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12 Natural Home Remedies for Cat Constipation (Vet Approved)

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Constipation is a very common problem for cats. Often the symptoms are mild, and there are lots of things you can do at home to help your cat and ease their discomfort. Most cats pass feces every 2436 hours, but if your cat is going less frequently than this or they seem uncomfortable when in their litter tray, they may well be constipated.

When your cat is constipated, feces get stuck in the large intestine for longer than usual, so it becomes dry and hard which exacerbates the issue and makes it even more difficult to pass. There are many different causes of constipation, some are mild and others are the results of serious health issues such as megacolonor kidney disease. These are complicated medical problems and home remedies are not appropriate here.

However, if your cat has mild constipation, you have come to the right place! Keep reading this vet-written guide to find out 12 natural home remedies for cat constipation.

Signs of Constipation

Constipation can vary greatly in severity. Some cats may have mild signs, while others can suffer a lot and be extremely uncomfortable.

The usual signs of constipation include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Straining in litter tray
• Difficulty passing feces
• Pain when passing feces
• Passing feces less frequently
• Producing small, hard, dry feces

Constipation is usually easy to spot, and here is a list of some natural home remedies you can try if you see the early signs of constipation:

The 12 Vet-Approved Natural Home Remedies for Cat Constipation

1.Keep Your Cat Well Hydrated

If your cat is dehydrated, this will exacerbate their constipation. Keeping up fluid intake is the first port of call when managing constipated cats. This can be done in a number of different ways. You can leave water bowls around the house in easily accessible places as this will encourage the consumption of more water. Some cats enjoy using water fountains, or a dripping tap. You can also flavor your cats water with something strong smelling such as tuna juice or bone broth.

If you do this, ensure you leave some plain water out too. This is in case they dont like the flavoring and need an alternative source.

2.Feed Canned Wet Food

Changing your cats food from dry to canned wet food can increase water intake, especially if your cat doesnt drink much. Dry food does have some advantages, for example, it can aid in the mechanical debridement of your cats teeth. However, if your cat has issues with constipation, they should be taking in more fluids as there are other ways to keep their teeth clean.

3.Change Your Cats Diet

If your cat has a sensitive stomach or if they have allergies, this can cause inflammatory changes in the intestines that can lead to constipation. You can start by either changing the main protein source of your cats diet or feeding them a hypoallergenic diet. If your cat is reacting to something in their diet, feeding them something they dont react to will reduce the inflammation. This facilitates normal peristalsis movements which means there is a reduction in the chances of constipation developing.

Increasing fiber in your cats diet will also aid with the movement of food through your cats digestive tractmore on this below. Speak to your vet about diets and supplements before making any dramatic changes.

4.Keep Your Cat at a Healthy Weight

Obesity is another thing that can cause intestinal inflammation, as it can slow the transit time of the digested food. This allows for too much water to be absorbed and causes constipation. If your cat is severely overweight, another factor is the physical weight of the fat around the stomach. It can slow the movement of food through the intestines just by the sheer mass present. If you need help or advice on weight loss for your cat, consult your vet.

5.Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can affect food transit time through your cats intestines.

Cats can become easily stressed by lots of different things. Changes in their environment, a new human or animal in their home, illness, changes in your routine, or strange noises can all cause unwanted stress and anxiety. To attempt to reduce this, you can make everything as consistent as possible.

If changes cant be avoided, try to introduce them gradually. Some cats respond to products such as calming pheromones or anti-anxiety medication.

6.Provide Multiple Litter Trays

Cats are very sensitive about when and where they use their litter box. If they are not happy with something, this can put them off using it altogether, which can cause constipation and urination issues too.

Cats may be put off by other cats using a litter tray. It may be an incorrect size so they dont fit in, they may feel exposed if there is no cover on it, or there may not be enough litter in it. It may also be in a loud and busy location. It can be a case of trial and error finding a tray and location that your cat is happy with, but it is definitely an important factor in healthy bowel movements for your cat.

7.Ensure Your Cat is Getting Enough Exercise

Much the same as humans, cats benefit hugely from exercise. If they lead a sedentary lifestyle, they are less likely to have healthy peristalsis movements. A reductionor loss of these movements can result in constipation. If they are lying in one position for long periods, it will be more difficult for them to digest their food properly.

You can encourage your cat to be more active by using cat toys and playing with them. Enrichment objects are widely available for your home such as cat trees and scratch posts. It is likely if they are more active and have mental stimulation for the duration of their day, that they will be less stressed and anxious and less likely to be overweight.

