My Cat is Constipated! What do I do?
by Michelle
2022
Poop problems? We’ve been there. More fiber, less fiber, Miralax? AHHH! What do I do?? Cats, like people, can get constipated sometimes. It’s not always an emergency, but in some situations your cat may require a vet visit for an enema or medical treatment. If your cat is in distress, please seek veterinary care immediately. Constipation is more common in seniors, cats with chronic kidney disease, and some cats with IBD, but it can happen to any cat. Some common symptoms include:
● Jumping in and out of the litter box trying to poop
● Straining in the litter box
● Pooping on the floor, or outside of the litter box
● Crying in the litter box or after coming out of the litter box
● Vomiting in or around the litter box
● Producing “rabbit pellets” or small hard poops
● Small amounts of fresh blood/mucus in the stool, or white/dry stool
● Low appetite/bloating
Some of these symptoms can cross over with a urinary tract infection, a urinary blockage, or cystitis, so be sure to closely monitor your cat for signs of urinary distress, as that can be an emergency.
Raw fed cats do have smaller, more firm poop than cats eating kibble or canned food, and they poop less frequently (generally every 1-4 days). However, they should still be producing nice firm logs and pooping regularly.
So, what is constipation?
Cornell refers to constipation in cats as the “infrequent or difficult emission of hard, dry fecal matter,” or essentially, your cat is having a hard time pooping, or going too many days between bowel movements. Traditional approaches to treating constipation often involve osmotic laxatives (that increase water content in the colon) like Miralax or Lactulose and/or a GI motility drug, Cisapride. While these medications may be necessary in certain circumstances, many cats simply need more fat and/or fiber in their diet.
Okay, what now?
Pumpkin, Miralax? No. Pumpkin is a weak fiber choice that typically requires a lot of pumpkin be added to the diet to achieve results. It’s also not a biologically appropriate choice for our obligate carnivores. Worse, Miralax negatively alters the microbiome, both long and short term. Our goal is to treat the root issue, not just find “what works.” Sometimes the problem is mechanical / technical, simply a function of the construction of the diet. Other times, it is related to function of the GI system. Finally, it may be unrelated to diet or GI function. Thus it is so important to evaluate stool consistency and how often your cat is pooping in order to determine what next steps to take.
If your cat is suffering from constipation, here are 4 things to need to first evaluate:
1. Dehydration - Dehydration is a major factor contributing to constipation, particularly in cats with chronic kidney disease. If a cat isn’t properly hydrated the body will pull water from the colon and stools will be dry, making them harder to pass. Evaluate hydration status with your veterinarian and discuss fluid therapy, if necessary. Be sure your cat is getting enough hydration by feeding a balanced raw or cooked moisture rich diet, and take steps to encourage drinking (See 15 Tips to Increase Your Cat’s Water Intake).
2. Diet - Diets that are dehydrating (kibble), too high in bone content (minerals), or that have too little fat can contribute to constipation. Evaluate your cats diet to ensure you aren’t 2. feeding too much bone and are providing sufficient fat. 10% bone may be too much for some cats, and many IBD cats and seniors should be eating a raw diet that uses eggshell calcium in place of bone (like EZComplete or Alnutrin with Eggshell premixes).
3. GI inflammation – Have a good work up with your veterinarian to ensure there aren’t any major medical issues contributing to the constipation. Uncontrolled GI inflammation can slow motility contributing to constipation. (Please note, GI inflammation usually can’t be seen in blood work, but is identified via ultrasound imaging).
4. Arthritis – Senior cats with arthritis may have issues squatting or maintaining the position to poop comfortably. The pain can cause them to poop infrequently, thus stool dries out and becomes even harder to pass. Be sure you have a large, low sided box that is easy for your senior to get in and out. Discuss arthritis treatment options with your veterinarian including Adequan injections, gabapentin for pain, or omegas 3s like krill oil and GLM.
Fiber or Fat?
Fat improves transit time and adds moisture to the stool. If your cat has stool that appears really dry, your first step should be to increase fat. Fat options include increasing the fat content of your homemade food using fattier cuts of meat, or including a bit of duck or pork fat or some (at most half) of the skin from chicken or turkey thighs. Remember, increasing fat decreases protein, so don’t add on too much fat. You can also use EZ yolk (per instructions), the rendered fats as mentioned, or MCT oil for additional fat. Yolk is a fantastic addition as it also aids in moving excess hair through the digestive tract (that can also contribute to constipation) and improving GI motility. If you have increased fat and seen an improvement but not a resolution, it’s time to consider fiber.
Which fiber do I choose?
Water soluble and insoluble fibers work differently. Soluble fibers are fermentable, dissolve in water, and absorb or retain water during digestion keeping stool moist. They “provide substrates for short chain fatty acid production by microflora in the large bowel,” and increase “digesta viscosity, decreased gastric emptying, increased satiety, and promotion of gut commensal bacteria growth.”
Insoluble fibers don’t break down during digestion and increase stool bulk. They “improve bowel health by promoting laxation, reducing transit time and increasing stool weight.”
