How long is too long for a cat to be constipated

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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Cat constipation: A vet's guide to the causes and symptoms

Unfortunately, cat constipation is pretty common. There are many possible causes, ranging from lifestyle factors to medical conditions. Constipation can be surprisingly hard to spot in cats since the symptoms can easily be confused with other issues.

Considering how important early treatment and management are, it is key that you know what to look out for. Without early treatment, constipation can lead to other problems and is more likely to recur. So, lets take a look at everything you should know about constipation in cats.

What is cat constipation?

Constipation means difficulty passing poo (faeces or stools), passing poo infrequently, or not passing poo at all.

In constipation, the faeces are held in the large intestine (the colon and rectum), where they builds up. Since one of the major functions of the colon is to absorb water from the stools, and it continues to do so while the stool is held in the colon, the stools get drier and harder with time. This makes it even harder for them to pass.

When constipation becomes a chronic (long-term) problem, meaning the colon is being stretched over a period of time, this can lead to a condition called megacolon. With megacolon, the colon is stretched too large, making it unable to effectively push the faeces out.

Causes of cat constipation

There are lots of possible causes for constipation in cats, ranging from factors in the environment to serious medical conditions. Possible causes include:

1. Environmental factors

Cats are fussy creatures, so if they are used to pooing outside and need to be kept in, they may refuse to use a litter tray. Similarly, cats may take a dislike to a certain type of litter or tray, causing them to hold their stool while they wait for an alternative. A dirty tray or having to share a litter tray can also be off-putting to our feline friends. Since water is continually drawn from the stool by the colon, the longer they wait, the drier and harder the stool becomes.

2. Dehydration

When a cat is dehydrated, the body tries to conserve (keep) as much water as possible. This means it draws (re-absorbs) as much water from the stools as possible, making them hard and dry. This means constipation is common in medical conditions such as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

3. A blocked colon

A blockage in the colon caused by a foreign body (i.e. the cat has eaten something it shouldnt have), a polyp or a mass can cause constipation, by physically blocking the stool from passing. A build-up of hairballs can have the same effect! A colon can also become blocked if the pelvic canal (the internal area between the hip bones) becomes narrowed for any reason, such as following a trauma like a road traffic accident.

4. Pain

Anything that makes it painful to go to the toilet can cause a cat to become constipated. They realise that passing a stool will hurt, so are reluctant to go. Arthritis can make posturing to poo painful, for example.

5. Neurological conditions (involving the nerves)

If the nerves controlling the passing of faeces are damaged, for example in a tail pull injury or after a road traffic accident, this can cause constipation (or on the flip side it can also cause incontinence).

6. Idiopathic megacolon

Megacolon isnt always caused by chronic constipation and sometimes occurs as a condition with an unknown cause. The wall of the distended colon is weak and unable to push faeces out.

Now that we know what might cause cat constipation, lets take a look at how to tell if your cat is constipated.

Cat constipation symptoms

(Image credit: Getty)

The symptoms will vary, and can mimic other problems, such as straining to wee. The main symptoms of constipation are:

Straining to poo, often with signs of pain
Passing stools less often
Multiple trips to toilet outside, or to the litter tray, without passing anything
Small, dry nuggets of poo
Small amounts of liquid stool (which are easy to confuse with diarrhoea, but are actually liquid stool managing to pass around the build-up of faeces).

You may also notice:

Lethargy (lack of energy)
Decrease appetite
Feeling or being sick

Is cat constipation an emergency?

This depends a little on the cause. Cats normally poo every day, so at least once every 24 hours. if youre wondering how long can a cat go without pooping?, the answer is that you shouldnt leave them for more than 48 hours. If your cat hasnt passed stools in the past two days (or more), then its time for an urgent trip to your vet!

If your cat is making frequent trips to the litter tray but not passing anything, its really important to be sure they arent actually trying to wee. If you arent sure if your cat is weeing, then you should call your vet straight away. Straining to pass urine, without actually passing any, can be a sign of a blocked bladder, which is a life-threatening emergency.

How is cat constipation treated?

The treatment will partly depend on the severity and the cause. In severe or chronic cases, a constipated cat will need to have fluid therapy and manual removal of the faeces under a general anaesthetic. For less severe cases there are several medical options, including:

Enemas
Laxatives
Prokinetics (which stimulates the colon to contract, to squeeze the stools out)

In severe cases, surgery is sometimes needed to remove a large portion of the colon. This is usually a last resort.

Your vet may also advise you to continue treating cat constipation at home. This ongoing management may involve medication, alongside:

Ensuring they drink enough water: using water fountains and feeding wet food, for example
Regular grooming to help prevent furballs, especially in longhaired cats
Litter tray attention: for example ensuring the tray is always clean, using the best cat litter box and a litter your cat likes and ensuring you have one litter tray per cat, plus one extra.

Your vet may also advise you to change your cats diet or recommend some home remedies for cat constipation.

What to feed a cat with constipation

Cats with constipation usually need a high fibre diet, although this is not always the case. Due to the amount, and types, of fibre in some of the foods we might eat to naturally increase our fibre intake (such as pumpkin), these foods are not generally recommended for cats. The amount you would need to feed to make a difference is usually unrealistic. (And remember that there are some human foods that are poisonous to cats). Instead, your vet will be able to recommend a high-fibre diet or a fibre food additive. Wet food is also beneficial in constipation, to help your cat stay hydrated.

Conclusion

Cat constipation isnt pleasant for anyone. There are many possible causes, with some being more serious than others. Constipation can also lead to more serious problems if left untreated. This means its important that you take your cat to a vet for diagnosis and a treatment plan, before trying treatment at home.

