Constipation in a cat: what to do at home, how to quickly help, prevention

Constipation is a problem not only for humans, but also for animals. Cats suffer from defecation retention just like humans. Some owners do not pay attention to the fact that their pet cannot go to the toilet for several days. This is especially difficult to trace if the cat is used to doing its business on the street. In this case, you can look and miss the moment when the animal can be cured with home remedies. Feces that accumulate in the intestines for a long time can provoke various diseases, so it is important to provide timely assistance to your pet.

About the causes of constipation

Prolonged absence of bowel movements is an alarming symptom; the condition can be accompanied by severe pain. Feces accumulated in the gastrointestinal tract can, over time, cause inflammatory processes, intoxication of the body, and in severe cases lead to complete intestinal obstruction. In the latter case, death is possible.

Delayed defecation has a clear gradation in medicine; it is divided into:

According to the organic mechanism of action.

Feces are retained in the intestines due to physical obstacles in the form of tumors, neoplasms, and scars.

According to the functional mechanism of action.

The cat stops going to the toilet due to insufficient activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Reasons: sedentary lifestyle, inappropriate food, inflammation, intoxication, metabolic disorders, chronic diseases.

Also, a distinction is made between partial stool retention (feces are excreted in a minimal amount, the bulk is retained in the body), and complete stool retention (feces remain completely in the intestines).

Additional symptoms to watch out for:

Painful bowel movements - the animal screams during bowel movements and experiences pain when palpating the abdomen. Possible causes: gastroenteritis, diseases of internal organs, mechanical damage to the pelvis.
intense bowel movements - a small predator often visits the toilet, feces come out in small portions or there is no bowel movement at all. Constipation gives way to diarrhea, stool has a liquid consistency. Possible causes: gastroenterocolitis, enterocolitis.

Problems with bowel movements often occur as an additional symptom to chronic diseases.

Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract develop due to irregular nutrition, too cold or hot food, monotonous diet, poisoning, allergic reactions, parasites, infections. The disease is accompanied by constipation, vomiting, loss of appetite, and aggressive behavior of the animal.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) develops both as an independent disease and in the case of parasitic infection. Signs: lack of bowel movements, loss of appetite, pain, bloating in the abdominal area.
Increased gas formation is observed in animals due to improper feeding. Flatulence is accompanied by constipation, the stomach swells and becomes hard, the pet experiences pain and screams.
Gastrointestinal blockage develops due to hairballs trapped in the stomach; bones for food; sedentary lifestyle; foreign objects swallowed by the cat. Signs: feces are not excreted, colic occurs, the pet’s behavior changes, pain and vomiting occur after eating, the stomach is bloated.
Excess weight (obesity) occurs due to an unbalanced diet, problems with the liver, and endocrine system. The process of defecation occurs rarely, the pet leads a sedentary lifestyle.
Lack of weight (dystrophy) develops due to a lack of nutrients in feed. The small predator has virtually no defecation, the animal is extremely thin, the fur is dull, and the mucous membranes are bluish in color.
Helminth infestation. When infected with helminths, a pet loses weight, refuses food or eats excessively, constipation gives way to diarrhea, behavior changes, the stomach increases in size, and itchy sensations appear in the anus.

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Treatment of constipation with various drugs is directly related to the causes of the unpleasant condition.

Symptoms of constipation in cats

Constipation is characterized by infrequent or difficult bowel movements. Most cats poop every 24-36 hours. If your cat poops less frequently and has difficulty pooping, she may be constipated.

Although there are some normal variations, if more than 48-72 hours have passed without a bowel movement, you should contact your veterinarian.

The main sign of constipation in cats is dry, hard stool (either inside or outside the litter box)

Feces are usually a deep brown color and should appear well formed.

Healthy stool has enough moisture for debris to stick to it. Cats with constipation may have very dry and hard stools.

You may find these poops outside the litter box because the discomfort associated with attempting to defecate can cause cats to leave the litter box before they are actually finished. You may also notice the cat crying or straining in the litter box, or avoiding the litter box altogether.

Other signs of discomfort may include sounds or straining when using the litter box or having to go in and out several times before using it.

Your cat may strain, but may not poop at all. Discomfort in the litter box can also be a sign of serious urinary tract problems, so you should contact your veterinarian if you notice these signs.

Constipation is actually a symptom of other problems, so you may also see signs of an underlying cause.

These may include:

Nausea
Decreased appetite
Vomiting
Drinks more or less water
Pissing more
Weight loss
Loss of muscle mass
Difficulty of bouncing
Stiff walking
The cat is hiding

If you experience any of these symptoms with or without constipation, you should discuss them with your cat's veterinarian.

How often should a cat go to the toilet?

Defecation rate for cats:

Adult pet - 1 time per day.
Kitten - 1-2 times a day, kittens have an increased metabolism, food is digested faster.
Elderly animal - 1 time in two days; in pets older than 6 years, the metabolism decreases.

According to veterinarians, constipation is considered to be a delay of three or more days. Associated symptoms: anxiety, lack of appetite.

