Final Up to date on: August 21, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Constipation is an disagreeable however comparatively widespread prevalence in cats. It occurs when cats’ poop turns into so dry and onerous that it will get caught. Cats usually have a bowel motion each 24 to 36 hours, and their poop usually incorporates a good bit of moisture.
Constipated cats produce dry, onerous stools once they lastly get issues shifting. It often 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. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to 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 brought on by dehydration, but it surely will also be linked to a number of situations, akin to kidney illness and hypothyroidism. When indicators akin 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 situations, and allergic reactions may cause bowel issues. They will additionally change into constipated in the event that they maintain issues in for too lengthy, which might be brought on by ache, stress, mobility points, worry, or hygiene considerations. Obese cats generally endure from constipation since they’re vulnerable to growing intestinal irritation.
Are There Methods to Enhance the State of affairs?
Sure. You may assist your cat by tweaking your pet’s weight-reduction plan and rising the quantity of train they get.
Change Your Cat’s Weight loss program
Constipation can generally be a facet impact of meals allergic reactions and sensitivities. They will trigger digestive tract irritation in some cats, which might result in constipation. Avoidance is often the most secure and best method to take care of meals allergic reactions and sensitivities, so tweaking your cat’s meals might make it simpler for them to go to the lavatory.
Nonetheless, earlier than making any modifications to your pet’s weight-reduction plan, communicate together with your veterinarian to make sure you choose a product that’s proper in 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 consuming sufficient. Two merchandise may help cats improve their fluid consumption: cat fountains and moist meals. Since cats often desire to drink operating water, giving your companion a cat fountain can also encourage them to devour extra water. Moist meals incorporates a considerable quantity of moisture, and a few manufacturers have 75% or extra.
Put money into Enrichment Toys
Cats are delicate and may change into bored and careworn in the event that they don’t have sufficient to maintain them busy. Confused cats can expertise different digestive difficulties, akin to vomiting and diarrhea, along with constipation. Growing the quantity and number of toys accessible to your cat might assist scale back any anxiousness they might be feeling and loosen up them sufficient to go to the lavatory.
Improve Your Cat’s Bodily Exercise
Like people, cats must get shifting to remain bodily and mentally match. Cats that don’t get sufficient train usually find yourself with pent-up vitality that manifests as stress. Enjoying with cats for 20 to 45 minutes each day will get their hearts pumping. It’s greatest to maintain the play classes brief; 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 the digestive tract. They’re usually vomited up, however hairballs can even get caught in your cat’s abdomen or intestines, resulting in constipation. Frequently brushing your cat can scale back the quantity of fur they ingest when grooming. Brief-haired cats should be brushed about as soon as every week, however long-haired cats are significantly vulnerable to growing hairballs and require each day brushing.
Assist Your Cat Preserve a Wholesome Weight
It may be difficult to find out in case your cat is a wholesome weight, however you’ll be able to communicate together with your veterinarian for steering. To assist your pet drop a couple of kilos, measure their parts and restrict treats to about 10% of their weight-reduction plan.
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 secure and comfy can go a great distance in direction of limiting constipation-causing anxiousness. Cats profit from having excessive locations to loosen up and nap, like cat cabinets, timber, and perches. Additionally they give cats locations to retreat once they wish to escape a loud customer or irritating canine.
Create a Peaceable House for Your Cat
Cats have delicate listening to, so that they usually change into careworn when uncovered to loud, repetitive noises. Creating an area in your cat to loosen up away from all of it might assist enhance stress-related constipation. Choose 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 publish.
Clear the Litter Field Day by day
Cats generally change into constipated as a result of they’re holding it in to keep away from utilizing a pungent litter field. They are often extraordinarily choosy about their bogs. Merely cleansing your cat’s litter field extra incessantly could also be useful in case your pet avoids the lavatory out of hygiene considerations.
A number of Cats
Make certain to have no less than one litter field per pet, plus one further when you’ve got a number of cats, to forestall conditions the place one cat systematically prevents the opposite from accessing the litter field. Keep away from putting 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 as a consequence of ache and issue getting round. Litter bins positioned near the place older cats like to hang around could make it straightforward 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 Weight loss program
Growing the fiber in your pet’s weight-reduction plan 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 recommended as a tasty method to improve a cat’s fiber consumption. Nonetheless, it’s greatest to contact your veterinarian earlier than giving your cat fiber for constipation to make sure it’s applicable in your pet.
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 situations, allergic reactions, and stress. Nonetheless, in case your cat has not defecated in 48 hours, they need to be evaluated by a veterinarian since there’s usually an underlying subject liable for the issue.
Featured Picture Credit score: Dina da, Shutterstock
Concerning the writer
Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely little one. For now! All through her life, she has been launched to the particular love that may be discovered within the bond with a cat. Having owned a number of felines, she is greater than sure that their love is unmatched, unconditional and in contrast to some other. With a ardour to coach the general public about all the pieces, there may be to find out about felines, their conduct, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating positive that every one cats and their homeowners know the significance of aware dwelling – and loving!