Will canned pumpkin help my cat poop

How much pumpkin to give my cat for constipation?

Constipation is, unfortunately, a common problem for cats. Your feline friend cant tell you when something is wrong, so its important to keep a close eye on them. This includes their intake of food and their output of poop. If your cat is experiencing constipation, pumpkin can help get things moving again.

How much pumpkin to give my cat for constipation?

Pumpkin can help relieve constipation. Its also healthy for your cat, which makes it a great natural choice. Before we get into how to treat constipation with pumpkin, lets look at how to know your cat is constipated in the first place.

Signs of Constipation

Your cat cant tell you they are constipated, but the symptoms are easy to spot if you know what to look for. The downside is, youll need to inspect their litter box.

Your cat may be constipated if their poop is dryand hard. You may also notice that they are visiting the litter box more often, but are not able to poop.If they show signs of pain when pooping, like meowing or yowling, this is also a sign of constipation.

Your cats stomach may appear swollen and hard if they are constipated. This is because the poop cant go out properly, so it takes up space in your kittys body.

Cat constipation can turn into a serious issue if it isnt treated. Poop can build up in the intestine, creating a blockage. Thats why, in addition to your cats comfort, its important to treat constipation for health reasons.

How Much Pumpkin to Give My Cat?

Pumpkin is good for cats, but too much of a good thing isnt a good idea. If you have an adult cat, youll need to give your cat 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of pumpkin a day. Kittens should have no more than 1/2 a teaspoon of pumpkin per day.

If your cats bowel movements arent normal within 24 to 48 hours, you can increase the amount of pumpkin. Give them 1 teaspoon of pumpkin twice a day. If necessary, you can double this to two teaspoons twice a day.

Your cat isnt likely to suffer any serious health effects if you overdo their pumpkin intake. However, too much can cause diarrhea. Its best to start with one teaspoon a day and work your way up to 4 teaspoons per day if needed to avoid diarrhea.

Another method is to replace 20% of your cats current food with pumpkin. This will provide them with needed nutrition with less calories than their regular food. This may be especially beneficial for overweight cats, or those with skin or coat issues.

What Should IDo If My Cat Eats too Much Pumpkin?

Your cat has had too much pumpkin if their stools become very loose. If they are a pudding-like consistency, theyve had too much. Orange stool is another sign you should cut back on your cats pumpkin intake.

If your cat shows these signs, skip their next serving of pumpkin. From there, its wise to cut the amount of pumpkin you are giving them in half. If you are feeding them pumpkin for constipation, you can discontinue the pumpkin once they are no longer constipated.

However, you can also choose to continue giving them pumpkin. It can help keep them regular, and it has lots of other benefits as well.

What type of pumpkin to give my cat?

So pumpkin can ease your cats diarrhea, but what kind do you give them?

Canned Pumpkin

Canned pumpkin is easy to give your cat, and gives all the benefits they need. Be sure to get 100% pure canned pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling has added sugar and spices, which are unhealthy and potentially even poisonous to your cat.

Fresh Pumpkin

If you want to serve your cat fresh pumpkin, youll need to prepare it yourself. Cut and remove the seeds from the pumpkin. Cut it into slices. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees until its soft.

Once its cooled, you can serve it to your cat. Store the unused portion in the fridge for a few days. If you want to keep it for future use, you can freeze pumpkin cooked or raw.

Just freeze what you dont plan to feed your cat within the next few days. When you want to serve it, get a portion from the freezer and allow it to thaw. It should thaw on the counter within a few hours. You can also thaw it by placing it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

This is a simple way to keep fresh pumpkin to serve your cat, without a lot of prep work each time.

Pumpkin Puree

You can also make your own pumpkin puree. To make puree, youll need to bake the pumpkin first. Once its baked, remove the skin from the pumpkin. You can then use a food processor, blender, or potato masher to create a puree. Add a few tablespoons of water at a time, until you get the desired consistency.

Just like fresh pumpkin, the puree can be stored in the fridge or frozen until you are ready to use it. The best way to freeze pumpkin puree is to use an ice tray.

Fill the tray with puree. Once its frozen, youll have cube shaped frozen puree. You can then serve them one cube at a time.

Pumpkin Seeds

Your cat can also eat pumpkin seeds. You can prepare them by roasting them in the oven for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Your cat can also eat the raw seeds. However, if you plan to store them, roasted seeds have a much longer shelf life than fresh seeds.

Is pumpkin good for cats?

Pumpkin is very good for cats. Its full of fiber and vitamins and minerals your cat needs to be healthy.

Fiber

The fiber in pumpkin is what makes it a great constipation remedy. Its also good for overall digestion. It can even help obese cats on a diet feel full.

Fiber helps absorb stomach acid, which can ease tummy problems, including diarrhea.It also helps move hairballs through your cats digestive tract.

Vitamins

Pumpkin is rich in vitamins, particularly A,C, and E. Vitamin A is essential for eye health. Vitamin C helps the immune system function properly. Vitamin E helps keep their skin and coat healthy, and speeds wound healing.

Cats on a well balanced diet should get enough of these vitamins through their regular food. However, the extra vitamins found in pumpkin can still be beneficial.

Zinc and Cucurbitacin

Zinc is another benefit of adding pumpkin to your cats diet. Its beneficial for the immune system. It also contributes to healthy skin and coat.

Cucurbitacin is a biochemical compound that is believed to be antiparasitic. If your cat is receiving parasite preventatives, they should prevent them from picking up parasites. However, pumpkin wont hurt as a second line of defense.