8.Increase Dietary Fiber

Feeding your cat a higher proportion of roughage can help food pass more easily through their gut. Fiberalso helps retain water in the intestines. There are a few different types of fiber commonly used in cats, and these include psyllium huskand wheat bran. Not all cats with constipation benefit from a high-fiber diet as it does depend on the underlying cause, so always speak to your vet before adding anything to your cats diet.

9.Over the Counter Laxatives

Some over-the-counter products can be used to help your constipated cats at home, however, never use any medication at home without first consulting your vet. Laxatives usually work by drawing more water into the intestines, helping to soften the feces, which aids in the cat passing them. This can be dangerous for cats with other health issues so use with caution only under vet instruction. Some laxatives can affect your cats ability to absorb nutrients from their food if used long-term, so it is always best to check with your vet first.

10.Probiotic Supplements

Some brands of cat food contain probiotics already. If this is not the case, you can buy probiotic supplements specifically for your cat. Probiotics can aid in the relief of constipation, and they also help maintain good digestive health.

11.Brush Your Cat Regularly

Hairballsare a very common cause of constipation in cats. If you brush your cat regularly you are removing excess hairs or hairs that are ready to shed. This means when your cat grooms itself, it wont be accidentally swallowing lots of hairs that will contribute to hairballs. If you know your cat has problems with hairballs, there are also over-the-counter products you can buy to aid in the passing of hairballs.

12.Keep Your Cats Backend Clean

Regularly check the area around your cats backside to see if it is clean and free of clumped hair or dried feces. It sounds like a simple thing, but if there is matted hair and dried feces stuck to this area, it can be very painful and can certainly put your cat off trying to pass feces. This is especially important if your cat has long hair as it is more likely to get knotted and matted. It is good practice to check and clean this area so that your cat is used to you having a quick look to ensure it stays hygienic.

Often, cats struggle to clean this area if they are overweight so this is another reason to keep your cat in trim condition. Cats with arthritis may also struggle to clean this area, so be aware they may need a little help.

Conclusion

Constipation is a very common issue encountered by our cats. If symptoms are mild, there are some useful home remedies owners can carry out to help their cat. A lot of these are beneficial for other reasons too and help to keep our cats in good general condition. If constipation is a repeated chronic issue or symptoms are severe, it is best to get an appointment with your vet to have your cat examined.

There are some underlying health issues that can cause constipation which need veterinary intervention such as prescription medication or surgery.

See also:

Featured Image Credit: NeydtStock, Shutterstock

Seven home remedies for cat constipation

Looking for home remedies for cat constipation? While its incredibly common and usually mild, constipation can at the very least make your feline friend feel more than a little uncomfortable. If you suspect your cat may be constipated, having a good home remedy up your sleeve can come in handy.

Normal cat poop should be uniform in color, have a firm texture, and a clearly defined shape. You should be able to scoop it up easily and it shouldnt leave any residue behind. In contrast, constipated stools (if theyre able to be passed at all) will usually resemble very hard, dry nuggets.

Most cats poop every 24 hours. If you notice that your cat is pooping less frequently or straining to eliminate their bowels, they may be constipated. While increasing their fluid intake by feeding them the best wet cat food or changing their diet altogether is a good starting point, there are also several other things you can try.

While you always want to speak with your vet if your cat has gone more than 48-72 hours without a bowel movement, there are some home remedies you can try before then to relieve your cats constipation and help them feel comfortable again. Lets take a look

Cat constipation symptoms

Being able to spot the signs of constipation in cats depends on the type of moggy you have. If your cat goes outside to poop then you may not know that your feline has a problem for a while you're going to see the issue much more clearly among indoor cats.

Indeed, if you check a cat's litter tray and it appears to be empty for more than 24 hours, it's time to be on the alert. At this stage, look out for signs of a tense abdomen, a hunched posture and a decreased appetite or maybe even vomiting. Cats can also become more lethargic when they are constipated and, if they are passing any stools, they are likely to be small, hard and dry.

Sometimes you end up seeing fecal fluid and it can look as if they are suffering from diarrhea. In all likelihood, this is going to be due to irritation of the colon lining, causing fluid to leak out of the cat's bottom. If you spot any signs such as these, then it's time to take some action. You may not necessarily have to visit a vet just yet duration and severity are good indicators.

Causes of cat constipation

In humans, constipation is usually caused by diet: a lack of fluids, fiber or a sudden change are generally to blame. We can also get constipation if we sit or lie around for too long or exercise less than we should. Holding poop or becoming stressed or depressed are causes too.

