How to Add Some Oat Bran for a Cat

You can use oat bran to cure mild cases of constipation in your cat.

Adding oat bran to your feline's diet can help to relieve its mild constipation. While most laxatives are not recommended for use on felines, small amounts of wheat bran and oat bran can be used. You can treat an occasional bout of feline constipation at home; however, leave the serious bouts to a professional. Chronic constipation in felines is serious and life-threatening, so take your cat to a veterinarian.

Things You'll Need

• Moist cat food

Instructions

1. Increase your cat's water consumption. Leave clean, fresh water for your pet at all times.

2. Add 1/8 teaspoon of oat bran to your cat's food. Try mixing it in with its favorite can of wet food. Slowly incorporate more oat bran into its diet, up to a teaspoon per day. The amount will depend on the weight of your cat (larger cats can have more bran than smaller cats). Large amounts of fiber can cause loose stools or diarrhea. If this happens, eliminate the fiber until the cat's stools are firm, then add a smaller amount of bran to your cat's diet.

3. Add up to one teaspoon to your cat's food to increase its fiber intake. This can be done several times a week if your cat is on a poor diet; however, it is recommended that you switch to a higher quality pet food.

References

• The Merck Veterinarian Manual: Constipation And Obstipation
• Natural Healing For Dogs And Cats: By Diane Stein, Publisher Crossing Press, Chapter 6, ISBN978-0895946140
• Cat Channel Daily: Grooming