Safe, Natural “Hacks” To Cure Your Constipated Cat

Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems cats pick up. Felines depend a lot on the water when it comes to their diet, but while they are naturally good drinkers, certain aspects about their eating lifestyle can get in the way of moving things smoothly now and then.

Did you know why cats love mice so much? It’s because this type of food provides the right balance of protein, water (mice are made of 70 percent water), and fiber that felines require. The thing is, domestic cats are not always provided the same room to hunt for them. This is a common type of situation which may lead to constipation, especially when pet owners feed them mostly dry cat food instead.

Constipation happens when felines get no more than 10 and 12 percent moisture in their diets. This leads their kidneys to work harder, which, in turn, makes their stool or any excrement to go dry and hard to pass. Ingestion of foreign bodies like fur can make this worse because it slows down the movement of excrement in the colon of your pet.

How do you know when your cat is suffering from constipation?

Most cats pass stool at least once a day. One tell-tale sign of constipation is when your cat has not passed anything for more than two days. You should also pay attention to their excrement. If their stool is hard, thin, or smaller than usual, then there is a high chance that they are suffering from constipation.

Your pet might also show some changes in their behavior. Cats are easily stressed creatures, but if you’ve noticed them mewling more than normal, then that means they’re going through discomfort. Also, pay close attention to the way they act around their cat litter. If you notice them going to it a couple of times and leaving without pooping, then it might be because they’ve been wanting to release but are not able to.

The good thing is that most constipation in cats are mild and can be easily cured at home. Veterinarians can perform enemas or surgeries on cats, but these methods are usually reserved for severe cases only. If your vet has given you the green light in using milder cures first, then you can try the following solutions below to help your little buddy.

Boost their water intake.

Cats, by nature, are hunters. They’re restless creatures, which means that while they may have their favorite water bowls, they also prefer exploring other places for their food and water. One good way to increase the water intake of your pet is by introducing other water sources to them. You can add one or two more water bowls or even give them extra hydration in other ways like ice cubes flavored with tuna juice. You can also switch their regular dry food to wet canned food instead.

Add fiber into their diets.

Just like how fiber can help things move smoothly for us humans, introducing more fiber into your cat’s diet can also help soften their stool. Wheat bran is a good natural source of fiber as well as canned pumpkin, which you can easily mix into their regular food. Over-the-counter products like the Metamucil (psyllium) can also help.

Give them laxatives.

This you have to do carefully, but it can be quite effective as long as you consult with your vet first. Ginger, when given in small amounts, can help restart your cat’s digestive track again. The same also goes for licorice which is a natural laxative. The latter can be given at night or when your pet is needing instant relief, though you do have to ask your vet about it first since it should be measured depending on your cat’s weight. Some also recommend using no more than half a teaspoon of aloe vera juice (NOTE: it can cause diarrhea when used too much) and olive oil which has phenolic compounds and terpenic acids that help the liver process waste better.

Slowly introduce lifestyle changes to your pet.

One of the best ways to help your cat deal with constipation is to help their body block it better in the first place. Besides the lack of hydration, minimal exercise can also be a cause of constipation. Playing with your cat more and urging them to be more active can help a lot because it triggers peristalsis or better muscle contractions that can help stool and other excrements to move better through their colon.

Moreover, you can also make some tweaks on the food they consume. Large pieces of food (like bones) are hard to digest and can make things move slower in their digestive tract, for example. Even the amount of food you give them should also be monitored—overweight and inactive cats are more prone to constipation because they don’t do enough activities that make their internal system run smoothly.

When it comes to hairballs, you can, again, prevent your pet from doing the habit too much by keeping them distracted. Buy them toys they can play with. Even as simple as brushing their coat regularly can help prevent them from ingesting hairballs that can otherwise block their digestive tract.

What happens if you let your cat’s constipation get out of hand?

If these natural remedies don’t work, then it is time that you hand over things to your vet. While there are enema solutions (one of the most common solutions veterinarians use to address constipation), that are available over-the-counter, it is best to leave the act of administering them to a professional to make sure that your pet gets it the right way. In highly severe cases like obstipation—which happens when your pet becomes highly incapable of clearing masses of hard feces stuck in their colon—, your vet may consider other procedures like surgery.

The bottom line: make sure that your pet adopts a healthy lifestyle! Doing simple tweaks in their diet and physical activities, in the long run, can help protect them from discomfort like constipation.

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