Constipated cat

[Dogrunner]

Tink (aka "His Holiness" (that's another story) was so severely constipated (straining, crying) on New Year's Eve, I took him to the emergency vet. The 5th of July, same thing. I got home late and he was miserable, in pain, straining....back to the emergency vet. Both times he had to have multiple enema's. Probably the stress from the fireworks and he eats Hills Science Diet c/d (he once had a bladder infection) dry kibble--he will NOT eat wet food. He drinks well, and since the first episode, he hasn't had any bladder problems. Has anyone else had a cat with re-occuring constipation? What can I do so it doesn't happen again? Even though it was the first time in years I went out on New Years Eve, I'd just as soon not have to go there again this year. Suggestions? :054

[Baylee Golden]

Hi there, I had 2 cats with constipation problems and this is what my vet recommended:
1) Feed the cats moist food so they increase their water intake, which it sounds like your cat won't eat.
2) Try feeding the cat some pumpkin, which my cats wouldn't eat.
3) Add a small amount of pure psyllium to the food (you can get it at health food stores), which only works with wet food and even then my cat wouldn't eat it
4) Try Laxatone, which you can get over the counter. It didn't help my cats at all.
5) Get a prescription from your vet for lactulose which you can give by dropper to your cat daily or every other day depending on the extent of the problem (it works great!).
6) Get a complete work-up on your cat including blood tests to determine underlying reasons for the problem. Look into a feline specialist for the best help. My one cat was elderly and we determined he had kidney disease which was contributing to the problem. The other cat had a build-up of scar tissue from an old abdominal injury.
7) Consider changing the diet, which you should also discuss with your vet if there is a medical reason for the special diet you cat is on.

Good luck, constipation in cats can be deadly if it isn't managed.

[amy in ca]

One of my cats has a problem with crystals in his urine and will become "blocked." It has happened twice where he had to go to the vet to have a catheter. Each time, he was on Hill's S/D for a week and then switched to the C/D food. After the first time I was only feeding him the C/D and my female cat was getting a different food. He was sneaking enough of her food to have the 2nd episode. Since then, both cats are on c/d, but I do give my female cat some Wysong Uretic mixed in with the c/d. I believe my cat's problem is completely diet related so we make sure he doesn't get any commercially prepared foods but the c/d. He will occassionally get treats of canned tuna or cooked chicken, but I stay away from any of the pre-packaged kitty treats.

[Dogrunner]

Tink won't eat anything but his dry kibble (which makes pilling him such a joy), so I don't have to worry about his sneaking food. Someone told me to smear the hairball stuff on his paw once a week. I think I'll buy some pumpkin and try smearing that on his foot instead. Of course, when he sees me coming with something in my hand, he now tucks his paws under...... :laugh2

[amy in ca]

Wait a second. Are we talking constipated in the bowels or bladder? The hairball stuff is a laxative so would help with the bowels. The c/d diet you are feeding is meant for crystals which involves the urinary tract. If you are having problems with Tink's bowels, then the hairball laxative may help. We use a product called Petromalt which the cats actually like. One of my cats will lick it out of the tube.

[Dogrunner]

His holiness had a bladder infection (but no crystals) last year, so on my vet's recommendation (he's 4, male, and neutered so he's a bladder problem poster boy) he eats the c/d. No problems with his urinary tract since. His intestinal tract is what acts up now. Petromalt is the stuff I've been using but he doesn't like it. Sigh....so I've been smearing it on his paw when he's laying upside down in his cat rack--I get cat-cursed, but he does lick it off. I'm hoping to find something that works that he likes!