Many diseases, both acute (short-term) and chronic, can lead to constipation in cats. Trying water bowls made out of other materials, like glass, ceramic, plastic, or metal Using a cat water fountain with flowing water that mimics a stream or river Always rule out medical issues first, especially when it comes to dehydration. Your cat might also be reacting to an issue with their water dish, such as stagnant or dirty water, or even the type of bowl. Take them to the vet to rule out any of these issues.

Your cat’s reluctance to drink might be related to an underlying health concern such as mobility issues, mouth pain, or digestive discomfort. Switching to a low-sided box that is easier to accessĬat constipation could also be caused by not drinking enough water. Moving it away from your cat’s food, water, and bed Moving it to a quiet location with no noises or activity that would be scary to your cat To help your constipated cat, examine your litter box and its surroundings, and consider: In these cases, your cat not wanting to go can quickly become not being able to go. Or the litter box could be associated with pain while attempting to poop, or with something that’s scary to a cat, like the washing machine buzzer going off. Sometimes cat constipation starts with a litter box issue: maybe the box isn’t cleaned frequently enough or isn’t easy to access. You should always see the vet within 24 hours to rule out health-related causes or underlying diseases. Little to no fecal production while attempting to poopĭecreased interest in interacting with familyĬats can become constipated for many reasons, from stressful situations to health issues. Symptoms that your cat is constipated include: The underlying cause could possibly be serious or deadly if untreated.

If your cat continues to be constipated, it can become obstipation (painful defecation) or even megacolon, which is the advanced stage of chronic cat constipation that is often nonresponsive to medical management.Īlways take your cat to the vet if they are straining in the litter box. This may mean hard stool large, uncomfortable pellets or no production of poop at all.Ĭat constipation is a short-term problem. Constipation is defined as infrequent or difficult defecation.

Cat pica treatment