While constipation can feel like a small and minor inconvenience, it’s actually so much more than that. Normally, cats pass stool once every 24 to 36 hours. When there’s no defecation over this time, it’s usually a sign of constipation.
Constipation happens when the cat has difficulty passing stools or does so infrequently. This results in dry, hard stools that can accumulate in the colon. It can range from mild, occasional problems to severe blockages that require emergency treatment.
Over time, untreated constipation can stretch the colon, cause pain, and even lead to a condition called megacolon. But before that, let’s talk all about what constipation in cats is.
What Are the Causes of Constipation in Cats?
Constipation can come from different causes. This includes:
Diet
Cats who eat diets low in moisture or fiber are more likely to develop hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass. Dehydration from insufficient water intake makes this problem worse, especially in cats who eat mainly dry kibble.
Health Issues
Constipation can also manifest as one of the symptoms present in several health issues. This includes:
Kidney Disease. Chronic kidney disease leads to dehydration, which results in dry and hard stool.
Megacolon. A condition in which the large intestine becomes severely enlarged and weakened, causing difficulty passing stool.
Neurological Disorders. Damage or disease affecting nerves controlling the colon can slow or stop normal bowel movements.
Spinal or Pelvic Injuries. If your cat recently had some injuries in these areas, it may be the reason why they have difficulty passing stool.
Obstructions. Cat constipation can also be caused by foreign objects, tumors, or growths in the colon due to the obstruction they create.
Environmental Factors
Stressful situations may cause cats to delay using the litter box. This can be anywhere from moving to new places to meeting new pets. Also, a dirty litter box might be unappealing to cats. This can discourage them from defecating, leading to harder stools.
Lifestyle Factors
Older cats tend to be prone to constipation because their digestive systems slow down. Plus, they'll be more prone to health conditions, some of which have constipation or difficulty squatting as one of the symptoms.
Overweight cats will also be at risk. Since they have significantly less physical activity, intestinal movement will be slow. This leads to fewer bowel movements.
Cat Constipation Symptoms
When cats experience difficulty or infrequent stool passage, there may be some subtle signs. Here are the symptoms of cat constipation:
Straining in the litter box. A constipated cat will often stay and squat in the litter box for long periods of time, trying to pass stool. This repeated straining will mostly yield no results.
Vocalizing pain. Cats may yowl or cry when trying to defecate without success. They may also produce sounds that indicate pain and discomfort.
Small, hard, or dry stools. In constipated cats, their stools will be few, dry, or hard. In many cases, they will look as small as pebbles.
Gastrointestinal issues. In some cases, cats will feel nauseous and vomit. This also comes with loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
Arched posture. They’ll have an arched or hunched posture that looks tense and stiff.
Lethargy. Cats will look tired and weak, while some will choose to rest in corners where they can hide. This behavior shows that they are uncomfortable and stressed.
No bowel movement. If your cat has not had any bowel movement for more than 48 hours, then it’s an indicator of constipation.
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