What is Constipation?
Along with being unable to defecate normally, constipated cats may also strain while trying to use their litter boxes or show other outward signs to indicate that they are unable to move their bowels normally. If you notice that your cat's litter box is unused for several days or if you observe harder than normal stools or stools with blood in them, you should have your cat examined by your veterinarian immediately.
Many cases of constipation in cats are treatable and minor. However, other cases of feline constipation may belie more serious health conditions like anal gland disease or cancer. Your vet can conduct a thorough examination to determine the underlying cause of your cat's constipation.
Constipation in cats is a common illness from which cats routinely suffer. Cats typically defecate two to three times per day. When they are unable to move their bowels normally, they become constipated and may require special care to help them resume normal bowel function.
Symptoms of Constipation in Cats
Constipation in cats can be either mild with few noticeable symptoms to chronic, which typically comes with symptoms that are more severe. Acute constipation in cats has symptoms that include:
- Harder than normal feces
- Small, pellet-like feces
- Repeated unproductive visits to the litter box
- Temporary loss of appetite
- Straining while trying to defecate
Alternatively, cats who are chronically constipated may show more outward signs of distress with symptoms that include:
- Bloody or mucus-covered feces
- Loud meowing or crying in pain
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Disinterest in grooming
Cats that are constipated also may have hardened, distended bellies and be unwilling to lie down on their stomachs. They may also refuse to eat or drink even when offered their favorite treats. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, you should have your cat examined and treated as necessary for constipation by your veterinarian.
Causes of Constipation in Cats
A variety of factors can contribute to constipation in cats. Some of the more common causes for this feline condition include:
- Dehydration
- Low-fiber diets
- Hairballs or excessive grooming
- Obesity
- Low metabolism
- Medication side effect
However, constipation in cats can sometimes be caused by factors that are more serious and require specialized veterinary care. These contributors include:
- Ingestion of a foreign object
- Anal gland cancer
- Intestinal or stomach infection
- Neurological disorder
- Enlarged or abscessed anal sacs
- Intestinal or stomach tumors
Cats that are mildly constipated can often recover quickly and thoroughly by drinking more water or by eating food that is high in fiber. They also recover by losing weight or increasing their activity levels.
Cats with underlying diseases like anal gland cancer, however, may require more intensive veterinary care before they experience relief from their constipation. A thorough veterinary examination can determine the best treatment plan for your cat.
Diagnosis of Constipation in Cats
Your veterinarian may diagnose the cause of your cat's constipation by conducting a variety of tests. Along with collecting a stool sample if possible from your cat, the vet may also palpate your cat's stomach to determine if there could be a foreign object in the stomach or intestines. He or she may also use an x-ray or ultrasound to determine if the blockage is caused by a tumor or a viral or bacterial infection.
Additionally, the vet may also take your cat's temperature to discover if it suffers from a fever, which could indicate an underlying infection. The veterinarian also will check your cat's mouth and eyes for signs of dehydration. If your cat is severely dehydrated, it may require intravenous hydration, which could relieve its constipation.
Treatment of Constipation in Cats
Once your veterinarian has determined the underlying cause of your cat's constipation, he or she can determine the best course of treatment. For minor or acute cases of feline constipation, your vet may recommend treatments like:
- Increased hydration: You may increase your cat's hydration by providing more water at home. Your vet may also use intravenous hydration to treat your cat's constipation.
- Stool softeners: Stool softeners may be given orally to help your cat defecate normally.
- Laxatives: Laxatives help your cat defecate normally and more often.
- Increased fiber intake: Your vet may recommend switching your cat to a high-fiber cat food. You also can add high-fiber foods like canned pumpkin to your cat's diet.
Severe cases of feline constipation or cases caused by underlying diseases like cancer or tumors typically require surgical intervention. Surgery may be needed to manually evacuate the bowels or to remove obstructions in the intestines and stomach.
Recovery of Constipation in Cats
With proper treatment, most cats afflicted with minor cases of feline constipation recover quickly. They do not need prolonged veterinarian care to resume normal movement of their bowels.
You can help your cat's bowel health by making sure it has plenty of fresh water to drink and by adding fiber to its diet. You should also ensure your cat remains a healthy weight and gets enough exercise each day.
If your cat's constipation is caused by cancer, bowel obstruction, or another illness, it may need regular veterinary care to keep the underlying illness in check. Your vet may wish to x-ray or examine your cat every few months to ensure its proper bowel function.
You can also safeguard your cat's bowel health by keeping foreign objects like string, bottle caps, and other small items out of your cat's reach. This precaution ensures that your cat cannot swallow foreign objects that can cause constipation.
