Everything you need to know to handle your cat’s constipation

For those of us familiar with constipation, we know how uncomfortable it can be. Constipation is a symptom of many disorders associated with aging in cats. Untreated constipation can lead to serious health conditions, so it’s important for pet parents to understand how to spot the signs and what to do about constipation in cats. Read on to learn:

• How do I know if my cat is constipated?
• How is cat constipation diagnosed and treated?
• Why is my cat constipated?
• Can I prevent constipation in my cat?

Health issues such as kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and obesity become more common as cats age. These conditions can cause constipation and lead to even more health consequences. Early identification and treatment of associated conditions as well as maintaining a balanced diet and exercise routine create the best circumstances to help prevent constipation so your furry friend can lead a long, healthy life.

Constipation in cats describes straining to defecate while only producing small, very hard, dry stool, or nothing at all. Unfortunately, constipation is common in cats, especially as they grow older and develop conditions that predispose them to dehydration and inhibit mobility. If your cat suffers from kidney disease, osteoarthritis, or obesity, it’s important to keep an eye out for the symptoms of constipation. In addition to straining and the passage of dry, crumbly stool, symptoms of constipation in cats include:

• Lethargy or decreased activity level
• Lack of appetite
• Vomiting
• Blood streaks around the stool

It is not uncommon for cats with constipation to vomit and have blood around their stools due to excessive straining and irritation to the rectum from passing hard feces. Cats may also experience abdominal pain that they display through lack of appetite and lethargy.

Veterinarians diagnose constipation through the symptoms a cat is exhibiting, along with a physical and rectal exam. Imaging such as X-rays may also be used to determine how severe the constipation is. Constipation in cats is a symptom of many underlying health conditions. In order to determine the cause of the constipation, a vet may recommend diagnostic tests such as bloodwork.

While the cause of the constipation is being determined, symptomatic treatments may be offered depending on the individual cat’s situation. These may include:

• Laxatives
• Enemas
• Fluid therapy
• Manual removal of feces
• Surgery in severe cases

Treatment for the cause of the constipation varies depending on the diagnosis. The underlying cause of constipation must be addressed in order to prevent recurring constipation, which can lead to serious health conditions such as megacolon.

Is cat constipation an emergency?

Any time a cat strains in the litter box, it’s important to figure out why.  Straining to defecate due to constipation can be easily confused with more common causes of straining like difficulty urinating or diarrhea. While diarrhea in cats is usually not an emergency, straining to urinate or unexpected and obvious signs of constipation, such as the presence of dry, hard stools, require immediate veterinary care.

Can I treat my cat’s constipation at home?

In cases of simple and mild constipation, home treatments may be effective. An online veterinarian can help provide guidance on home constipation treatments, such as adding fiber to the diet or giving oral stool softeners or laxatives to promote regular bowel movements. Always consult a veterinarian before changing your cat’s diet or giving medications, as these are not always safe or recommended for all cats.

Before attempting home remedies, it is best to determine whether your cat is actually constipated. Lack of bowel movements or straining are more commonly caused by other conditions, so it may not be accurate to assume your cat is constipated.

A common home remedy for human constipation is flushing the rectum with warm water, also known as an enema. It is not recommended to attempt giving pets enemas at home. It’s best to leave enema treatments to the vet clinic to avoid injury to yourself or your cat.

Chronic and severe constipation need to be treated by a veterinarian. “Cats with chronic constipation usually require ongoing, intensive medical management,” explains Dr. Jo Myers. “It’s critical to know why a cat is constipated before treating them at home.” Veterinarians can offer advice on providing long-term care and prevention for your cat’s chronic constipation at home.

Constipation almost always occurs secondarily to other underlying issues. Cats with a higher risk of constipation include:

• Elderly cats
• Cats with mobility issues due to osteoarthritis or obesity
• Cats with chronic kidney disease
• Diabetic cats
• Cats with hyperthyroidism

Many other medical issues can lead to constipation in cats, including prostate inflammation, pelvic injuries, and various cancers.

Feline constipation is best prevented through routine wellness exams and testing. Constipation in cats is usually caused by an underlying health condition, so early detection and ongoing treatment of the condition is the most important step in preventing constipation. Veterinarians often direct owners of cats at risk for constipation to try methods to help decrease the severity and frequency of constipation episodes. These methods can include:

• Increasing water intake through wet food, extra water bowls, and fountains
• Using laxatives or stool softeners
• Switching to food formulated for constipation
• Adding fiber to the diet with supplements or canned pumpkin
• Encouraging exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Having multiple clean litter boxes available in quiet, low traffic areas

Many of the conditions that lead to constipation cause a cat to become dehydrated. Providing multiple cat water fountains throughout the home may encourage cats to drink more fresh water to help.

Nutrition consults are an excellent opportunity for cat owners to learn how to proactively manage their aging cat’s dietary needs, which can help keep your cat fit and active well into old age. You can consult a veterinarian about your cat’s constipation or receive a nutrition consultation through a virtual vet appointment with Vetster.

How can you tell if a cat is constipated?

A constipated cat will strain to defecate unproductively or produce only small, hard, and often crumbly stools. They may also experience lethargy, vomiting, and blood around the stool due to colon irritation and excessive straining.

Will a constipated cat eventually poop?

Most cases of feline constipation require some kind of intervention to prevent it from getting worse and provide relief for the cat. The medical treatment of constipation can vary dramatically from simple diet changes to surgery, depending on how severe the constipation is.

How long is it safe for a cat to be constipated?

Start by making sure your cat isn’t straining for a different reason, such as after having diarrhea or due to urinary tract disease. While diarrhea isn’t usually an emergency, a urinary blockage needs immediate care. The first occurrence of constipation in a cat should be treated as an emergency. If a cat has chronic constipation, a veterinarian can provide advice on how to treat recurrent constipation from home as well as when to return to the veterinary hospital for treatment. Severe constipation may require invasive methods to manually remove impacted feces at a vet hospital.

What do vets recommend for chronic constipation in cats?

At-home treatments for chronic or ongoing constipation can vary depending on the underlying cause of a cat’s constipation. Vets may recommend diet changes, oral laxatives or stool softeners, providing more water fountains and litter boxes, and weight loss if the cat is overweight or obese.