Raising pets is often compared to raising children. They also cannot talk about their problems, so the owners have to independently monitor their well-being and notice any changes in behavior.
Pets under one year of age need special attention; due to their age, they are at risk and are very susceptible to illnesses and other disorders. Below you can find out what to do if your kitten doesn't go to the toilet all day - and how to prevent constipation in babies.
How to tell if a small kitten is not going to the toilet in a big way
For the first month after birth, the cubs are cared for by their mother. She licks feces and urine, so their absence at this stage is not significant. Despite this, an attentive owner can still understand when an older little kitten cannot go to the toilet. The following symptoms will indicate constipation:
- loss of appetite and weight loss;
- lethargy and loud squeaking (during defecation and at rest);
- refusing to go to the litter box and urinating in inappropriate places;
- change in the consistency (dryness, hardness) of stool and the appearance of foreign inclusions in it (mucus, blood);
- compaction and bloating of the abdomen, as well as discomfort when palpating;
- prolonged and unsuccessful sitting in the tray, leading to swelling of the anus.
It is equally important to consider the duration of absence of bowel movement. Its recommended frequency depends on the age of the animal.
Normal for kittens of different ages
Adult animals defecate once a day, and older animals defecate once every 2 or even 3 days. This is due to the deterioration of intestinal motility with aging. In babies, it works like a clock, so the frequency of bowel movements in the first week of life reaches 12 times a day.
Breastfed
Feeding strictly on mother's milk lasts until the appearance of the first teeth - the baby incisors. They erupt 2-3 weeks after birth. Until this point, the cubs eat 8-12 times a day and go to the toilet after each feeding.
When feeding
After introducing complementary foods, newborns' loose stools take on a more dense form. Intestinal microflora finishes forming by about 1 month. Babies no longer require stimulation of the tummy with the mother's tongue, and the frequency of their bowel movements is reduced to 6 times a day.
Fully aft
Complete transfer to food occurs after breastfeeding stops, that is, at 2.5-3 months. At this stage, the pet goes to the toilet 2-3 times, and after reaching six months - only 1 time, like a real adult.
Changing your diet
A sudden change from one diet to another can lead to digestive upset in a kitten - this can be expressed either by diarrhea or constipation. Therefore, in the first week after purchase, it is advisable to feed the pet in the same way as the breeder did. Good breeders usually pay a lot of attention to this issue and often give new owners a supply of food for several days. Often, owners try to feed the kitten home-cooked food, but it all ends with the kitten eating only boiled or even raw meat and boiled eggs, and such a diet not only does not meet the nutritional needs of the kitten’s growing body, but also leads to constipation.
Non-hazardous reasons
If a kitten doesn’t go to the toilet regularly for only 1 day, and its general health does not cause concern, then the likelihood of pathology is minimal. In this case, you should observe, since the most banal explanation is relieving yourself in a secluded place.
He walks, but in a secluded place
At the stage of litter box training, it is very important to determine the correct place. Listen to your pet. An area that is too open and noisy will cause discomfort and force you to look for more private places - under the sofa or behind the bed.
If the “mustache” is already accustomed to the tray, but still periodically ignores it, check the freshness of the filler. Cats are the cleanest animals, so the appearance of an unpleasant odor can make them reluctant to use the toilet.
IMPORTANT!
Never resort to violence. A pet who left a pile in the middle of the corridor will not understand your anger after a couple of minutes. Loud screams and poking at feces will have the opposite effect - they will encourage you to look for new secluded corners.
A little stress
If a kitten does not go to the toilet in its new home, then stress from moving is to blame. This problem is often encountered by owners who adopted their pet too early - before reaching 2.5 months.
Other stressful factors include the birth of a child, a new pet, as well as a banal change of tray or filler. In the first two cases, you should be patient and help in adaptation, and in the last two, you should look for more suitable alternatives.
Features of the body
The stomach digests natural food and dry food at different rates, so the type of feeding should be taken into account, among other factors. In the second case, less time is required, since during the production of granules all ingredients are pre-crushed. Problems with stool with such a diet can only arise due to a lack of water in the diet.
Congenital characteristics should not be ruled out. Every animal is different, so the recommendations are based on averages. If your baby walks less often than his peers, but does not lag behind them in growth and is highly active, then you don’t have to worry about his health.
First aid at home
Any malfunctions in the pet’s body should be a reason to go to the veterinary clinic. But in some cases, the owner is able to provide first aid to a constipated kitten at home. You just need to remember that the baby’s body is still quite fragile, and therefore you need to act very carefully.
