Cat Constipated
Cat Constipation: an Owner's Guide to Constipation in Cats
Constipation in cats is a relatively common occurrence. Like you, your constipated cat will have trouble having a bowel movement. This condition is very common in older cats. However, cats of any age can have a bout of constipation. So, what exactly causes it?
Causes
Cat constipation can be brought on by a range of factors, even though it can occur naturally for no apparent reason. Dehydration is one of the leading reasons your cat can have trouble having a bowel movement. The lack of water will result in hardened stool which will be more difficult to pass.
Another common cause of constipation in cats is diet. Eating hair, bones, fatty or salty foods can cause problems. Other common causes include diseases, anal infections, and lack of exercise.
Symptoms
If your cat is constipated, you will notice him spend more time in his litter box than usual. He will be having a hard time getting stool to pass. Sometimes, the feces may contain a small amount of blood. Cats with constipation usually have an upset stomach too, so they will be less likely to eat as much. Some cats show decreased activity levels.
Diagnosis
Before determining cat constipation to be the cause of problems, your veterinarian will likely perform urine and blood tests. This will tell if other diseases or infections are to blame. Sometimes, a foreign object will be blocking the colon, so an x-ray may prove to be useful. The colon should be checked anyway as a bout of constipation can cause damage to it.
Treatment
The first line of defense against constipation in cats is administration of intravenous fluids. The condition should get better as fluids and electrolytes are returned to balance. The veterinarian may also choose to give your cat laxatives or enemas. If hardened stool can't be passed naturally, it will have to be physically removed from the colon.
Prevention
There are certain things you can do to prevent cat constipation. Ingesting dead hair can lead to a blocked colon. So, you should groom your cat regularly to limit the amount of hair he swallows. You should also ensure that your cat's litter box is tidy at all times. Felines hate dirty litter boxes, so they may not use them.
Besides constipation, there are many other conditions that can affect your cat such as feline triad disease. You should be knowledgeable about these various conditions so you can get your cat treated quickly if he's affected. Luckily, cat-illnesses.com provides just what you need. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of cat illnesses.
Cats constipated after declaw surgery...?
I had my cats declawed, am using the Yesterday's News litter replacement I was instructed to, they are all doing well and healing nicely, but none of my cats has had a bowel movement in nearly three days. My vet said they may be boycotting the litter replacement and go back to normal litter as enough time has passed. Just curious if anyone else had heard of this. They are urinating normally, and they are drinking more water than eating food, again the vet said this was normal due to the pain medication. This will be their last day of pain medication and I have four more days of antibiotics.
p/s any anti-clawing lectures go elsewhere, I have obviously done my research and already made my educated decision.
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Is my cat constipated?
I think my cat is constipated. I have given him mineral oil and tuna in oil. He has had a bowel movement once today and it was a struggle for him. He is still very lathargic and his tummy still hurts
He is eating and drinking. Not to much eating,more drinking
What are the signs. He has been like this for a couple of days. I have an appt for him to go see his vet this week
What are the signs. He has been like this for a couple of days. I have an appt for him to go see his vet this week
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Is my cat constipated? Or am I just overreacting?
Recently one of my cats, who is just about 1 year old, started licking her butt a lot. I checked her out and she had some "leftovers" there, so we bathed her and made sure to clean her thoroughly. She doesn't lick as much now, no more than her sisters, I think. But she has been gaining some weight and I think I have felt something in her stomach. She isn't in pain and shows no discomfort at all, and honestly I do believe that I am overreacting, but I want to make sure. Do you recommend that I should try a stool softener? Anyone ever experienced this before?
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Cat constipated and not eating anything i can try at home?
My cat is a 14 year old male. This week he stopped eating. After 3 days i brought him to the vet who figured it was due to dehydration and constipation. Kitty was given enemas and subcutaneous fluids as well as blood work which all showed fine other than low red blood cells. $300 vet bill. Now is 2 days later and kitty still hasn't eaten or used the litter box. He seems very lethargic and bloated. Is there anything i can try at home for him?
Keith and Jen, you both bring up an issue i was totally overlooking, kitty does seems to be anemic (very pale gums and tongue) but definatly seemed dehydrated as well, almost chapped looking nose and glazed eyes. Will be going back to vet in morning. Anyone link me to more info? i need to know what to ask
i believe vet said rbc were around 20% which seems to be BIG trouble
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Old cat constipated w/ rectal bleeding?
Our vet is not being helpful and I can't afford to keep paying someone to tell me she doesn't have a fever and blood tests are ok so come back next week. Our cat is having serious trouble pooping... she'll lay on her side with a leg up and strain and figit, and she will bleed and even have little bright-red clots of tissue come out with her stool, which has tended to be soft and mushy. This has been going on for easily a week now, and I've really lost faith in the vets. I've never had faith in medical practitioners to begin with from my own personal experiences with being brushed off and shuffled around thoughtlessly. So I'm hoping someone here might have had a imilar experience and can tell me what might be happening. Any help (other than "go see a vet" if I could subtract from people's points for that answer I would!) would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
If you could tell me a tactic of getting the vet to do the right thing, that would be helpful too. Thanks!
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