Doctors recommend examining your pet's stool to identify the disease at an early stage. In a healthy cat, feces are oblong in shape, dark brown in color, and soft in consistency.

Deviations:

overly dry, cracked “balls”,
liquid consistency,
unusual color (gray, yellow, red),
presence of foreign inclusions

Possible serious pathologies

There are also more serious causes of constipation in kittens. Here are the most common ones:

Worm infestation. The disease is serious and requires surgical intervention by a specialist, since parasites can seriously undermine the baby’s health. One of the signs by which you can determine that a kitten has worms is that its body becomes like a pear. It is not recommended to give parasite medications to your pet on your own. Here you need to consult a specialist: he will determine the type of parasites, select the appropriate drug and give recommendations on dosage.
Neoplasms in the intestines. Tumors, polyps and other growths on the walls of the intestines lead to narrowing, and in the most serious cases, to complete blockage of the lumens. As a result, feces simply cannot move further and accumulate in the intestines.
Injury to the intestinal walls. Often the cause is the ingestion of seeds with sharp edges.

You will not be able to cope with these problems on your own. Only a specialist can make a diagnosis and decide on therapy after conducting the necessary examinations.

First aid for constipation

You can quickly help your cat at home by giving the animal an enema or inserting a rectal suppository into the anus.

Rectal laxatives with glycerin for humans can also be used for cats. Half a candle is placed on the cat. Cut the candle lengthwise, carefully insert it into the anus, hold the pet in your arms, stroking the belly in a circular motion to stimulate peristalsis. Repeat the procedure after 4-5 hours; if there is no bowel movement, administer an enema.

Contraindications to the use of drugs

There are also situations in which the use of laxatives is strictly contraindicated:

Lack of stool combined with painful attacks in the animal.
Vague fever due to disturbance of bowel movements.
Visible purulent lesions on the skin around the anus, genitals, or base of the tail.
Vomiting with simultaneous absence of stool.

When constipation occurs for the first time, it is better to show your pet to a veterinarian to rule out serious organic pathology of the digestive organs (for example, intussusception, gastric volvulus, intestinal obstruction).

In the photo of a laxative for cats you can see that all manufactured drugs have detailed instructions with a list of contraindications.

Treatment at home

In the initial stage, you can get rid of the problem at home.

Changing your diet.

You need to start feeding the cat fractionally liquid food (5-6 times a day), the portions should be small, you should add a little vegetable oil and bran to the food.

Feeding with vegetables.

You need to add raw carrots and beets, chopped in a blender, to your daily food. If the cat does not want to eat vegetables, you should squeeze out the vegetable juice through gauze and inject it into the mouth through a syringe without a needle.

Introduction to the diet of foods that normalize digestion.

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Fermented milk products with low fat content (kefir, fermented baked milk, yogurt) can normalize the animal’s digestive processes.

Daily massage.

You can massage your cat's belly daily, stroking it clockwise with force.

Symptoms of the disease

A decrease in the activity of the intestines and stomach in cats is manifested by disruption of digestive processes and a further deterioration of the general condition. Main symptoms of atony:

decreased appetite;
vomit;
decreased intestinal motility;
significant reduction in feces excreted;
change in consistency and addition of an unpleasant odor from feces;
weakness, lethargy.

One of the symptoms of the disease is a significant increase in the abdominal cavity.
Obstruction in cats causes the following symptoms:

abdominal tension;
lack of appetite, refusal of any food;
sagging abdomen;
weight loss;
deterioration of coat condition;
blanching of mucous membranes;
aggressive reaction when touching the stomach due to pain.

Laxatives: Top 5

Medicines based on lactulose (Dufolak, Romfalak, Gudalak). The drugs can be used for a long time, the drugs are suitable for animals, have a gentle effect on intestinal motility, and are safe for health. Bowel movement occurs within 2-3 hours, taken in the morning and evening, single dose - 0.5 mg per kilogram of weight.
Magnesium sulfate solution. The product acts on receptors in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, effectiveness is achieved after 7-10 hours. single dose - 2-4 mg.
"Ramnil" is a medicine made from buckthorn bark. The drug in tablet form is given to the animal once a day. A single dose is half a tablet.
Carlsbad salt solution. The product helps improve digestion processes and leads to gentle bowel movements. Dilute a tablespoon of powder in 100 ml of water and give to the cat 2 times a day.
"Izafenin". Taking the powder helps cope with chronic constipation and is used as prescribed by a veterinarian.

Professional veterinary care

The following activities require more experience with animals. And some of them are not at all advisable for an owner who has never encountered anything like this before. The best option is to talk to a veterinarian who will examine the kitten, give recommendations for further therapy and tell you how not to harm the baby.