Here are some options for what to do if your kitten is constipated before visiting the vet:
- A newborn baby who is left without a mother will most likely benefit from stimulation of the digestive process. To do this, you need to imitate the actions of a cat: moisten a cotton pad in warm water and give it a light massage of the tummy and areas near the genitals. If constipation is caused by changes in diet, this may be enough to make the baby poop.
- If the pet is older and is given dry food, you need to make sure that the kitten drinks more water. If the pet refuses to do this on its own, you need to periodically bring it to the bowl and tilt its muzzle towards it.
- Foods that cause constipation should be excluded from the diet of a kitten aged 2 months and older.
- Get your baby, who prefers to spend most of his time on the couch, to move. Balls or joint games will help with this.
Even an inexperienced owner can provide such assistance to a kitten. It is important that such actions will definitely not harm the small pet. If you suspect the presence of a foreign object, worms or intoxication in the intestines, it is better not to take risks, but try to immediately show the baby to the veterinarian.
Dangerous causes of constipation
If the kitten is not a month old and has not walked for 2 days, take it to the vet. For older “mustaches,” the critical mark is 3 days, and in the absence of alarming symptoms – 5 days. Such a prolonged absence of bowel movements indicates pathology and requires mandatory treatment.
In small kittens
The passage of feces and urine in newborns occurs due to the efforts of the mother. Regular licking of the tummy stimulates the bowels and bladder. If a cat refuses to care for the cubs or for some reason she is simply not there, then caring for the newborns falls entirely on the owner.
Massages should be done until peristalsis is activated, that is, approximately until complementary foods are introduced. Otherwise, stagnation of feces will lead to intestinal inflammation.
IMPORTANT!
Introduce complementary foods smoothly and monitor your pet's reaction. Too sudden a transition to a new type of diet is fraught with intestinal upset and constipation.
Another possible explanation is congenital intestinal pathology and other gastrointestinal malformations. Such abnormalities can lead to intestinal obstruction, so if you have problems with bowel movements, your pet should be seen by a veterinarian.
In older kittens
Grown-up pets are more independent. They actively explore the world and learn to take care of their hygiene without outside help. Because of this, they may experience the following pathologies:
- helminthic infestations;
- bezoars (hairballs in the stomach and intestines);
- ingestion of foreign bodies (New Year's tinsel, threads, filler);
- inflammation of the paraanal glands;
- tumors and polyps in the gastrointestinal tract;
- abdominal trauma.
Separately, it is worth noting the rehabilitation period after castration and sterilization. A short absence of stool after these operations is normal and is explained by the effect of anesthesia. The alarm should only be sounded when other alarming symptoms are added to constipation.
Prevention
The best way to control the problem is prevention. Simple rules help reduce the risk of relapse:
- Regular combing of hair should be a mandatory procedure for caring for your cat.
- After treatment, nutritional adjustments are made with increased fluid intake. The pet needs to be fed foods with fiber and added vitamins and minerals.
- If possible, transfer from dry to wet food.
- Do not expose the animal to stress.
- A cat's life should be active. The cat is forced to move and play more.
- Give your pet a paste with cleansing phytomins.
- In the postoperative period, introduce probiotics into food.
What to do if the kitten does not go to the toilet in a big way
The main danger of lack of bowel movements is intestinal blockage with the development of obstruction. It is fraught with rupture of the walls and subsequent intoxication with feces. If the kitten has not gone to the toilet for several days and looks unhealthy, contact your veterinarian, and if his condition does not cause concern, start by determining the possible cause and try to help yourself.
Guess the reason
Observe your pet's behavior and note the symptoms that cause you concern. After that, try to pick one of the reasons listed above.
If the baby arrived in your home just recently, then most likely the problem lies in stress from unfamiliar smells and sounds. In this case, he needs help with adaptation by minimizing stress factors and providing a personal corner.
Contact your veterinarian
For peace of mind, the first step is to contact your veterinarian. He will help narrow down the range of possible causes and provide detailed first aid advice. With this option, it is not necessary to take the pet to the veterinary clinic, which will reduce the stress of the examination.
Despite the convenience, telephone consultations have a number of disadvantages:
- Subjectivism
. The owner may miss important symptoms during a conversation, which will affect the reliability of the preliminary diagnosis. It should also be remembered that to identify some pathologies, tests and instrumental studies (ultrasound and X-ray) are required.
- Difficulty finding a clinic
. Not all veterinarians provide free consultations. This is mainly done by specialists who have already observed your pet and are familiar with its characteristics.
If you are not sure about the cause of constipation, it is better to schedule an examination. Remember that due to their age, children experience intoxication very hard, so a long absence of treatment can be disastrous for them.
