Constipation in cats can be caused, for example, by hairballs, obesity, stress or illness. Home remedies such as vegetable oil, milk, liver or malt paste and a change of diet can help to relieve mild constipation in cats. If the problem persists, the cat needs to see a vet.
Symptoms: How can I tell if my cat is constipated?
If you have an indoor cat, it is relatively easy to detect constipation in your cat. All you need to do is check the litter tray regularly. It is much more difficult to assess outdoor cats that rarely visit the litter tray. You need to take a closer look at them.
The following symptoms may indicate constipation in cats:
Constipation is no joke! If your cat is affected by this, you should find the cause. One reason could be hairballs in their gastrointestinal tract, for example. Long-haired cats in particular can swallow large quantities of hairballs when grooming during the shedding period. Some of these are excreted or the cat regurgitates them. However, if this does not happen in sufficient quantities, constipation can be the result. You can remedy this by combing the cat thoroughly.
A cat's diet can also be a reason for constipation. On the one hand, cats should not be overweight, as this is usually associated with limited activity, which has an influence on intestinal activity. Food can also be the cause of constipation: If cats drink too little and are only givendry food, this can lead to problems. Try using several drinking bowls in the home, but none should be placed directly next to the food bowl. Many don't like that. A drinking fountain can also encourage them to drink. It is also advisable to provide at least some wet food. This automatically provides the cat with more liquid.
Unfortunately, various illnesses can also lead to constipation. It is therefore important to have this checked by a vet. Causes could include a tumor, pelvic fracture, chronic renal insufficiency or diabetes. Mental stress in the home environment, side effects of medication, cat litter in the stomach or a swallowed object are also possible causes of constipation.
It is not unusual for a cat's frequency of defecation and the amount excreted to fluctuate slightly. In general, cats do their business once a day. It is also okay if this happens twice a day or occasionally once. Most cats have a certain regularity. As a cat owner, you know this and usually notice quickly when irregularities occur. If this settles down again after a day or two and the cat shows normal behavior, there is usually no cause for concern. However, if the symptoms persist or recur, a visit to the vet is necessary.
When a vet examines a cat for constipation, he will assess the severity in three stages:
Depending on the degree of constipation, it may be sufficient for the vet to simply give a mild laxative. In the case of advanced constipation, it may be necessary to perform a colonic irrigation or an enema. In serious cases, surgery may also be unavoidable, for example if a foreign body or tumor has been detected.
If your cat occasionally has a tendency to have slightly firmer stools, you can try a home remedy to combat this. However, bear in mind that a visit to the vet is inevitable if the problem persists. If you would like to try a home remedy for minor constipation, you can try the following (in small doses):