Constipation Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
Our cat hasn’t pooped in a few days, and we noticed his stomach was swollen. We took him to emergency vet and they drew blood and did x Ray. His blood was normal except high red cells but on the lower end. His x Ray showed fluid. They sent us on our way and said “he’s sick” and we needed a specialist. When we got home he finally pooped! His belly swelling went down a little. We can’t get into the specialist for a week. Will our guy be ok?
Our normal vet isn’t open today, and we’re really looking for a piece of mind.
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My cat autumn we brought from another owner who is 1. And I've noticed her stools are quite hard and she only does one in the morning. She only passes one stool a day and when she does there's dry stools around her anus. I usually just use an unscented baby wipe to wipe off but tonight it was really hard and took me a long time and there was a poo stuck in bottom. What shall I do?
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My cat has not been using her litter box she has been pooping outside of it and her stool seems to be be in pebbles and is quite dry. She barely eats food but is drinking water. She also doesn’t seem ill she is very playful and acting normal except for the fact that she can’t poop in her litter box. This has been goin on for 4 days.
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My cat has been eating and drinking like normal but not pooping daily for the past 3 days, almost 4. She pooped last night a fairly decent sized one but she has now almost gone 24 hours without going again. She pees normally, just not pooping. She has become a bit more lethargic than usual and has a slightly tight, bloated stomach but doesn't seem to show discomfort or pain when I touch it.
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How do I tell if my cat is recovering from his constipation? He could not go at all and now he is going a very little bit, very runny, does that mean he is getting better?
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My cat was diagnosed with constipation. He spent about 3 days not eating or drinking. X-ray showed a little bit in the large intestine otherwise ok and blood work was ok. He was given 2 rounds of IV fluids and an enema. Then I took him home that night and gave him a prescribed amount of medicine that should lubricate his insides to help him go. It’s been 2 days since the enema and the last round of the IV fluids and other than a few licks here and there of food and water he still isn’t eating. Any recommendations on what I can try to get him to eat? I’ve put out his favorite wet food and dry, and even tuna but he’s not super interested in anything.
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Medication Used
My cat is almost 15 years old and she just had her second enema within a month but a month ago she was in the hospital with severe constipation and she develop sepsis. Since then she has not quite been herself she is not eating as much as she was and she's not going to the bathroom where she should be. So she just had another enema yesterday and luckily she wasn't septic. I had been giving her a quarter teaspoon of Miralax with her meals every day except for the first few days after the hospital I gave her lactulose but she's kept having diarrhea so I went back to mirilax. She has kidney disease but her lab tests were good so her kidney food is helping. Yesterday she went potty a ton, didnt really eat but did drink some. Today she ate a small meal i left her during the day but she's not interested in food at all right now for dinner and seems little lethargic. I started giving her lactolose again a few days ago before the enema and gave her 2 mg yesterday. I guess I wonder what the recuperation time is after an enema. I know it was a traumatic event she was very nauseous yesterday right afterwards in a little bit in the evening. She is 15 years old roughly. I also wonder if I should decrease the lactulose because she's not constipated anymore right now but I do not want to chance in any way her getting constipated again.
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My cat went in for a dental under anesthesia on Tuesday. When she came home she was very drunk. Within an hour she was walking with her rear end down, crouched. It seemed very odd and I was immediately worried, but I also know anesthesia can have unusual effects. As the night went on the hunched walking became more pronounced. We called after hours care and they said to keep an eye on it, but it should wear off as time passes. I slept with her through the night. I’m the morning it had only seemed she got more uncomfortable. I took her back in. They feel it’s not neurological, but either a back injury or constipation. They gave her subq fluids and a shot of onsior and sent her home saying they think everything will be ok. She still has not had a bowel movement, but I know that can be expected after going under. She woke up today I’m more pain, it looked like. Would constipation be an issue that soon after surgery? Do you have any ideas? I gave her 1/4 teaspoon of miralax an hour ago per the doctor. And an onsior 5mg per the doctor. She ate a little wet food earlier. Not drinking too much water, so I’m adding it to her food.
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hi. My cat is at the vet being observed. She's not sure what is wrong with him at this point. 2 days ago he became lethargic, walking very slowly & gingerly & doesn't want to eat. He urinated last night ok & I didn't see any blood. Vet is giving him subcutaneous fluids & doing an x-ray. She said she felt some hard stools in his stomach. My question is: if my cat has constipation, could it cause him to not be able to walk very well & does it cause pain in lower back?
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