For insoluble fiber we recommend Coco Therapy Hairball Plus which is 97/7% insoluble/soluble. In cats that have issues with small malformed stool / “rabbit pellets,” pencil-thin stools or cats that often have to go back to the box multiple times just to produce one small rock stool, insoluble fiber is the fiber of first choice. Not only is it a good insoluble fiber, but coconut flakes have other medical benefits, including medium chain triglycerides, making insoluble fiber from coconut meat a great starting place.
For a mix of both fibers, psyllium is popular with its 70/30% soluble/insoluble fiber. Psyllium doesn’t ferment in the gut, and “retains its water-holding capacity throughout the large bowel.” If your cat is suffering from hard dry stools, psyllium might be a good choice. If you see an improvement in stool quality and less bowel movement distress with the addition of insoluble fiber – but not complete resolution, it may be that psyllium with its fiber mix is the better choice for your kitty.
Kibow Fortis is a functional and prebiotic fiber supplement made for humans with kidney disease. The company also makes Azdoyl, a popular probiotic for cats with kidney disease. Kibow is a combo of beta-glucans, prebiotic soluble and insoluble fibers. Beta-glucans have “strong immunostimulating effects in a wide variety of species” and, “numerous animal and human studies have shown remarkable activity against a wide variety of tumors.” Kibow can help speed up motility, so this is a good option if your cat is going too long between poops. Most raw fed cats should poop every 2-4 days. If your cat is going longer than that, or appears bloated, you might try adding on Kibow. You need to purchase the tablets (the powder contains flavoring that isn’t safe for cats). Throw the tablets into the blender or food processor to make a powder. Dosing is 1/32-1/16 tsp 2x a day, with food. You can mix this with your cats daily probiotic supplement, like Visbiome and it can also be mixed with Adored Beast Healthy Gut. For my own senior cat with constipation issues, a combo of Coco Therapy and Kibow was the most effective.
What about blood and/or mucus in the stool?
Small amounts of fresh blood or mucus is generally just a sign of irritation in the colon that often accompanies straining. Soothing supplements like slippery elm bark powder, or Adored Beast Gut Soothe can help calm that irritation. If your cat has a significant amount of blood in their stool, or has black tarry stool, that’s a sign of a GI bleed and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Final Thoughts
Many cats may need a combination of increased fat, diet change, and/or both soluble and insoluble fibers. You can use a combination of the fibers and fat options listed above, but it will be trial and error to see what will work best for your cat. We always recommend you start very low with just one supplement at a time and slowly work up to find the right effective dosage for your cat.
2022
Poop problems? We’ve been there. More fiber, less fiber, Miralax? AHHH! What do I do?? Cats, like people, can get constipated sometimes. It’s not always an emergency, but in some situations your cat may require a vet visit for an enema or medical treatment. If your cat is in distress, please seek veterinary care immediately. Constipation is more common in seniors, cats with chronic kidney disease, and some cats with IBD, but it can happen to any cat. Some common symptoms include:
● Jumping in and out of the litter box trying to poop
● Straining in the litter box
● Pooping on the floor, or outside of the litter box
● Crying in the litter box or after coming out of the litter box
● Vomiting in or around the litter box
● Producing “rabbit pellets” or small hard poops
● Small amounts of fresh blood/mucus in the stool, or white/dry stool
● Low appetite/bloating
Some of these symptoms can cross over with a urinary tract infection, a urinary blockage, or cystitis, so be sure to closely monitor your cat for signs of urinary distress, as that can be an emergency.
Raw fed cats do have smaller, more firm poop than cats eating kibble or canned food, and they poop less frequently (generally every 1-4 days). However, they should still be producing nice firm logs and pooping regularly.
So, what is constipation?
Cornell refers to constipation in cats as the “infrequent or difficult emission of hard, dry fecal matter,” or essentially, your cat is having a hard time pooping, or going too many days between bowel movements. Traditional approaches to treating constipation often involve osmotic laxatives (that increase water content in the colon) like Miralax or Lactulose and/or a GI motility drug, Cisapride. While these medications may be necessary in certain circumstances, many cats simply need more fat and/or fiber in their diet.
Okay, what now?
Pumpkin, Miralax? No. Pumpkin is a weak fiber choice that typically requires a lot of pumpkin be added to the diet to achieve results. It’s also not a biologically appropriate choice for our obligate carnivores. Worse, Miralax negatively alters the microbiome, both long and short term. Our goal is to treat the root issue, not just find “what works.” Sometimes the problem is mechanical / technical, simply a function of the construction of the diet. Other times, it is related to function of the GI system. Finally, it may be unrelated to diet or GI function. Thus it is so important to evaluate stool consistency and how often your cat is pooping in order to determine what next steps to take.
If your cat is suffering from constipation, here are 4 things to need to first evaluate:
1. Dehydration - Dehydration is a major factor contributing to constipation, particularly in cats with chronic kidney disease. If a cat isn’t properly hydrated the body will pull water from the colon and stools will be dry, making them harder to pass. Evaluate hydration status with your veterinarian and discuss fluid therapy, if necessary. Be sure your cat is getting enough hydration by feeding a balanced raw or cooked moisture rich diet, and take steps to encourage drinking (See 15 Tips to Increase Your Cat’s Water Intake).