Treatment of constipation
Treatment for constipation in a cat depends on the causes of constipation. The main goal of therapy is to soften stool and remove it from the intestines.
If this is an isolated case, and it happened for the first time, then medications are not prescribed. If cases of defecation retention are frequent, the following methods are used:
- Water enema at the rate of 5-10 ml of water per 1 kg of animal weight. Enema with physiological saline solution with the same calculation of proportions. Enema with Vaseline oil for a cat. You can do an enema with Duphalac.
- Abdominal massage.
- Taking oral laxatives for cats.
- Medicines that promote the movement of feces through the colon (Bisacodyl suppositories or glycerin suppositories for children). Suppositories are used alone or together with oral laxatives.
- Increased physical activity.
- Changing the feeding diet: introducing coarse wheat bran and canned pumpkin into the feed.
- Switching to food for cats with digestive disorders. Many brands have such lines, for example, Hill's ID, Royal Canin Fiber Response, etc.
Mild degree
When constipation occurs for the first time, a diet with a high fiber content (psyllium bran, wheat, cereals) is prescribed. Bran is added to the food - 1-2 tablespoons per serving of food.
Before introducing fiber into the diet, give the cat plenty of water to enhance the effect and prevent the accumulation of fiber in the intestines. Typically, most cats benefit from dietary fiber to help cope with the problem.
If constipation occurs again in a cat, Vaseline oil (pure or mixed with milk) or a laxative based on cisapride is recommended: Peristil, Coordinax - 0.1-0.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight.
Average degree
In case of frequent relapses, it is recommended to treat constipation with lactulose-based laxatives: Duphalac, Portalac, Goodluck and increase the fiber content in the diet. The cat is given a laxative every 8 hours at a rate of 0.5 ml per 1 kg of its body weight. The substances in the composition increase the secretion of fluid in the intestines, which facilitates the passage of feces.
If the problem persists, the laxative Bisacodyl and prokinetic drugs Ranitidine or Nizatidine, which stimulate the motility of the digestive organs, are additionally prescribed. However, Bisacodyl should not be used daily. Long-term use of the drug is detrimental to the nerve cells of the intestinal lining.
In difficult cases, hard feces are removed using enemas. Sometimes, if the feces are very dry, the veterinarian will perform a manual bowel cleanse. The cat is given plenty of fluids and anesthetized using an endotracheal tube. Then a saline solution or warm water is introduced into the intestines and the hardened stool is manually kneaded.
If a cat has constipation accompanied by flatulence, then the gases are removed through a probe and then the cat is given Vaseline oil. Pain syndrome is eliminated by Spasmalgon or No-shpa.
If drug treatment does not help, surgery is performed to remove part of the colon.
When you can act on your own
Self-help is permissible only for non-dangerous reasons, since the treatment of pathologies involves taking medications and surgery. Depending on the situation, you may need:
- Massage the abdomen and genitals with a damp cloth after feeding. This point is relevant for newborns left without a mother.
- Using sorbent (activated carbon) or petroleum jelly. The first remedy promotes direct excretion, and the second – softening of stool. You can resort to them if a problem arises due to a change in diet.
- Inclusion of fermented milk products in the menu. Introducing new foods during the complementary feeding phase often causes constipation. If the baby does not drink well, then interest in liquids can be stimulated with low-fat kefir or yogurt.
- Buying malt paste. It facilitates the dissolution of bezoars and promotes their removal.
Another working method is giving an enema, but it has one big BUT. Despite its effectiveness, it is contraindicated in cases of intestinal obstruction, since additional pressure can lead to intestinal rupture. Therefore, it is recommended to resort to this procedure only after examination by a veterinarian.
NOTE!
Don't use castor oil. It can cause poisoning and severe stomach pain.
Cases requiring urgent medical attention
Urgent medical attention is necessary if at least one alarming symptom is present. Particular attention should be paid to pain - the main sign of intestinal obstruction.
If your pet looks weak, avoids touching and is vomiting, take him to the nearest veterinary clinic. If the intestine ruptures, there is no more than a couple of hours left for rescue, so delaying the examination can be fatal.
Other cases that require an urgent visit to the veterinarian include the lack of improvement in self-care and any suspicion of the pathologies listed above.
When intestinal obstruction, advanced helminthic infestation, trauma, ingestion of a foreign body and tumor without metastases are confirmed, surgical intervention is resorted to. If the disease can be treated conservatively, then the pet is prescribed a list of age-appropriate medications.
IMPORTANT!
Do not use constipation medications unless prescribed. Many of them are aimed at adult animals and require adjustments to the standard dose.
