14 Symptoms Of Constipation In Cats

Most healthy cats poop every two or three days, producing well-formed, moist stools with some litter sticking to them. One of the key signs is the reduction in stool frequency, causing your feline friend to go longer than usual between bowel movements.

The reduction in fiber intake can lead to less stool being formed. The other would be dehydration, causing the stool to become hard, and release in small quantities.

Vomiting can occur from a sense of feeling full due to extra feces present in the digestive tract. It can also be caused by nausea from an upset stomach or abdominal pain. In severe cases, where constipation persists for several days, your cat may start vomiting as a sign.

These signs can every so often be related to constipation, despite the fact that they may not be directly associated. Cats experiencing constipation might also feel uncomfortable due to the incapacity to bypass stool effortlessly. This ache could make them more sensitive and irritable if they're dealt with in a manner that worsens their discomfort. 

They can sometimes be irritated or aggressive as a change in behavior due to pain caused by the hardening of stools. They become more irritable, restless, or even aggressive as a way to communicate their distress. If aggressive behavior is seen due to abdominal discomfort along with other signs of constipation, it is advisable to seek help from your vet.

Normally, a cat stool is well-formed, rich brown, and moist enough to get stuck into the litter. However, the harder and drier stools, which end up either inside or outside of the litter box due to difficulty in passing, may have your cat avoiding the litter box before finishing. 

The change in texture offers you a clear cue for constipation. The dry hard stools might be small and pellet-like due to the cat being constipated. These stools can be painful and difficult for your cat to pass, further contributing to strain and discomfort.

Abdominal pain is usually caused by the excess amount of stool, gas, and distension caused by constipation. Constipated cats will strain in an attempt to defecate resulting in this pain. Some may pass a small amount of liquid feces because of excess straining, causing an intestinal blockage.

Constipation is often uncomfortable and causes nausea, therefore the cats will choose not to eat to help relieve themselves or tell you they are not feeling well. When a cat is constipated, their colon becomes overloaded with feces causing discomfort and promoting fullness, leading to nausea, similar to how humans might feel when their stomachs are full.

Trying to excrete stool can be painful for a constipated cat due to the hardened poop. This pain can create a negative association with eating, leading the cat to avoid food to minimize the need for elimination, which can cause a decrease in appetite because of constipation.

Your cat shows pain, such as meowing, crying, or unusual behavior in or around the litter box while struggling to pass stool. They might meow, yowl, or cry in pain, expressing their distress during this difficult process.

Also, they might become withdrawn, less interested in playing or interacting, or even seem depressed. This behavior change indicates that the cat is not feeling well and is experiencing distress. This broad symptom encompasses various signs like vocalization while using the litter box, hunching due to abdominal pain, or a general sense of agitation.

A cat experiencing constipation might start to avoid the litter box altogether. This avoidance is caused due to the pain associated with excretion. Also, the difficulty of passing a hard stool can create an unfavorable connection with the litter box, leading them to avoid it.

Cats are careful creatures who prefer a clean litter box. You need to provide them with a clean litter box in a peaceful place, that can help make it more appealing to your cat. Also, you can consult a veterinarian to encourage the use of the litter box again to restrict constipation.

Hunched posture can be a sign of discomfort causing the stool to become more difficult to pass out than the usual ones. When a cat adopts a hunched posture, it typically arches its back and may tuck its hindquarters closer to its body, creating a compact shape, and potentially offering relief while pushing.

Even though it may not be the direct symptoms like hunched posture or straining in the litter box, it can be a sign of constipation in cats. When a cat is constipated, the hard stool in the colon causes abdominal discomfort, which may show signs of lethargy, where your feline friend appears tired, lacks interest in usual activities, and may even sleep more than usual. 

The lethargy might be a result of the cat saving energy due to the pain associated with constipation. Additionally, the constipated cats may also be less inclined to move around or play because of the pain, which may worsen with movement. They may search out quiet and private places to rest, away from disturbances.

When the cat vocalizes or cries out even as in the litter container, it could be a distressing signal for both the cat and its proprietor. This behavior suggests that the cat is experiencing discomfort or pain related to trying and excrete feces. 

Constipated cats often show a decrease in thirst or water intake. When a cat struggles to excrete stool, their body might be reabsorbing more water from the colon to make the feces even harder. This can lead to dehydration, which further worsens constipation as the body prioritizes essential functions over softening stools.

The cat feels less thirsty because their body is conserving water, but the dehydration makes it even harder to pass stool. If you notice a reduction in water consumption along with producing small, hard stools, or fewer litter box visits, constipation could be the culprit. Therefore, monitoring your cat's water intake alongside litter box habits is crucial.

The connection lies inside the soreness constipation brings because of the stress of beyond stool being painful, and the act itself can be associated with nausea. This discomfort prevents your cat from ingesting, mainly due to a decline in calorie consumption. Over time, this decreased food intake creates a calorie deficit. Then, the body starts to break down muscle and save fats for energy, leading to weight loss.

Mild constipation might not reason good sized weight loss, but continual constipation can result in an extra great decline. Additionally, the underlying purpose of constipation itself may also be contributing to weight loss.

If your cat is straining within the muddle box without generating stool, it's far from a clear sign that your pussycat buddy is laid low with constipation. Cats will regularly have an experience of urgency to try and have bowel motion consequently they'll have more frequent litter box visits than traditional.

The straining is due to the effort they are exerting to pass hardened feces due to blockage in the colon, leading to frequent visits. It is accompanied by vocalizations like yowling or crying, indicating discomfort and frustration.

Constipation can be an indication of a serious underlying health issue and might be making your cat more uncomfortable,, causing them severe pain. Various factors from lifestyle issues to more serious health conditions, can contribute to cat constipation. Here is a breakdown of these possible causes of constipation issues in cats:

Inadequate Water Intake

If a cat doesn't get enough water, their body can extract water from the stool making it hard and tough to skip inflicting soreness on the cats.  

Obesity

The added weight can put more pressure on the colon, making it harder for your pawsome pal to have regular bowel movements.

Lack Of Exercise

Cats who don't get enough physical activity can experience a slowdown in the passage of stool through their colon causing a constipated body. 

Physical activity promotes muscle movements within the intestines, which helps move food and waste material along efficiently. Without this regular movement, stools can become stagnant and dry, leading to constipation.

In some cases, prevention in cats is possible with home remedies available. Here are some of the ways that can ease your pet's uncomfortable build-up:

Dietary Changes

Constipation in cats can often be easily managed and prevented by changing the amount of dietary fiber quantity in their food. You can change to a high-fiber diet in canned food or add fiber to your diet with canned pumpkins or cereals.

Increase Water Consumption

Constipation symptoms can be prevented if you ensure that your cat is hydrated properly during the day. Though they are not good at drinking standing water, the best way to increase their water consumption is by feeding cats wet food.

Also, try leaving the tap open, use a water fountain, or place water bowls in several places around the house to help them drink more. 

Increase Exercise

Physical activity can promote intestinal movement, which helps alleviate constipation. Consider providing cat trees and toys and spending more time playing with them so they can have physical movement throughout the day which helps in the circulation of bowel movements making poop easy to pop out and maintain obesity.

Add More Litter Boxes

Cats can be very particular about their litter boxes. You should always have one extra litter box with different types of trays and litter to add too, helping your cat to choose its favorite.