Surely you have noticed some strange behavior in your friendly feline, he spends all day lying down, does not eat anything and even has a hard time defecating normally. The safest thing is that he has constipation, here we will explain how to deal with a constipated cat.
Can cats suffer from constipation?
As is popular knowledge, constipation is a common problem between people and animals, which deals with the difficulties that we present at the time of defecation such as general discomfort in the body, abdominal pain, minimal bleeding and in some cases medical assistance is required for the complications.
Our felines are no exception to this physiological complication, because, like other animals, they are at risk of suffering an intestinal obstruction due to the irregular agglomeration of feces and, as a consequence, have difficulties in evacuating. Although the constipation in cats it is desperate for not knowing what to do, we can prevent it with certain habits that we apply in our day to day.
In general, an elderly constipated cat without any type of health problem, who drinks water and eats without any difficulty, should defecate daily. In case it is late with its natural process, that is, 2 or 4 days, it is necessary to take it to the veterinarian.
How do I know if my cat is constipated?
There are certain Characteristics of cats which may indicate that they are suffering from constipation. The daily review of their litter box is key to determining the condition, if we observe that they have not defecated for days and even do so, but their stools are dry and hard, it is a clear sign of constipation.
Also, we can determine constipation if you do not have a bowel movement for 2 and/or 4 days, if this period increases it is considered more serious than normal. It is important to take our feline to visit the vet when we notice this problem, it is recommended that it be two days after its last trip to the bathroom.
It should be noted that, although constipation in our cat may be momentary, it is very possible that it is some chronic constipation and even a secondary symptom of another disease that has not been detected. Without a doubt, the faster it is taken to the vet to rule out possibilities, the better.
What causes constipation in my cat?
There are several reasons why a cat can become constipated, some of them may be due to dehydration, pelvic infection, obesity, colon obstruction or simply age.
Dehydration
Water is an important element for any living being, the lack of it causes counterproductive effects in the body. In general, our feline friends drink very little water a day, so it is important to watch that they drink it, otherwise they will not be able to carry out the digestion process correctly and as a consequence they will have constipation.
The obesity
When our cats suffer from obesity, what they can do is very little because most of the time they are lying down somewhere in the house, thus causing their metabolism to slow down. This is one of the most common reasons why cats cannot evacuate.
The pain
The ailments that present in any part of the body, especially in the back and in case they have an injury, the pelvis. They make them unable to take a proper posture for the evacuation process.
incorrect feeding
If we provide them with more carbohydrates than fibers, we are condemning them to an irregular accumulation of feces in the intestines.
Stress
When cats present feelings of stress or fear due to some action, they usually retain the desire to defecate, as well as evacuate outside the litter box.
Objects
There is a possibility that he has ingested a toy, cloth or any object that can be found within his reach and got stuck in his digestive system. Also, consuming bones that they get in the remains of food.
Hair balls
It is very common for this problem to occur in our cats, as with objects they can get stuck and prevent proper digestion.
Inflammatory and kidney problems
Both inflammation of the digestive tract and kidney failure cause a side effect that is constipation.
Neurological problems
As they are not very common, they indicate that they are one of the most serious causes that can generate it. Therefore, depending on the cause, taking it to the vet will be the best way to determine its current status.
Symptoms that will help detect constipation
The symptoms that can occur are different, so we must be alert to the behavior and attitude of our cats. Some symptoms are:
- They try to evacuate but they can't, and we can even hear their moans from the pain.
- The time it takes to defecate in the litter box or anywhere.
- Your stools are hard and dry, they may also contain mucus or blood.
- Meows that reflect aggressiveness or nervousness due to strong abdominal pain.
- Poor appetite, sometimes the loss of it and weight.
- Vomit frequently.
- Adopt an unfriendly attitude.
- He neglects his fur by not licking it like he usually does.
How to treat my constipated cat?
The treatments that are applied will be dictated exclusively by the veterinarian, according to the cause in question. It is recommended that for no reason do we give him medications or laxatives that have not been prescribed by a professional, since we can go from having a constipated cat to another with greater complications.
Not all causes are related to the use of a drug because with some correction in your diet it is enough to correct the problem.
- If they have a low nutritional proportion, a diet rich in fiber and with a lot of water should be acquired. For clogging caused by hairballs, malt paste should be provided. This product is very useful, it consists of a paste with a texture and color similar to that of dark honey made up of vegetable oils that will help improve digestion, as well as the intestinal tract.
- When they reject the sand or box in general, it is best to change it and be persistent in making them return to the comfort of the beginning.
