Home Remedies for Cat Constipation

In case you’re trying to find a home cure for cat constipation, we get how concerned about your kitty you have to be.

Toilet troubles are never fun, and the identical applies to cats. Cat constipation can range from mild to severe, and so it is important as a pet parent to control your cat’s toilet habits and know learn how to recognize once they are in distress.

Constipation is when your cat may find it difficult to pass stool. Or when their stool has turn out to be more infrequent; they usually are not going as often as they need to, and once they do, they could only have the option to pass a small amount and the stool could also be hard and dark in color.

Normally, constipation is a standard symptom that each cats and humans alike experience throughout their lifetime. 

Nevertheless, being constipated can be a sign that there’s something more happening inside. And so you must seek the advice of your vet once you notice constipation symptoms in your cat. This helps to rule out any insidious reasons behind your kitty’s tricky toilet times.

In this text, we take you thru a number of the causes of constipation in cats, the signs and symptoms, and a number of home remedies to assist relieve your cat, making them more comfortable and getting the digestive cogs turning again.

Key Takeaways — Home Treatment for Cat Constipation

• Constipation presents as a problem or inability to pass stool, passing stool less continuously, or only having the ability to pass somewhat bit that are hard and dark in color

• Your cat can turn out to be constipated consequently of: dehydration, stress or anxiety, food allergies or intolerances

• Constipation can be a symptom of a more serious health condition, comparable to: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, kidney disease, or cancer

• Symptoms of constipation in cats include: hard, dry or dark stools, stools each inside and out of doors of the litter box, infrequent/no defecation, crying whilst using the bathroom, straining, or total avoidance of using the bathroom 

• Additional symptoms also include: change in drinking habits (consuming roughly), more frequent urination, loss or reduction of appetite, nausea or vomiting, weight or muscle loss, hiding, stiff walking and difficulty in jumping

• Home remedies for cat constipation include: reducing their anxiety and stress, ensuring that they get enough water, changing their eating regimen, using fibers or probiotics, and placing several litter boxes across the house

Right…on with the show!

Guide to Home Remedies for Cat Constipation

Identical to us humans, cats can experience constipation issues when going to the bathroom. 

As we’ve mentioned, constipation involves:

• the problem or inability to pass stool
• less frequent stool
• having the ability to pass only a small amount of stool
• the stool passed is dark and hard in texture

This could cause stool to accumulate and cause considerable discomfort, and if left untreated could cause serious further health issues. 

In case you are in any respect concerned about your cat’s toilet habits, particularly in the event that they have been unable to pass stool in 48-72 hours, you have to seek the advice of your vet immediately. That is to rule out underlying health issues and to assist your cat find relief.

What Are the Causes of Cat Constipation?

Constipation is usually a results of many things, including:

• Dehydration — One in all the leading causes of constipation in each animals and humans. Not getting enough fluids implies that the intestines absorb whatever water they will find, even when that is within the stool that passes through them, and subsequently the stool becomes harder and harder to pass. 

• Allergies — Constipation is usually a symptom of allergies. Whether to food, outside stimuli or something across the home. Keep an eye fixed out for anything your cat has an opposed response to and take away it from the home, to assist avoid further flare ups. 

• Ingesting materials that can’t easily be digested — Some pet parents find that their cat gets constipation as a consequence of a construct up of fur consequently of grooming. Or, equally, their cat has ingested a foreign object or material that’s causing a blockage.

• Stress and anxiety — Stress often goes to the stomach. And so if a cat is experiencing stress or anxiety, their digestive system can begin to play up they usually can find it difficult to pass stool, and even urine. 

  On this scenario, discover what’s causing your cat distress and create a calmer environment for them. Look into calming treats or pheromone plug-ins. And if all else fails, show them plenty of love and reassurance.

More serious causes of constipation in cats

• Inflammatory bowel disease — Diarrhea will likely be the most important wrongdoer on the subject of IBD. Nevertheless, constipation can also be a known symptom. The condition affects the gastrointestinal tract’s ability to soak up and digest food properly, and causes considerable inflammation and discomfort.