8 Ways to Help Your Constipated Cat

Constipation is common in cats. Usually, its mild, and you can help your cat with simple home treatments.

But sometimes constipation in cats can indicate more serious health issues, and it can become very severe and uncomfortable. So how do you know when its a serious problem that needs vet attention?

Heres what you need to know about cat constipation symptoms and causes, what you can do to help your constipated cat, and when to be concerned.

Symptoms of Constipation in Cats

Constipation is characterized by infrequent stools or stools that are difficult to pass. Most cats will poop about every 1224 hours. If your cat is pooping less frequently and having some difficulty, she may be constipated.

While there is some normal variation, if its been more than 4872 hours without a bowel movement, you should contact your vet.

Normally, cat poop isa rich brown color and should look well-formed. Ahealthy stoolhas enough moisture that litter will stick to it, says Dr. Liz Bales, VMD.Cats with constipation may have very dry, hard stools. A constipated cat may also cry or strain in the litter box, or avoid it altogether.

Symptoms of constipation may include:

Decreased appetite
Lethargy
Abdominal pain
Straining to defecate (hunched posture trying to poop)
Pain or vocalization when defecating
Production of small, hard, dry feces

If youre seeing any of these symptoms, especially if your pet has not defecated recently, discuss them with your cats vet.

Causes of Cat Constipation

Anything that causesdehydrationin a cat may result in constipation, says Dr. Bales. Some issues are mild and treatable at home with dietary and lifestyle modifications, and some can be serious.

Constipation can happen if the intestines arent moving things along normally, keeping the stool soft and moist. This can be caused by underlying issues like stress and anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, nerve problems, and even some kinds of cancer.

Other causes of constipation in cats include:

Vet Treatment for Constipation in Cats

Constipation must be treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of permanent damage due to prolonged distension of the colon. Effective treatment involves identifying and correcting the underlying disorder (if possible), removing the impacted feces, and preventing recurrences.

For immediate relief of constipation, your veterinarian can give your cat fluids and/or anenema. Administering an enema to a cat is a veterinary job and should not be attempted at home, says Dr. Bales. Some types of enemas designed for people are actually very toxic to cats.

Vets can also prescribe medications or recommend over-the-counter solutions to help you manage the symptoms of your cats constipation.

More importantly, your vet can help identify the underlying issue thats causing the constipation so it can be treated, rather than just trying to manage the symptoms.

Tips and Home Remedies for Constipation in Cats

In addition to the treatments prescribed by your vet, there are some potential lifestyle changes at home that may help your cat combat constipation. But remember: If your cat has not defecated in 4872 hours or if they are acting uncomfortable, contact your vet immediately.

Heres a list of tips to discuss with your vet that may help your cat:

1. Increase Water Consumption

Because dehydration contributes to constipation, drinking more water and staying well-hydrated helps prevent constipation. Cats arent very good at drinking standing water, so the best way to increase their water consumption and keep them well-hydrated is by feeding them wet food. This dramatically increases their water intake and significantly reduces their risk of constipation.

You can also encourage your cat to drink more water by adding setting up more water bowls in different areas of your home, trying pet water fountains orleaving a faucet dripping.

Hydracare is also a product that may help increase your cats total liquid intake and help keep them hydratedplus, its liver-flavored.

2. Try a New Diet

Food allergies can cause intestinal inflammation and constipation in cats. Changing the protein source of your cats food (chicken, lamb, etc.) can reduce inflammation and allow the intestines to move more normally, reducing constipation.

For cats that may be allergic to multiple things, there are also special limited ingredient diets, prescription diets, and hypoallergenic diets available. It does take about eight to 12 weeks for a diet change to work, though, so this is part of long-term management.

Talking to your vet about the best diet for your cat may be a long-term way to help deal with constipation. When changing your cats food, follow the recommended transition period, mixing the old food with the new as stated on the cat food package.

3. Help Your Cat Maintain a Healthy Weight

Obesity causes intestinal inflammation, which causes things to slow down in the intestines. Too much water is then absorbed from the stool, causing constipation. In severe cases, theres so much fat in the belly that it physically impedes movement of stools.

Your vet can help you figure outif your cat needs to lose weightand work with you to create a diet plan.

4. Increase Exercise and Enrichment

Exercise can help promote normal movement of the intestines, which helps treat and prevent constipation. Encourage your cat to be more active withthings like cat toys, cat trees, window seats,and more playtime with you. Exercise will also help provide enrichment and reduce your cats anxiety, and it will help with weight loss.

5. Minimize Stress and Anxiety

Cats can easily become stressed when their routines are disrupted. There could be a more obvious cause, like having a new pet in the house or moving. Or it could be less obvious, like a change in your schedule, construction noise nearby, or a new dog barking in the neighborhood.

Sometimes it just takes time for a cat to adjust to changes. But you can help reduce stress and anxiety by using items like calming pheromones (Feliway), supplements (Zylkene and Solliquin are commonly used), and/or medications.

6. Add More Litter Boxes

Cats can be quite particular about their litter boxes. If they dont like the location of a litter box or even the type of box or litter, they may not use it as much, which can lead to constipation.

You should have at least one more litter box than you have cats, and there should be at least one litter box on every floor of your home. You may need to experiment with different types of litter and litter boxes to find what your cat likes.

7. Try Fiber or Probiotics

Probiotics are good bacteria that help support healthy intestines. Healthy intestines will move stool along normally and keep stools soft, preventing constipation.

Fiber feeds the good bacteria and helps promote normal movement in the intestines. It can also help keep more water in the intestines, which helps treat and prevent constipation.