what to feed cat when constipated

What should I feed my constipated cat?

6 Best Food for Constipated Cats OptionsHills Prescription Diet Digestive Care. ... Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Food. ... Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Formula/ Naturals. ... Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support. ... Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Food.More items...•

How do you stimulate a cat to poop?

The more effective way to stimulate a bowel movement is through diet — such as pumpkin puree, canned wet food, and fiber supplements, like Metamucil, are all recommended by the MSPCA for alleviating constipation in cats.

Should you feed a constipated cat?

Some cats enjoy beans, pumpkin, or even fruits and veggies. If your cat enjoys such, offer cooked vegetables along with soft food to help your constipated cat. In many cases, cats will refuse to eat such things, so one may have to supplement the diet of the constipated cat with over the counter dietary fiber.

How much olive oil do you give a cat for constipation?

Olive Oil Dosage if Your Cat Is Constipated For a mild bout of constipation, VetInfo advises one-half to one tablespoon of olive oil, or five to ten drops if you use a dropper. Add the oil to your cat's food.

How long can a cat go without doing a poo?

A cat can go up to 48 hours without pooping, meaning anything past 48 hrs is a cause for concern, especially if you see your pet straining to defecate and nothing coming out. Ideally every pet should have a bowel movement daily, however there can be some slight variations here depending on the GI transit time and diet.

How do you stimulate a bowel movement quickly?

Tips for immediate constipation reliefTake a fiber supplement. ... Eat foods for constipation relief. ... Drink a glass of water. ... Take a laxative stimulant. ... Take an osmotic laxative. ... Try a lubricant laxative. ... Use a stool softener. ... Try an enema.More items...

How long is it OK for a cat not to poop?

There is always some normal variation in the time frame for bowel movements. But if you know your cat hasn't pooped in over 72 hours, you should contact your vet.

Can you massage a cat to help them poop?

Sarah Wallace, a veterinarian based in Washington, D.C., says that this is not the case and a cat constipation massage should never be attempted. “We can feel if there are feces in the intestines causing a blockage, but we never want to massage that area,” she says. “It doesn't break things up or get them moving.

Why does my cat have a hard time putting up stools?

Constipation is a troubling and common digestive tract problem for cats. It occurs when the stool is too large and/or too firm to be expelled. Constipation is the likely culprit when a cat is straining in the litter box and produces few or no stools, or those stools that do come out are dry and firm.

How to help your intestinal motility?

Exercise to shed excess pounds and help to stimulate intestinal motility

What fibers help with bowel movement?

Insoluble fibers (cellulose, wheat bran, and oat fiber) bulk the stool and help speed movement through the intestinal tract when no GI motility problems exist

How do experienced vets answer your pet questions?

Experienced vets answer all your pet questions via chat or video.

How to help a cat that won't eat canned food?

Feed canned food — increased water content will improve hydration and soften the feces. Add water to dry food if your cat will not eat canned food. Use water fountains or running water sources. Reducing weight (obesity increases the risk of constipation) with one of two types of weight loss diets:

Can PetMD answer pet health questions?

Note: PetMD isn’t able to respond to pet health questions or to offer veterinary advice.

How Do I Treat Cat Constipation?

Once you’ve identified the cause, treating your cat’s constipation is reasonably simple. However, it’s a good idea to visit your vet to get professional advice.

What is Royal Canin gastrointestinal food?

Royal Canin standard gastrointestinal food is infused with prebiotics which supports a balance of good gut bacteria.

What is the best food for cats with digestive issues?

Eukanuba Cat Veterinary Diet Intestinal. For cats with digestive issues, Eukanuba’s intestinal food is tasty and beneficial. It’s made with mannan-oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, and beet pulp. These all work to support your cat’s body, get rid of bacteria and prevent constipation.

What is a cat's bathroom made of?

It’s made of highly digestible protein and fat as well as a mixed fiber source , which helps maintain gastrointestinal health. This comes in both wet and dry food, made with easily digestible ingredients that will get your cat’s bathroom habits back to normal in no time.

Why does my cat keep going to the bathroom?

Once you’ve recognized that your fur baby is struggling to go to the bathroom, it’s a good idea to find out the cause. Dehydration is one of the main reasons for constipation but it’s not the only one.

How to get a cat to get active?

You can also help your kitty get active, invest in some new cat toys, or even a laser to get them some extra exercise. This will not only get their body moving but it’ll stimulate their intestines too.

What are the signs of constipation in cats?

Things like lack of appetite, tense abdomen and hunched posture can be some signs of cat constipation.

What Are the Symptoms and Causes of Constipation in Cats?

Though it may not seem like a big problem, recurrent episodes of constipation in cats can lead to problems like enlargement of the colon and impaction. Not only can these consequences be unpleasant, but they may require surgery.