• Discomfort attributable to other issues — In case your cat experiences pain or discomfort from a separate health issue, they could avoid or delay passing stool in order to not cause themselves further pain. A few of these issues can include: anal gland problems, nerve issues, impacted or ruptured anal sacs, and arthritis.

• Diabetes — The vagus nerve aids the digestive tract in helping to maneuver food through the system. Diabetes can affect this nerve, leading to constipation symptoms.

• Kidney disease — One of the vital common symptoms of kidney disease is increased thirst and urination. This could result in dehydration and constipation.

• Blockages and tumors — Whether tumors are benign or malignant, or the blockages are from day-to-day ingestions comparable to fur whilst grooming or are from something more serious, a blockage within the intestines can result in serious health risks. Along with constipation.

• Cancer — Each spinal and intestinal cancers can have a detrimental effect on the colon nerves. They’ll stop them from working properly and subsequently cause constipation in your cat.

Signs and symptoms of cat constipation

We’ve put together somewhat list of a number of the commonest signs of constipation to look at out for:

• Stools which can be hard and dry, in addition to possibly being smaller than usual

• Finding these stools each within the litter tray and out of doors of it (a sign that your cat can have thought that they had finished, once they hadn’t)

• Infrequent or no defecation

• Crying whilst using the bathroom, straining, or total avoidance of using the bathroom

• A change in drinking habits — consuming roughly

• Loss or reduction of appetite

• Stiff walking and difficulty in jumping

It’s essential to notice that litter box discomfort can be a sign or a urinary tract infection, not only constipation.

Which is why getting skilled medical advice, particularly in the event you notice these behaviors, is very advisable.

Home Remedies for Cat Constipation

In case you’re in any respect concerned about your cat’s health and behavior, all the time check in along with your vet. 

It’s essential to get your cat checked over to verify whether there’s any underlying conditions which may be causing the constipation symptoms. Also, be certain you ask them before going ahead with any at-home treatments.

So without further ado, here’s a number of at-home remedies and suggestions for cat constipation:

• Reduce anxiety and stress — Cats are very sensitive and might struggle with even the slightest changes in environment or stimuli. 

  In case you notice your cat is especially anxious or stressed, try creating somewhat space of their very own in the home, with comforting toys and blankets. As we suggested above, try treats and pheromone plug-ins to maintain your kitty blissed out and free from unpleasant symptoms. 

• Make certain they’re getting enough, or more, water — Dehydration will likely be the leading reason for constipation. So be certain your cat is taking in enough water, because it’s vital to maintaining healthy bowel movements.

  (And take a look at our article on Easy methods to Check If Your Cat Is Dehydrated here.)

  In case your cat is struggling to drink, try putting different water sources across the house. Give them latest ways of accessing water, comparable to a water fountain, or try adding some water to their dry food for extra hydration.

• Fibers or probiotics — A healthy gut often means healthier bowel movements. Using soluble fibers (which may aid stool consistency and ease of passing) or probiotics (which help to take care of healthy gut bacteria) can keep your cat’s digestive system ticking along nicely.

• Increase the variety of litter boxes available to your cat — Cats are known for being a bit fussy, they usually’re no different on the subject of litter boxes.

  A change in smell or location can set their whiskers on end and make them feel uncomfortable to make use of the box. Put a number of litter boxes across the house in other places, so your cat can select where they feel comfortable to alleviate themselves.

Final Thoughts

Phew…we’re pooped! And we hope that with this handy little guide, your kitty will soon be too!

It’s all the time distressing to see your fur baby in any sort of discomfort. But the earlier you intervene, the earlier they’ll be feeling higher and back to their old tricks.

It will possibly be hard for our kitties to inform us once they are hurting. And so it’s as much as us to note when their behavior changes and be certain they’re alright. 

We’d love to listen to if you’ve got any home remedies for cat constipation. Especially if you’ve got found them to be secure and effective in relieving your pet’s discomfort. And likewise your experiences with unwell cats or cats with long-term conditions.

So get in contact! And together, we may give our fluffy friends the very best care possible.