Feline Constipation — 4 Important Issues
Among house cats, feline constipation is fairly common. Usually, hairballs are at fault, but other physical and psychological conditions may be the cause. Litter box aversion, kidney disease, and other physical and psychological causes may be a factor.
Too much hair in the gut, or a recent change in diet can cause a temporary constipation issue. For the average cat, a little bout of constipation every now and then is normal.
At higher risk are elderly cats, and those with other health problems, including pre-existing bowel or kidney problems. In any case, you’ll want to be alert to a few warnings and issues concerning this condition.
Issues and warnings concerning feline constipation:
1. Never give human preparations to your cat — Preparations made for people may be harmful or fatal when given to cats. You should never give a remedy designed for humans to your cat unless recommended by a cat health professional. Talk to your veterinarian first to make sure it’s cat safe.
2. Home preparations — Check with your veterinarian before attempting a home remedy. I’ve seen some people recommending mineral oil as a home remedy, but this is not advisable. Mineral oil is easily inhaled into the respiratory tract, and never breaks down in body. This may cause long term problems for your cat.
3. Enemas — Enemas are sometimes used to relieve constipation, but you should probably not attempt this yourself. It’s highly unlikely that your cat will be cooperative during the process. You may end up with scratches, bites, and it’s possible that your cat will become afraid of you. If you do decide to give your cat an enema, make sure that you use one that has been recommended by your veterinarian so you’re sure it’s not harmful to cats.
4. Chronic feline constipation — With long term constipation, it’s possible that other more serious underlying medical issues exist. Some cats may develop a condition known as megacolon where the colon swells with stool that size of the stool in the large intestine grows too large for it to leave the body. Sometimes pelvic injury can be a contributing factor in these situations. You should have a conversation with your veterinarian about the potential risks and issues.
If your cat is constipated for an extended period, you’ll want to work with your veterinarian to resolve the problem.
