Constipation in your pet with whiskers is one of the most common ailments you can find in his gut. Normally a cat evacuates daily, so if you observe that two to four days go by without defecating, you can begin to affirm that your feline is constipated. If it is detected early, no further treatment will be necessary, but if up to four days pass and your cat is accumulating fecal matter in its intestine, more serious problems could appear. So that this does not happen in this oneHOWTO article we show you how to detect this type of intestinal problem in time, in addition to teaching you the home remedies for constipation in cats, so we recommend that you keep reading.
Symptoms of constipation in cats
Faced with this problem, you will have to pay special attention to the cat litter box, to confirm that you have finally evacuated or to confirm that you have not done so yet. Also, you can look at some symptoms associated with constipation in cats, although they may not appear in all cases nor is it mandatory that they appear all at once.
- The symptom that normally occurs in all constipated cats is the time they spend in their litter box trying to evacuate, and in many cases they meow due to abdominal pain, and even rectal or anal pain, caused by overexertion.
- Vomiting
- Lack of appetite.
- Loss of own weight even if they have a swollen belly.
- Hard and dry stools.
- Dirty coat due to not grooming.
- In some cases bloody stools.
Before any of these symptoms you will have to go to the vet to examine your cat and diagnose the cause for which it cannot evacuate. Depending on the cause, you can try yourself to defecate with a series of natural remedies that are effective and that we will explain later in this article. But if the problem is more serious, such as having ingested an object, it will be the veterinarian who will have to perform surgery to solve this problem.
Causes of constipation in cats
The causes of constipation in cats they can vary a lot, for this reason we will explain them in detail below.
- The lack of water it is usually one of the most frequent causes, since some cats refuse to drink from their bowl or do not drink much at all. When a kitten is not well hydrated, food is not digested correctly during digestion, so it could accumulate in its intestine. If your cat does not like to drink, buy a cat water fountain as it encourages them to drink there. Did you know that they also sell special flavored drinks for cats? You can consult your veterinarian for guidance on this and on how to make your cat drink more water.
- Food is essential so that your feline does not get constipated. A low fiber diet It could cause this problem, so if you notice that your cat is not having a bowel movement, try buying a food high in fiber.
- Obstruction by a foreign object in the intestines it is another cause of constipation in cats. Cats are very curious and playful, especially with threads, which can lead to swallowing a bone, thread or any other object, and although this is not very frequent it could be a cause of constipation.
- Hair balls, which are quite common because when a kitten is groomed it is normal for it to ingest hair. Sometimes this compacts forming hairballs that can get stuck in the intestine or rectal canal, thus preventing defecation.
- Pelvic injuries. It is difficult for a cat to defecate if it has pain in the lower back, since it cannot position itself as cats normally do to evacuate.
- The obesity. Overweight cats are predisposed to constipation. It is very important to control your cat’s weight and offer him a food suitable for him and low in fat, especially if he is sterilized because they tend to gain weight when they eat.
- It will seem strange but yes to your cat your sandbox does not convey confidence, He will refuse to relieve himself, he will even resist the urge to defecate. For this, try another sandbox or another type of sand and keep the sandbox always clean.
- Another very common cause of constipation in cats is a inflammation in the digestive tract. In this situation, the veterinarian will diagnose this problem and will administer treatment such as a suitable anti-inflammatory.
- The most serious cause of constipation in cats are neurological problems that can prevent your cat from defecating properly.
If your feline has not defecated for two days, go to the vet as quickly as you can and do not let more days go by, as it could develop severe constipation and end the life of your beloved pet.
Home remedies for constipation in cats: effective laxatives
The home remedies to combat constipation in cats and that are more recommended, are the following:
- Malt for cats It is a luxury to eliminate hairballs, especially for those with long hair, in which constipation due to compacted hair in the stomach will be more frequent.
- You can offer your feline a tablespoon of olive oil, only the day that you have realized that you are constipated.
- Make sure that the cat exerciseThis will help the intestines to move and the food to circulate faster to finally be expelled.
- Brush him frequently to avoid hairballs and if he is already constipated, likewise, brush him to prevent the problem from getting worse and brush his belly gently with a light massage that can promote the expulsion of stool.
- You can give it oatmeal, as it helps to end cat constipation quite easily due to its high fiber composition and other beneficial nutrients.
- Always have to have fresh water at his disposal and make sure he drinks enough.
- The aloe vera juice It is also very efficient against this, but it is recommended to consult a veterinarian beforehand since in excess it could produce the opposite effect, that is to say that aloe vera in too much quantity could cause diarrhea. For this reason, we invite you to learn everything about Aloe vera for cats in this other oneHOWTO article.
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