- If our feline is obese, it should follow a guideline of exercises recommended for cats in this state.
What if it is a greater cause?
There are more complex cases that will require special attention. In fact, they may even require surgical intervention.
- If the cause is due to swallowing objects, the consequence will be to cause an intestinal obstruction to the feline. Now, it must be determined if the object is large or small, when the object is large we can easily realize it and attack the problem before constipation develops.
- On the other hand, if the size of the object is tiny, it can slowly accumulate in the feline's body and as the days go by we will notice the symptoms mentioned above. In this case, the veterinarian will carry out a series of tests and apply the most effective solution, which can be some medication, or surgery.
- When constipation is caused by a pelvic injury, lower back pain, inflammatory or neurological problems, the veterinarian will use the recommended methods according to the level of complexity.
Tips to avoid a constipated cat
It is true that cats have a tendency to suffer from constipation over time, so it is important to inculcate some methods in their daily life to refrain from having a constipated cat.
- Plenty of water should be supplied, as well as changed daily.
- A balanced diet, as well as high in fiber. It is good to include blue fish (tuna, sardines or mackerel), the fat of these animals is healthy for the intestinal tract of our feline.
- Provide snacks and treats occasionally, can cats eat cheese, meat or those that are prepared, but in moderation.
- Adding pumpkin and zucchini to your daily meals will be good, as these vegetables are powerful in natural fiber.
- The frequency with which the sandbox is cleaned for hygiene reasons, in addition to being isolated from the space where it usually rests and eats.
- If we brush frequently and cut the fur when necessary, we will be preventing it from ingesting a hairball due to its abundance.
- Encouraging physical activity in the feline is vital to control weight and avoid ailments.
- It is important to attend your medical check-ups with the veterinarian, in case you suffer from an external illness and have a consequence such as constipation.
What natural laxatives are good for my cat?
Perhaps you did not know it, but we have things at our fingertips that act as a natural laxative for cats. Some of them are:
Vaseline
It is not recommended to use it so often, however, it is a very good ally to attack hairballs, as well as the constipation that it causes or in general. The reason why it shouldn't be used as much is that it can obstruct the absorption of nutrients, so on the one hand we reduce one ailment, but promote another.
The olive oil
It is one of those that generates the best results for the elimination of agglomerated feces in the intestines of our feline, since it lubricates them so that food circulates correctly. ½ tablespoon of olive oil should be added to our friend's food.
As with Vaseline, nothing in excess is good, so a week of this method will be enough, otherwise we will have a cat with vitamin A deficiency.
malt paste
Although it is not a completely natural laxative, this helps us with the hairballs that they may ingest in their washing process, that is, when they are licking their fur.
It is composed of malt extract, yeast, fiber, fat and vegetable oil. As well as vitamins and dyes. We can supply it to them twice a week, placing it on their paws or the corner of their mouth and in decent quantities.
Exercises against obesity for my cat
As is known, obesity is the cause of a poor diet, and this in turn causes constipation in the pet. However, there are various ways in which the feline can exercise, regardless of whether or not they have tools for it.
We can use intelligence games to keep your mind and physical fitness engaged. If we have the possibility of buying a toy, a Kong will be ideal since it consists of shaking it until we get the snacks out.
Other options are to play hide and seek, create mazes or shelters with cardboard boxes, and even prepare a homemade shell game. For the latter, only three identical containers and treats of the feline's taste will be necessary, they will be hidden in one of the cups and we will move them between them.
active exercises
Any game that involves a toy is effective, plus those that are lights and emit sounds because they will quickly attract the attention of the cat and it can be in constant movement. Felines like hunting games, we can give them toys such as small stuffed animals that resemble the shape of a mouse, because it is an active exercise we must do them with them.
passive exercises
On the other hand, we can make our cats exercise without them noticing inside the home. They are super simple, we simply spread their toys in different areas of the house, that is, they can be in their sight, such as on the table, the floor, a piece of furniture or the bed.
If our home has stairs, we must take advantage of them to exercise the pet, this with the help of some input that is positioned at the beginning and end of the stairs. In such a way that the feline has the need to go up and down to eat.
In the same way, if we enjoy a large space and our cat is empathic with others, having in mind the adoption of a new kitten is not bad. It is possible that, if they like each other, they end up being inseparable and mutually encourage each other to play.
Before adopting a kitten as a pet, we must be aware that responsibility entails, since it is not about choosing one among many Cat breedsThey become part of the family. That said, it is important to get involved in its recovery process, dedicating the necessary attention, care and patience to it, since a constipated cat is not easy.