What is the best cat food for a senior cat?

You may also find that your senior cat’s digestion slows down, making him more prone to constipation. This Merrick Purrfect Bistro Indoor Senior Chicken Recipe Canned Cat Food is a great high fiber cat food for constipation that is uniquely formulated for senior cats. This recipe features fresh chicken as the main ingredient with grain-free carbohydrates to ensure digestibility. Overall, it provides 2.5% crude fiber and 81% moisture, and it is supplemented with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.

What is the best food for constipation?

As you know by now, the best cat food for constipation is rich in moisture and fiber but still made with healthy, wholesome ingredients to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. Your cat’s nutrition is always the top priority, so take everything else you’ve learned here with that grain of salt.

How much moisture does cat food have?

Moisture Content – Most dry cat food has a moisture content around 10% while canned food is closer to 80%. You can still feed your cat dry food but consider moistening it with water or chicken broth or add some canned food or a wet food topper to boost his moisture intake.

Why does my cat have constipation?

Dehydration – This is one of the most common causes of constipation in cats and also the easiest to prevent and to remedy. Lack of Fiber – Though cats have a limited ability to digest plant matter, fiber in the diet is essential for helping food move through the digestive tract properly.

What to consider when buying cat food?

Another thing to consider when shopping for cat food, in general, is that the quality of the ingredients matters. When your cat is prone to constipation, his digestive system is already a little sensitive so you may want to consider a limited ingredient diet to further reduce the risk of sensitivity or allergies.

How to keep cat's water fresh?

Many cats don’t like to drink water unless it is fresh, so try setting up a pet fountain to keep your cat’s water fresh. Feeding canned pumpkin. Canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) is very high in fiber and a safe, gentle way to boost your cat’s digestion at home. Using an over-the-counter fiber supplement.

How Can the Right Cat Food Help with Constipation?

If your cat is constantly constipated, or if you want to lower the risk of your pet developing constipation in the first place, it’s best that you start him off on a high fiber diet. Fiber can’t be digested, which is why you might notice some leafy greens in your stool after you chow down on a salad.

How does fiber help cats?

The basic idea behind this is that fiber works almost like a broom, brushing away blockages and other waste material that refuses to leave your cat’s system. The bulk of fiber can also promote more aggressive peristalsis – the movement of the digestive tract – in order to encourage regular bowel movements.

What is the best wet cat food?

On our list, the best high fiber wet cat food has to be the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Overweight Management Cat Food. This unique formulation incorporates low fat and low calories, but packs a punch with high fiber and high protein. So it gives your cat everything he needs to improve his lean muscle mass, while allowing him to lose those few extra pounds.

Why do cats spend more time grooming themselves?

Domesticated cats spend much more time grooming themselves compared to wild cats because they don’t have as much time or space for physical activity like hunting and play. While grooming up to 50% of the day might be normal, excessive grooming could cause a cat to ingest more hair than their bodies can manage.

Why does my cat eat more food than he needs?

When your cat becomes accustomed to ‘binge eating’ practices, it becomes easier for them to eat more food than their body needs. Aside from the fact that the excess simply clogs up the system on its way out of the back end, these cats may also experience anatomical changes.

How to change cat food?

The trick here is making the change gradual. Slowly incorporate the new cat food in with the old, and increase the amount of new food as each new day comes. Keep doing this for a week until you can serve a whole bowl of the new food to your cat.

What do cats eat?

So it’s no surprise that some cats will eat things like string, rocks, and other small objects. Sometimes, they end up eating these non-food objects because they think it's food.

How long can a cat not pass stool?

They aren’t passing any stool at all – Some constipated cats don’t pass any stool for 2 days or more. If your cat is experiencing acute constipation and cannot pass any stool, please bring them to the veterinarian.

How often do cats move their bowels?

Their bowel movements are infrequent – Cats should have one or two bowel movements every day. Constipated cats may move their bowels 3-4 times per week. Their waste is small, dry, and hard. They’re straining in the litter box – Constipation is sometimes characterized by straining and pain in the litter box.

What is the best food for cats with constipation?

It’s a chicken-based canned food that features pumpkin, which is almost universally recommended for cats with constipation. It contains locust bean gum, xanthan gum, and guar gum as binders. Gums are controversial, so let’s discuss the pros and cons of these inclusions in your cat’s food.

How often should cats bowels be moved?

Their bowel movements are infrequent – Cats should have one or two bowel movements every day. Constipated cats may move their bowels 3-4 times per week. Their waste is small, dry, and hard.

What are the two types of fiber in feline digestive system?

By missing these subtle details, we skip an essential part of the feline digestive process. There are two types of fiber: insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is primarily used in the treatment of constipation as a bulking agent. Soluble fiber is a prebiotic, fueling probiotic activity in the gut.

