Maybe invest in a one of the best pet water fountains for your fur friend – the sound and smell of the water is enticing. Offer them waterĬats 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. Giving supplements such as Zylkene and Solliquin or a calming pheromone such as Feliway can work wonders. 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. There could be an underlying environmental cause for constipation. Be sure you read up on changing cat food and how to make the transition safely if you are considering this. This is something to consider once the current issue has been resolved. It's not going to prove effective if the problem is a pressing one that needs immediate action. 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. In this case, it could make the problem worse and you need your cat to digest nutrients. Be wary of adding more fiber if your cat is already getting a lot, though. 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. You need to find a way of increasing the size and weight of a cat's stool and fiber does both of these things. 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. A quick fix here is to ensure your cat's litter box is placed in a pleasant place. 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. Keep a good idea on any potential displays of pain or strange behavior and check that they are eating.īut what home remedies can you try? Much depends on what you think the problem is but here are some suggestions: 1. 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. You can do this by keeping a diary and noting down any symptoms you spot each day. 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. If you believe your cat is constipated then you're going to want to do something to help. 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. Indeed, the condition tends to arise more in older cats although this could be generally down to a more sedentary lifestyle. 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. A lack of fluid or a diet with insufficient fiber are likely to cause a problem. You should also be aware of what a cat is consuming. 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. They may be reluctant to poop and hold it in for much longer than they should, for example. Holding poop or becoming stressed or depressed are causes too.Ĭats generally suffer constipation for much the same reasons. We can also get constipation if we sit or lie around for too long or exercise less than we should. In humans, constipation is usually caused by diet: a lack of fluids, fiber or a sudden change are generally to blame. You may not necessarily have to visit a vet just yet – duration and severity are good indicators. If you spot any signs such as these, then it's time to take some action. 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. Sometimes you end up seeing fecal fluid and it can look as if they are suffering from diarrhea. 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. At this stage, look out for signs of a tense abdomen, a hunched posture and a decreased appetite or maybe even vomiting. 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.
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