How to Treat Constipation in Cats

Just like humans, cats sometimes have trouble having a bowel movement. If you see your cat sitting in the litter box for a long time, it’s probably constipated. If so, there are a few home remedies you can try to make your cat more comfortable. Your veterinarian can also give you helpful advice and medications to treat your cat.

Table of Contents

Identify your cat is constipated

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Watch to see if the cat is urinating normally. Healthy cats can urinate 2-3 times per day. Straining to urinate because of a bladder infection, bladder stone, or blockage is a serious problem and is completely different from constipation. You should check the litter box to find out how much urine your cat is passing each day.

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Check to see how much the cat is pooping. Cats sitting in a litter box for a long time can be constipated, but it can also be due to diarrhea. Cats often squat for long periods in the litter box if they have diarrhea. They can have very little bowel movements, so they are often mistaken for constipation.

A healthy cat will have a bowel movement once a day. Cat poop should be molded and not crushed. ^{[1] X Research Source}
Many times your cat appears to be constipated, but there are other medical conditions that may initially manifest similarly. You need to monitor the cat to make sure there are no other problems.

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Recognize the symptoms of constipation. Your cat may have one or more of the following symptoms; If so, contact your veterinarian to inquire about your cat’s constipation. ^{[2] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Straining when trying to have a bowel movement
Small, hard, or dry stools
Stools containing mucus or blood
Anorexia
Weight loss
Tired
Vomit
There are signs of abdominal discomfort

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See a veterinarian. If you see your cat sitting for a long time in the sand tray or suspect it is constipated, you should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately. Your doctor will determine if your cat needs medication or dietary changes, such as switching to a special high-fiber food.

Don’t let your cat be constipated for too long to see a doctor – this can be a sign of something more serious than constipation. Cats can develop a variety of problems with prolonged retention of stool and straining during bowel movements, including bowel obstruction and an enlarged colon.

Treatment of constipation

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Ask your veterinarian if medical intervention is needed. Your cat may need enemas and/or anesthesia to get the poop out. The longer your cat is constipated, the harder and harder the stools will be to pass. An enema procedure is to insert lubricant into the rectum through the anus to soften the stool and help the cat push the stool out. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

This procedure can use a simple indentation similar to the temperature method.
In more severe cases of constipation, a sedative or general anesthetic may be needed to flush the cat’s bowels to clear the blockage.
In some cases, a tumor may be at the root of the problem and requires surgical removal. If your cat develops megacolon due to chronic constipation that causes the colon muscles to lose the ability to push stool out, a doctor will need to surgically remove the colon.

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Give your cat prescription medication. If your veterinarian prescribes constipation medication for your cat, you may need to use a dropper or syringe to give your cat the medicine.

Remember to measure your medication and have it ready in advance. You should also have a cat treat on hand.
Give the cat a treat before taking the medicine.
Place the cat on a waist-high surface such as a bed or table, with the cat’s hind legs resting against you. Reassure the cat by petting and patting its head.
Place your hand on the cat’s head, place your thumb and index finger on the cat’s front upper jaw and press in. The cat will open its mouth, but may raise its paws to prevent you from working. If someone supports you to hold the cat’s shoulder during this time, that’s fine.
Hold the syringe or dropper with your dominant hand. Gently push the dropper between the back (or side) teeth, and deep into the cat’s mouth. Squeeze the medicine out of the dropper.
Give the cat a bonus right away so that the cat forgets what is going on. If the cat struggles and is difficult to hold, wrap the cat tightly in a large towel.
When giving liquid medicine to your cat, be sure to wash the dropper or syringe with hot water and use it on one pet only. Discard the instrument after completing the course of treatment.

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Add pumpkin or pumpkin puree to cat food. If your cat isn’t completely blocked and is still eating and drinking normally, try adding pumpkin or pumpkin puree to your cat’s food to add fiber to the diet. You can also use canned pumpkin. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Add 2 teaspoons of pumpkin to the cat food. Canned food is usually better, as it’s easier to hide the pumpkin in canned food than it is in dry food. Some cats love the taste of pumpkin, others need canned food to disguise the pumpkin by mixing it with a favorite treat.

Prevent constipation

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Feed your cat a comprehensive diet. Make sure your cat is eating a comprehensive, formulated cat diet. If you don’t know what to feed your cat, ask your veterinarian to create a meal plan for your cat.

Your cat may need to be fed a special high-fiber diet to manage chronic constipation. Your veterinarian can help you determine if necessary.

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Switch to an all-canned food diet. You can help prevent your cat from becoming constipated by feeding her whole canned food. This type of food usually contains 75% or more water, helping to maintain a healthy digestive system and easy bowel movements.

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Feed your cat fish in moderation. An all-fish diet doesn’t provide the nutrients a cat needs, but tuna can stimulate the cat’s tastebuds and help keep her appetizing. Fatty fish like mackerel and sardines can also help with constipation.

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Make sure your cat has enough clean water to drink. Dehydration will contribute to constipation. In addition, if the cat only eats dry food, it will need to drink more water than when eating canned food.

Place a bowl of clean water in an accessible place for the cat, preferably next to the food dish. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
Some cats like to drink running water, such as a drip or automatic cat drinker.

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Control your cat’s weight. Constipation is more common in obese cats than in normal weight cats. ^{[6] X Research Sources} Refer to resources such as fitness charts to see if your cat is overweight. This chart identifies emaciated, thin, moderate, chubby, and obese.

If you have any questions, ask your veterinarian.

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Add olive oil to your cat’s canned food. Olive oil can act as an intestinal lubricant and help food move through the cat’s body. You can add ¼ or ½ teaspoon of olive oil to canned foods.

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Try psyllium husks powder. Psyllium husk powder is commonly used to support gut and digestive health (common human brands include Metamucil and Fiberall). Pet brands are also available at pet stores.

Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of psyllium husks to canned foods to increase dietary fiber and help your cat’s digestive system work smoothly.

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Trimming for long-haired cats. If your cat is a long-haired cat, you should trim the hair around the cat’s tail area to avoid tangles. This helps keep the cat’s bottom clean and prevents constipation. If cat poop gets caught in the fur, it will get stuck in the anus and cause constipation.

Advice

Although petroleum jelly has long been used to combat constipation and prevent hairballs, this product is not recommended for long-term use. This is a petroleum-based product, so it will interfere with the absorption of nutrients from food.

Warning

If your cat is still having problems, take her to the vet right away.
Many cats who are constipated will need to eat special diets and supplements for the rest of their lives. Weight loss for obese cats is a must. Cats may need to take stool softeners and/or bowel movements for the rest of their lives.

Steps

Identify your cat is constipated

Treatment of constipation

Prevent constipation

Advice

Warning

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