So Your Cat Is Constipated
First off I have to say, if your cat is lethargic or throwing up more than the occasional furball, it’s too late for home remedies. Get him to the vet NOW. The condition is serious and could be fatal for your feline.
Now on to the meat of the matter!!!
If you notice your pet straining or haven’t found any “tootsie rolls” in the litter box for a day or two then you need to take matters in hand. There are a number of things you can do that will usually remedy the situation before the need for costly vet visits.
1. The speediest but temporary resolution is probably a few doses of over-the-counter kitty laxative such as Laxatone or Petromalt. Promoted as hairball remedies they are flavored petroleum-based gels that act as a lubricant when fed to your feline to make passage of the obstruction easier. A cheaper solution is plain old Vaseline (about ½ teaspoon twice a day). If your cat won’t lick these remedies off a spoon, try mixing them with some wet food or smear the gel on his mouth or paws.
Do NOT use this remedy for more than a few days at a time as petroleum can cause a deficiency of the fat-soluble Vitamins A, D and E. Or try Vetbasis, which is a non-petroleum formula that I have found works fine as a long-term preventative but for quick relief falls short of the mark.
2. Open a can of pumpkin. I have a couple of friends who swear by this and routinely add a teaspoon of pumpkin to their cats’ food. The crux of this cure is that you’re increasing the cat’s fiber intake. Fiber absorbs water, which in turn creates looser, bulkier stools that move more readily through the gastrointestinal tract. Other alternatives are bran or psyllium (Metamucil or Benefiber) but don’t overdo it or you’re likely to cause kitty to have uncomfortable gas pains.
3. Water is very important. Cats like running water. I’ve been told that this is because it’s more oxygenated but I sometimes suspect that it’s just because they’re cats – you know, finicky! To help ensure sufficient liquid intake for my nine “kids” I feed wet food twice a day (often with extra water added) in addition to their dry diet. A water fountain also seems to work well, with plenty of choices on the market.
4. An easy option is to supplement your pet’s diet with food that’s engineered to control hairballs by, again, increasing the amount of fiber. These days there are many brands of hairball food available, including organic and such things as Purrfectly Natural cat treats. I don’t recommend daily intake of these foods, however, as you may have a cat like my Taz who will gorge herself on it and then have the opposite problem to the one discussed here.
5. Try a little cat grass. If your cat is an “outsider” you’ve probably noticed him chewing the cud, so to speak. Eating vegetation is his way of trying to increase his fiber naturally. For indoor use you can buy cat grass – usually barley, oat, rye, wheat, and/or flax. Here’s a tip, though, it’s generally cheaper to buy at the health food store than a pet store. Or, if you’re really cheap like me, buy a flat of grass (my cats prefer zoysia or Bermuda), plant it in several smaller pots (don’t leave the full flat down – it will look like a cat box to your feline) and distribute around the house.
6. Brush your cat. This will really help minimize the hairballs (the number one cause of constipation, if you hadn’t figured that out by now). It also gives you an opportunity to check for fleas and other parasites and most cats simply love it.
7. De-stress your cat’s environment. It doesn’t take much to cause anxiety in many cats, which in turn can lead to problems such as constipation. So look for stressors in your kitty’s lifestyle. Have you changed litter? Brought a new pet into the household? Re-arranged the furniture? Introduce changes gradually.
You can also be more pro-active in creating a calming atmosphere for your furry friend with music selections (mine are also fond of Mozart), homeopathic remedies like Bach Rescue Remedy or try essential oils such as Young Living’s Peace and Calming in an aromatherapy diffuser.
There are also commercial products like Feliway Comfort Zone Plug-Ins, which claim to provide calming therapy by diffusing a natural substance that mimics a cat’s facial pheromones to calm cats in stressful environments. I must say, though, that I have had minimal success with these.
8. Slippery Elm. This herb is considered very safe and non-toxic to cats. (Please note; It can be very dangerous to give herbs to pets, especially cats. Do NOT give herbs to your pet without consulting a properly accredited medical practitioner). Slippery Elm acts directly in the gastro-intestinal tract by lubricating the mucus membrane lining. Its high fiber content helps normalize intestinal action and can be used to relieve both diarrhea and constipation. Mix about 1/4 teaspoon of Slippery Elm bark powder with cold water for every 10 pounds of body weight.
Just a final word of caution. Commercial products designed to relieve humans of their sluggishness can be highly toxic and very dangerous to your pet and must never be used.
So, here’s hoping your cat has many moving moments in the years to come.
