First Signs That Your Cat Has Constipation
Constipation is a fairly common problem in cats, which should not be taken lightly. After all, who enjoys regular stomach grumbling and digestive issues? If constipation remains untreated for too long, it can lead to more serious health problems. To help you recognize constipation in your kitty in time and assist her, you should watch for the following symptoms:
- irregularly passing small amounts of dry stool
- unsuccessful straining during bowel movements, possibly with the excretion of small amounts of blood, mucus, or diarrhea
- vomiting
- restlessness or lethargy and exhaustion
- abdominal pain (the cat is reluctant to be touched on the belly)
- loss of appetite leading to weight loss
- hunched body posture
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Bei Verdacht auf eine Verstopfung solltest du mit deiner Katze zum Tierarzt bzw. zur Tierärztin fahren!
Causes & Treatments of Constipation in Cats
If you think your cat might be suffering from constipation, the first thing you can do is take her to the veterinarian. They will examine the extent of the condition, identify possible causes, and initiate a suitable treatment. Depending on the severity and cause of the constipation, there are various treatment methods:
- Dietary change: If it is determined that your cat suffers from constipation due to improper nutrition, a shift to a →healthier and balanced diet should be made. If you're unsure about this, feel free to get free advice from our nutrition experts →about your cat's food.
- Administering suppositories: To relieve an existing mild constipation, a suppository can be given to stimulate bowel movement. Mild constipation can occur due to dehydration, lack of exercise, swallowing hair, or as a side effect of medications.
- Administering an enema: For larger amounts of hard stool in the colon, an enema with warm water is given to the cat. In severe cases, it may also happen that multiple treatments are necessary and the veterinarian may need to carefully remove the stool manually.
- Administering laxatives: After successfully resolving the constipation, additional laxatives such as malt paste or mineral oil can be given. These are intended to keep the stool soft and prevent further constipation. However, such medications should never be given without consulting veterinarians and only for a short period, as they could irritate the intestinal mucosa and their effectiveness may diminish over time.
- Administering prokinetic medications: If your cat suffers from sluggish bowel movement, so-called prokinetic medications can be administered. These are medications with active ingredients that stimulate natural stomach movement.
- Surgery: If a foreign body, a blockage of the intestines, or a narrowing of the pelvic canal is responsible for the constipation, surgery is necessary.
- Removal of the damaged part of the intestine in severe megacolon: If your cat has severe megacolon, the intestinal wall is structurally so altered and damaged that it cannot be satisfactorily treated or healed with medications. Removal of the damaged part of the intestine (colectomy) is then the only treatment option. Immediately after the surgery, diarrhea may occur for several weeks until digestion adjusts to the shorter intestine.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Kann deine Katze nicht mehr richtig ihr Geschäft verrichten, ist das ein erstes Anzeichen für Verstopfung.
A healthy cat food is essential for a happy and long life for your cat. Our Pets Deli wet food for cats is not only packed with high-quality ingredients and delicious meat, but it also comes in different consistencies to ensure increased acceptance by your kitty.
Mit verschiedenen Konsistenzen zum besten Geschmackserlebnis!
What Food Is Suitable for Cats That Often Have Constipation?
If your cat frequently has problems with constipation, it’s worth taking a look at her diet. It is also important to investigate whether your cat might be suffering from megacolon. This is a structural change in the intestinal wall that must be treated with medication or surgically in severe cases. Subsequently, a special diet is required.
Feeding for Constipation Without Megacolon
If your cat tends to have constipation, switching to a higher-fiber diet can help. The soluble plant fibers in the fiber bind water in the stool, ensuring that it remains soft and can pass through the colon more easily.
Adding fiber either in powder form or as a fiber-enriched food should definitely be discussed with veterinarians. The addition of fiber must be tailored to your cat's body weight and feeding to avoid nutrient deficiencies.
Feeding for Constipation With Megacolon
If your cat has already been diagnosed with megacolon or suffers repeatedly from severe constipation, a high-fiber diet should definitely be avoided. Given that the intestinal wall of the colon is already irreversibly damaged, the goal should be to reduce the amount of stool as much as possible. In such cases, cats receive light and highly digestible food with as few indigestible components as possible. In some cases, the animals may also be prescribed laxatives.
[TRANSLATION ERROR] Die richtige Ernährung spielt eine wesentliche Rolle für die Gesundheit deiner Katze und sollte auf Alter und Bedürfnisse abgestimmt sein.
What You Can Do to Prevent Constipation in Your Cat
Your cat has been treated for constipation, and now you want to prevent it from happening again? There are a few things you can do to help prevent constipation in your cat:
- Place several litter boxes in quiet locations and keep them clean.
- Provide multiple water bowls, drinking fountains, or similar. Ideally, these should be located away from the litter box and food bowl. Tips on how to encourage your cat to drink more can be found in →our article.
- If your cat tends to get stressed easily, you should reduce potential stressors. For example, if children or other pets live in the house, ensure a quiet retreat. This could be a calm cat room, for instance.
- If your →cat is overweight, weight reduction can also help prevent constipation.
- Perhaps aromatherapy with →essential oils can help as well? Consult veterinarians or nutrition experts for cats about this.