Why does my cat squat?

Constipation may stem from inflammatory bowel disease , stress, reactions to pharmaceutical drugs, joint problems that make squatting uncomfortable, or nerve damage that impedes their ability to pass waste. Observe your cat’s symptoms and behavior closely and bring these observations to your vet’s office.

What happens when waste is sludgy?

When waste arrives in the large intestine, it has a sludgy consistency. It’s the colon’s job to draw water out of this chyme, turning the sludge to stool. Once the waste firms up, it should move down the small intestine and signal to the central nervous system that it’s time to squat in the litter box and go.

Signs and Symptoms of Constipation in Cats

One of the biggest cat constipation signs and symptoms is straining in the litter box. A feline that’s mildly constipated will visit their litter pan frequently. They may end up going, but the results are small, pebble-like pieces of stool or rock-hard stools. You may even see a small amount of bloody diarrhea.

What to Give a Constipated Cat

There are many reasons why a cat can have trouble pooping. Fortunately, there are several ways you can treat it, such as administering a laxative or stool softener, just make sure it’s designed for feline use. Keep an eye out for any side effects, such as diarrhea, bloating, or a lack of appetite.

Remove Any Possible Causes of Constipation

Below, you’ll find some tips on how you can help reduce or eliminate issues with constipation in the future.

Medical Conditions

As pet parents, we all hope bowel issues will resolve themselves on their own, but in some cases, you will need to seek medical attention for a professional diagnosis. If your cat is experiencing severe abdominal discomfort, your vet may need to run some diagnostic tests to check their stool, blood count, and determine the exact diagnosis.

When to Call Your Veterinarian

You can reasonably treat an otherwise healthy cat who is struggling to poop, at home. However, there may be times when you need advice, or an appointment with your veterinarian for professional help and treatment.

How to Give Your Cat a Pill

If you’ve made an appointment with your veterinarian to determine what’s causing your cat’s chronic constipation, he or she may prescribe medication to administer for one to two weeks. If you have a senior cat, you may need to give this medication every day, indefinitely.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know what you can give your cat for constipation, you can easily treat mild to moderate cases of constipation, at home. However, if this is an ongoing problem, or your cat is displaying serious symptoms, it’s time to call the vet. A vet can examine your cat and run some tests to determine the cause of constipation.

What is Constipation?

Constipation is the abnormal accumulation of feces in the colon resulting in effortful bowel movements. This usually causes lesser defecation, or even no defecation, which results in discomfort in cats.

What Causes Cat Constipation?

There are many causes for a cat's constipation. It’s more common in adult cats, especially senior and middle-aged cats, but it's possible to experience it in any life stage. Here are the most common factors that makes a cat constipated:

How can Constipation be Treated?

The treatment of cat constipation depends on the cause of constipation. In mild cases or short-lived symptoms, a simple change in your cat's diet may do the trick.

Can a Raw Diet Cause Constipation?

Raw cat foods are not the best food for constipation. It's possible for exclusive raw feeding to cause constipation because most clean raw food lacks the indigestible matter that helps stool retain water and move through the GI tract. Raw feeding with excessive bones could also lead to dry feces and constipation.

Is cat constipation an emergency?

If it happens infrequently, there's no need to worry, but you should contact your vet if it becomes a common problem or if it's been more than 48 to 72 hours since she's had a bowel movement. Constipation can sometimes be a sign of serious health issues, not to mention be uncomfortable (and severe in some cases).

Can massage help constipation in cats?

Sarah Wallace, a veterinarian based in Washington, D.C., says that this is not the case and a cat constipation massage should never be attempted.

What can I give my cat if she's constipated?

Fiber can help waste move through the digestive system easily and quickly. Try adding pumpkin or natural bran cereal to our cats food. Fiber supplements increase fiber in the diet as well.

12 Best Cat Foods For Constipation Reviewed

Every cat food for constipation in our list obeys the crucial AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines for cats. [ 7] Consult the veterinarian before modifying the primary diet of the cat.

Helpful Buying Guide To Choose The Best Cat Food For Constipation

Cats suffering from constipation have particular nutritional requirements. While buying the best cat food for constipation, focus on the below things:

How To Detect Constipation In Cats

In general, many cats generate stool at least one time a day. But this might be different from cat to cat based on the kind of kind and how much they eat. [ 11]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Healthy cat poop can have a dark brown color. It is neither too soft nor too hard. If you notice any solid or stone-like poop, there are chances that your cat might be suffering from a health problem. [ 15] Though healthy poop might have some bad odor, it will not produce an unbearable foul smell. [ 16]

Our Verdict

Offering low residue, moisture-rich, and fiber-rich food products can cure constipation in cats. Plus, it improves digestive health and maintains the weight of your pets.