may result in the death of your cat.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Chicken broth
• Canned and moist foods
• Intravenous fluids
• Feline laxative
• Dairy products
• Feline enema
• Psyllium powder or canned pumpkin

Instructions

1. Visit your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can determine the exact cause of your cat's constipation through an examination and diagnostic tests such as x-rays. Your veterinarian knows the best course of treatment to suit your cat's needs.

2. Rehydrate your cat. Constipation is often the result of dehydration, and it causes dehydration as well. Provide your cat with plenty of fresh water to drink, offer dishes of chicken broth, and feed your cat canned, moist foods. Consider having your veterinarian give your cat intravenous fluid therapy if the dehydration is severe.

3. Administer laxatives to your cat as directed by your veterinarian. Prepared feline laxatives, such as Laxatone, are available from your veterinarian and in pet stores. Lactulose, prescribed by your veterinarian, is a sugary syrup that makes stool softer and easier to pass. Cats are naturally lactose intolerant, so feeding your cat milk products such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese and vanilla ice cream produces a quick bowel movement in most cats.

4. Give your cat an enema. Your veterinarian is able to give your cat an enema at the clinic or provide you with one for use at home. The enema involves flushing a solution into your cat's rectum and bowels, which then washes out any fecal matter inside the bowels.

5. Prevent reoccurances of feline constipation by providing extra fiber in your cat's diet. Fiber naturally keeps your cat's bowel movements "regular," keeping constipation at bay. Give your cat a teaspoon of psyllium powder in its food once daily, or put a teaspoon of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) in your cat's food to increase fiber and bowel movements.

Tips & Warnings

• Regularly grooming your cat prevents your cat from ingesting excess hair from self-grooming. Excess hair may cause a clog inside your cat's bowels, leading to constipation.

• Laxatives and enemas formulated for humans are not safe for cats. Do not use human-grade laxatives or enemas under any circumstances. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations of laxatives and enemas for your cat.

References

• Little Big Cat: Constipated Cats
• BestFriends.org: Constipation in Cats
• "Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat Not a Sour Puss"; Pamela Johnson-Bennett; 2000