How to get my cat to eat pumpkin?

Youve decided that pumpkin would be good for your cat, and you want to incorporate it into their diet. Now the question is, how do you get your cat to eat it?

Add It to Their Food

Canned or pureed pumpkin can be added to your cats wet or dry food. You can mix it into their food or simply place it on top. Most cats enjoy the taste of pumpkin. In fact, pumpkin can even entice your kitty to eat their food.

Fresh Pumpkin

Fresh baked pumpkin makes an easy snack or treat. Simply give them one to two pieces of baked pumpkin, once or twice a day. It may become your cats favorite snack.

Frozen Pumpkin

If your cat loves cold treats on hot days, frozen pumpkin will do the trick. Freeze pumpkin puree in an ice tray. This gives you perfect individual serving size cubes. Give your cat a frozen cube as a treat.

You can also freeze fresh baked pumpkin. Give your cat a frozen piece and let them enjoy the cool feeling.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds provide the same benefits as the flesh of the pumpkin. If you want to roast the seeds, youll need to allow them to cool before serving. Fresh or roasted seeds can be added to your cats regular food.

You can also feed them to your cat individually as a crunchy treat.

Lastly, you can crush the roasted seeds with a coffee grinder or food processor. You can then add the powder to your cats regular food.

Can Cats Eat Pumpkin?

Has your kitty ever helped you make a pumpkin pie and taken a taste? Or how about sharing your pumpkin spice latte?

Pet parents often ask if its safe for their cat to eat pumpkin. Heres what you need to know about sharing this seasonal squash with your cat, from potential benefits to how to feed it safely.

Is Pumpkin Good for Cats?

Plain 100% pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) is safe for cats and can even be useful as a treatment for gastrointestinal issues. It contains several healthy ingredients, such as potassium; phosphorous; calcium; vitamins A, C, and K; and lots of fiber.

Keep in mind, however, that cats are obligate carnivores. This means that their systems are designed to process meats, so everything that isnt a meat product, such as pumpkin, should be fed sparingly.

You may sometimes see pumpkin added as an ingredient in commercial cat foods, and this is usually done for the fiber content the pumpkin adds to the diet. Although there are other healthy nutrients in pumpkin, theyre usually also found in other components of the food that are easier for them to digest.

Can a Cat Eat Pumpkin Seeds?

Although pumpkin seeds are not toxic to cats, they can become a choking hazard, especially when eaten quickly. If your cat eats too many, it could result in an intestinal obstruction.

If you do give your cat pumpkin seeds, they are best fed in small quantities with you close by. Do not add any salt or spices or cook or roast them in oil, which markedly increases the fat content.

It is fine to use seeds that are either in the shell or with the shell removed, but mashing or crushing the seeds is safest. They can then be sprinkled on top of canned cat food for your cat to enjoy.

Is Pumpkin Good for Constipated Cats?

Perhaps the most common reason veterinarians recommend pumpkin is for constipated cats. The water content combined with the fiber can often help ease constipation. Many cats will respond to 2-4 teaspoons of canned pumpkin added to canned cat food if they have a mild case of constipation.

Canned food is recommended for constipated kitties, as it adds more water into their system. This is augmented by the water and the fiber in the canned pumpkin. Many veterinarians will use the addition of canned pumpkin as part of the cornerstone treatment for constipation.

Is Pumpkin Good for Cats With Diarrhea?

Canned pumpkin serves double dutyit is sometimes used to treat cats with diarrhea as well as constipated cats! The fiber in the pumpkin can add bulk to the stool, which helps to relieve the loose stools of diarrhea. However, if you give your cat too much canned pumpkin, it will usually result in diarrhea.

If your kitty has diarrhea, consult your veterinarian before giving pumpkin. Most cases of diarrhea actually have a medical cause, and those are easiest to diagnose in the earlier stages. You dont want to treat the symptom and not investigate the cause.

After checking a stool sample and perhaps doing other tests, your veterinarian may recommend pumpkin as part of the treatment plan. Somewhere between 1-4 teaspoons of canned pumpkin will usually be recommended for diarrhea, depending on the severity of the symptoms, age and weight of your cat, and other factors your veterinarian might note. This is likely safe for both young and old cats that are otherwise healthy.

Can Cats Eat Pumpkin Pie?

Pumpkin pie and canned pumpkin pie filling both contain many spices, which are likely not healthy for your cat. Some of these spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice, can be considered mildly toxic and result in gastrointestinal upset.

A small lick of pumpkin pie filling will likely cause no harm, but if your cat eats more than this, call your veterinarian to determine if any additional action is needed.

How to Feed Your Cat Pumpkin Safely

If your kitty likes pumpkin and you would like to share, the best option is a small amount of cooked, plain pumpkin with no spices added. While it is sometimes best to cook your own so you know exactly whats in it, canned or pureed pumpkin is also safe as long as no other ingredients have been added.

It is safe to use either pie pumpkins or carving pumpkins, although most people think that pie pumpkins taste better. Who knows what cat taste-testers think? The canned pumpkin you get in the grocery store comes from pie pumpkins.

Some cats will eat pumpkin on its own, while others prefer to have it stirred into a small amount of canned cat foodabout 2-3 tablespoons. However your cat likes it, canned pumpkin can be a very valuable addition to your cats diet if they have gastrointestinal problems, especially mild chronic constipation.

Featured Image: iStockphoto.com/Bogdan Kurylo