If your pet suffers from cat constipation, medical bills for veterinary treatments can stack up. If you need to administer holistic treatments (caring for your cat in in all matters of lifestyle) for home care, there are lots of options for an owner concerned about the cat's health.
Symptoms of Cat Constipation
The most noticeable symptom of constipation is a cat's frequent and unsuccessful trips to the litter box. Most cats have one or two bowel movements a day, so if your cat is visiting the box more than that, he may have a problem passing feces.
This is misdiagnosed by many pet owners as a symptom of a bladder infection, as the owner is most likely not aware of the cat's activity in the litter box. Other common symptoms of constipation include straining in the litter box, a bloated stomach, and hard, dry stool.
Causes of Cat Digestive Problems
Identifying the cause of your cat's constipation is one of the first steps in treating your animal. Older cats are prone to suffering from constipation, especially after the cat becomes geriatric, around 8 year old.
A lethargic cat also is affected frequently, as well as overweight cats, and those with poor diet and hydration. Many cats that groom frequently are plagued by obstructions caused by buildup of hair in the digestive system.
Get Your Cat Plenty of Exercise
Some bowel impactions occur as a result of a lack of exercise. Try to incorporate play in your cat's routine in order to improve the health of the colon.
Use Laxatives Not Containing Mineral Oil
Cat laxatives help significantly with constipation related to hairball accumulation. Laxatives are made of oils that help to lubricate your cat's digestive system, which assists in the passing of the bowel movement.
You can find laxatives made from holistic ingredients at most pet supply stores. Apply the paste to your cat's paws, and she will lick it off, ingesting the medication. Avoid laxatives made with mineral oil, as the flavorless oil can be inhaled, causing aspiration pneumonia. Try to use laxatives made with petroleum instead, as this is safer for your cat.
Carbohydrates Difficult for Cats to Digest
Cat digestive systems are not designed to break down carbohydrates, as the cat's diet in the wild would be made up of uncooked meat and occasionally vegetables. If diet is a problem for your cat, wet food can help to solve the issue. Many cats fed only on dry food do not get the fiber they need to maintain healthy bowel function.
Adding a teaspoon of canned pumpkin adds fiber and water to your cat's diet, which helps keep a cat hydrated. For some cats, providing water in every room of the house might be enough. Mild cases of constipation are caused by a lack of hydration in your cat's diet.
Making a lasting change from normal food to low residue diets can minimize the amount of stool produced by using ingredients with high bio-availability, which are very digestible in your cat's system. Most homemade diets are low-residue.