Professional assistance includes the following:

Abdominal massage. Somewhat reminiscent of the one they make for small children. These are circular stroking movements with your hand, which should start the work of the gastrointestinal tract. Massage will help your kitten if constipation is caused by poor diet, stress, or a small foreign body that can come out naturally.
Duphalac, Lactusan and other similar lactulose-based drugs. They are prescribed for constipation in newborn children, and in the case of animals they will also be safe and effective. The drugs can be given to a pet who is several weeks old if he has been transferred to artificial feeding. The dose is selected taking into account the weight of the kitten.
Vaseline oil. To some extent, a universal product: it can be dropped into the kitten’s mouth or added to food when taking emergency measures, as well as for prevention. Vaseline oil is often used in an enema. The product is not absorbed into the blood and intestines. When it enters the gastrointestinal tract, it envelops the intestinal walls with a film and covers feces, making them softer and faster out of the body. Usually the kitten is allowed to give Vaseline oil 2-3 times a day. It is better to discuss the permissible amount with your veterinarian.
Soap in the form of a small candle. It is inserted into the kitten's anus if there are no signs that it is inflamed. A side effect when providing assistance in this way is sometimes an allergy to the composition of the soap, so it is recommended to choose only children's soap.
Enema. To carry out the procedure, you can use a small bulb or a 10 mm syringe without a needle. Pure water or chamomile solution are suitable as a solution. The tip must be lubricated with greasy cream or Vaseline oil. The liquid is administered through the anus very carefully - the pet should be in a standing position over a tray or other container. It is undesirable to carry out the procedure yourself if the owner has never seen how it is done. The reason is that if you introduce a lot of liquid, the intestinal walls can burst, and this is fraught with more serious problems than constipation. An enema is also dangerous if there are neoplasms, foreign objects and wounds in the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, the cleansing procedure is carried out by a veterinarian after the cause of constipation has been determined.

The specialist determines the cause of constipation in a week-old, month-old or older kitten, and also decides what to do next after taking a full history. It includes:

conversation with the owner;
blood, urine and stool tests;
X-ray with contrast agent:
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.

In some cases, an MRI is performed - the procedure allows you to confirm or refute the suspicion of oncology.

Based on the results of the examinations, treatment is selected for the kitten. Sometimes it involves an enema, an IV with a maintenance drug, and surgical removal of a foreign object. After visiting the veterinarian and receiving recommendations, you must strictly follow all instructions to prevent complications of the disease. It is very important to complete treatment, including when it seems that your pet is no longer constipated.

Enema

The procedure is carried out as follows:

Prepare an enema solution. Dissolve a pinch of salt in warm water. Take an enema.
Lubricate the animal's anus and the enema tip with Vaseline oil.
Slowly insert the tip into the anus (in a circular motion).
Pour in the solution.
Remove the enema, press the pet's tail to the anus, hold it in your arms for 10-15 minutes.

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Osmotic laxatives

The second most frequently used group of drugs is osmotic drugs, the mildest laxative for cats. The main chemical component of these products is lactulose, which has a high osmotic pressure.

In the large intestine, differences in osmotic concentrations of substances lead to the accumulation of water in the intestinal lumen.
The principle is similar to the previous group of substances; the drug is also not absorbed into the pet’s body.
The laxative effect develops slowly, up to 2 days after taking the drug.
During the course of treatment, it is important to monitor your cat's drinking regime.

Modern drugs are available in a convenient form (powder or ready-made suspension), which makes taking the medicine easier. However, uncontrolled use invariably leads to loss of salts, glucose, and muscle weakness.

Vaseline oil for constipation

Vaseline oil is a safe remedy that is given to a cat when there are problems with the intestines. The product can be injected through a syringe into the anus; another option is to inject it into the mouth through a syringe without a needle.

The oil can soften feces. move feces through the intestines. The pet's intestines are emptied 3-5 hours after the administration of the oil. single dose - 3-5 ml.

Lubricants for cats

These drugs are widely used to remove hairballs, round-shaped foreign substances (only after X-ray examination), and for ulcerative colitis in cats.

The advantages of using these funds include:

Convenient form of application (malt paste). The owner just needs to secure the pet, give it a paste-like mass, and wash it down with a small amount of water.
The preparations contain only safe ingredients: petroleum jelly, fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D.
Vaseline oil is absolutely not absorbed in the intestines, enveloping the walls of the digestive tract.
Vitamins A and E have powerful restorative properties, which makes it possible to treat minor intestinal microtraumas in an animal.
The Vaseline film formed on the intestinal wall prevents the absorption of any toxins or poisons into the bloodstream.
Vitamin D is a stimulant of local immunity, which prevents the occurrence of intestinal infections.

In addition, it is convenient to calculate the drug per 1 kg of animal body weight, which is facilitated by the attached table of weight coefficients. This group belongs to fast laxatives for cats.

Prevention of atony

To prevent difficulties in the digestive system and bowel movements, veterinarians at various clinics recommend that the cat owner follow the following rules:

Feed the animal with high-quality feed or products.
Ensure the supply of all necessary nutrients.
Avoid hypothermia and stressful situations to normalize the animal’s psycho-emotional state.
Be sure to play with your cat to increase muscle tone and physical health.
Maintain cleanliness of the pet's premises and personal belongings.

A prerequisite for maintaining the health and well-being of a cat is the regularity and timeliness of preventive examinations, vaccinations and deworming. If negative symptoms occur, it is important to seek professional help and treat any underlying conditions.