Cats generally suffer constipation for much the same reasons. They may be reluctant to poop and hold it in for much longer than they should, for example. This could be due to a dirty litter box or its position: cats are clean creatures and they can also become stressed and anxious if other cats are around or if the environment is not quite to their liking, perhaps because it's too busy and noisy.

You should also be aware of what a cat is consuming. A lack of fluid or a diet with insufficient fiber are likely to cause a problem. There are, however, other serious causes of constipation such as arthritis, allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, a hernia or a tumor around the pelvic area, cancer, perianal disease or an obstruction of the colon.

Indeed, the condition tends to arise more in older cats although this could be generally down to a more sedentary lifestyle. Finally, watch out for over-grooming: the more a cat licks their fur, the more hair is likely to make its way into the digestive tract and cause problems.

How to help a cat poop when constipated

If you believe your cat is constipated then you're going to want to do something to help. The good news is that there are a number of home remedies which can work wonders but, if you're going to try to offer assistance rather than call the vet at this stage, keep an overview of your treatment plan to ensure that it's having a positive effect.

You can do this by keeping a diary and noting down any symptoms you spot each day. It's a good idea, if the issue relates to an outdoor cat, to try and keep them indoors and introduce them to a litter tray so that you can monitor the stools for consistency and number. Keep a good idea on any potential displays of pain or strange behavior and check that they are eating.

But what home remedies can you try? Much depends on what you think the problem is but here are some suggestions:

1. Change the litter box

It's always a good idea to keep a litter box clean, more so if you're worried that it could be causing cats to hold their poop. A quick fix here is to ensure your cat's litter box is placed in a pleasant place. That way you can be sure that your cat at least feels comfortable trying to poop but if a feline already has constipation then this remedy is unlikely to resolve the issue in and of itself.

2. Add more fiber to the diet

You need to find a way of increasing the size and weight of a cat's stool and fiber does both of these things. It also softens feces making it easier to pass aim for insoluble fiber and the stool will become bulkier thanks to the addition of moisture. Be wary of adding more fiber if your cat is already getting a lot, though. In this case, it could make the problem worse and you need your cat to digest nutrients.

3. Change the protein

It's also worth thinking about altering the protein source of a cat's diet, switching from lamb to chicken maybe but be aware that a change such as this can take anywhere from two to three months to have an effect.

It's not going to prove effective if the problem is a pressing one that needs immediate action. This is something to consider once the current issue has been resolved. Be sure you read up on changing cat food and how to make the transition safely if you are considering this.

4. Reduce anxiety and stress

There could be an underlying environmental cause for constipation. Is your cat going outside and getting bullied by other cats, for instance? Or is your family life too hectic for your kitty at the moment? Maybe a dog has moved into the neighborhood or someone is having an extension built. Giving supplements such as Zylkene and Solliquin or a calming pheromone such as Feliway can work wonders.

5. Offer them water

Cats don't tend to like licking water out of a bowl so if you want to make sure your feline friend is getting enough moisture then you have to think a bit more creatively. Maybe invest in a one of the best pet water fountains for your fur friend the sound and smell of the water is enticing.

You should also consider the best cat food for your feline friend with constipation: reducing the amount of dry cat food you give in favor of the best wet cat food can increase moisture intake.

6. Keep them busy

Active cats are less likely to become constipated because it helps the intestines to move normally. Since taking a cat for a walk is out of the question (for most felines anyway!), you need to exercise a cat and keep them both mentally and physically stimulated by playing with them. Take your pick of the best cat toys and consider the best automated cat toys if you're away a lot.

7. Ensure a healthy weight

An obese moggy is undesirable for a number of reasons and the risk of constipation is one of them. Inflammation in the intestines means feces tends to hang around for longer as if attempting to make its way through your cat's body. Cutting a cat's weight if they are deemed to have packed on the pounds will help in the medium-to-long term and help to head off future problems.

When to see the vet

According to vet Dr. Rebecca MacMillan, who has provided an in-depth guide to normal vs abnormal cat poop in our vet's guide, it's usually a good idea to get a cat checked out if you suspect constipation.

Certainly, if the remedies above are not working very quickly, then you need to be sure that there are no underlying conditions such as a tumor, growth, nerve disorder, hernia or trauma to the pelvis. Vets are always there to advise and they can also offer over-the-counter laxatives which adds extra moisture to the intestines to soften the stool. These should not be used without vet advice, however.

A lack of adequate fluid throughout the day is a common cause of cat constipation. Check out our guide to dehydration in cats for information on what to do if your cat isnt drinking enough.