2. Diet - Diets that are dehydrating (kibble), too high in bone content (minerals), or that have too little fat can contribute to constipation. Evaluate your cats diet to ensure you aren’t 2. feeding too much bone and are providing sufficient fat. 10% bone may be too much for some cats, and many IBD cats and seniors should be eating a raw diet that uses eggshell calcium in place of bone (like EZComplete or Alnutrin with Eggshell premixes).
3. GI inflammation – Have a good work up with your veterinarian to ensure there aren’t any major medical issues contributing to the constipation. Uncontrolled GI inflammation can slow motility contributing to constipation. (Please note, GI inflammation usually can’t be seen in blood work, but is identified via ultrasound imaging).
4. Arthritis – Senior cats with arthritis may have issues squatting or maintaining the position to poop comfortably. The pain can cause them to poop infrequently, thus stool dries out and becomes even harder to pass. Be sure you have a large, low sided box that is easy for your senior to get in and out. Discuss arthritis treatment options with your veterinarian including Adequan injections, gabapentin for pain, or omegas 3s like krill oil and GLM.
Fiber or Fat?
Fat improves transit time and adds moisture to the stool. If your cat has stool that appears really dry, your first step should be to increase fat. Fat options include increasing the fat content of your homemade food using fattier cuts of meat, or including a bit of duck or pork fat or some (at most half) of the skin from chicken or turkey thighs. Remember, increasing fat decreases protein, so don’t add on too much fat. You can also use EZ yolk (per instructions), the rendered fats as mentioned, or MCT oil for additional fat. Yolk is a fantastic addition as it also aids in moving excess hair through the digestive tract (that can also contribute to constipation) and improving GI motility. If you have increased fat and seen an improvement but not a resolution, it’s time to consider fiber.
Which fiber do I choose?
Water soluble and insoluble fibers work differently. Soluble fibers are fermentable, dissolve in water, and absorb or retain water during digestion keeping stool moist. They “provide substrates for short chain fatty acid production by microflora in the large bowel,” and increase “digesta viscosity, decreased gastric emptying, increased satiety, and promotion of gut commensal bacteria growth.”
Insoluble fibers don’t break down during digestion and increase stool bulk. They “improve bowel health by promoting laxation, reducing transit time and increasing stool weight.”
For insoluble fiber we recommend Coco Therapy Hairball Plus which is 97/7% insoluble/soluble. In cats that have issues with small malformed stool / “rabbit pellets,” pencil-thin stools or cats that often have to go back to the box multiple times just to produce one small rock stool, insoluble fiber is the fiber of first choice. Not only is it a good insoluble fiber, but coconut flakes have other medical benefits, including medium chain triglycerides, making insoluble fiber from coconut meat a great starting place.
For a mix of both fibers, psyllium is popular with its 70/30% soluble/insoluble fiber. Psyllium doesn’t ferment in the gut, and “retains its water-holding capacity throughout the large bowel.” If your cat is suffering from hard dry stools, psyllium might be a good choice. If you see an improvement in stool quality and less bowel movement distress with the addition of insoluble fiber – but not complete resolution, it may be that psyllium with its fiber mix is the better choice for your kitty.
Kibow Fortis is a functional and prebiotic fiber supplement made for humans with kidney disease. The company also makes Azdoyl, a popular probiotic for cats with kidney disease. Kibow is a combo of beta-glucans, prebiotic soluble and insoluble fibers. Beta-glucans have “strong immunostimulating effects in a wide variety of species” and, “numerous animal and human studies have shown remarkable activity against a wide variety of tumors.” Kibow can help speed up motility, so this is a good option if your cat is going too long between poops. Most raw fed cats should poop every 2-4 days. If your cat is going longer than that, or appears bloated, you might try adding on Kibow. You need to purchase the tablets (the powder contains flavoring that isn’t safe for cats). Throw the tablets into the blender or food processor to make a powder. Dosing is 1/32-1/16 tsp 2x a day, with food. You can mix this with your cats daily probiotic supplement, like Visbiome and it can also be mixed with Adored Beast Healthy Gut. For my own senior cat with constipation issues, a combo of Coco Therapy and Kibow was the most effective.
What about blood and/or mucus in the stool?
Small amounts of fresh blood or mucus is generally just a sign of irritation in the colon that often accompanies straining. Soothing supplements like slippery elm bark powder, or Adored Beast Gut Soothe can help calm that irritation. If your cat has a significant amount of blood in their stool, or has black tarry stool, that’s a sign of a GI bleed and you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Final Thoughts
Many cats may need a combination of increased fat, diet change, and/or both soluble and insoluble fibers. You can use a combination of the fibers and fat options listed above, but it will be trial and error to see what will work best for your cat. We always recommend you start very low with just one supplement at a time and slowly work up to find the right effective dosage for your cat.