Feline constipation is common condition. It is characterized by your cat’s inability or difficulty in passing a bowel movement. It can affect cats of any age, but is especially common in older cats.

Causes

Although feline constipation can occur naturally, it is usually brought on by certain factors. One of the most common is dehydration since lack of water while cause your cat’s stool to harden and become more difficult to pass. Your cat’s diet can also bring about a case of feline constipation. Fatty or salty foods, bones, or hair can all lead to the condition. Various other causes include lack of exercise, diseases, and infections in the anal area.

Symptoms

When your cat suffers from feline constipation, he will start to spend more time in his litter box due to his inability to pass a stool. If he does pass a stool, you may notice a slight amount of blood in it. Also, loss of appetite is one of the symptoms of feline constipation because your cat will usually have an upset stomach. He may also become less active than normal.

Diagnosis

Before the veterinarian gives a definite diagnosis of feline constipation, he will perform blood and urine tests. This is done to rule out other diseases that may be causing the condition. An x-ray also proves useful to see if there is a foreign object blocking the colon. Feline constipation can also cause damage to your cat’s colon, so the veterinarian must determine if there has been damage done.

Treatment

If your cat has been diagnosed with feline constipation, the first method of treatment usually involves intravenous hydration. This helps to restore the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body. The veterinarian may also administer enemas, laxatives, or cathartics. Some cats with feline constipation will have to be administered anesthesia so that hardened stool can physically be removed from the cat’s colon.

Prevention

There are a few things you can do to prevent feline constipation. This includes grooming your cat regularly. This helps to remove dead hair from his coat so that he doesn’t ingest it while grooming himself. Since cat’s are so picky about their litter boxes, you should make sure the box is very clean so that your cat will use it. You can also help prevent feline constipation by supplementing your cat’s food with metamucil or bran.