Is Your Cat Constipated? Here's What You Can Do!

Your feline friend is no different from a human; it can suffer from similar health issues that humans deal with. For example they can also suffer form constipation. Feline constipation is a common problem that cat owners have to deal with. Although the problem isn't as serious as people think it to be, it can still influence your cat's behavior and mood in a big way. But before you plunge into the cure, you need to understand what is feline constipation in the real sense.

You cat is constipated if you see that its stool is too large or too hard to be passed. If you see your cat spending too much time in its litter box, then perhaps it is a sign of constipation. Normally, cats should poop every single day. Its poop should be brown, well-formed, and soft for it pass out easily. But it does not happen in the case of constipated felines.A constipated cat strains hard to defecate. A mildly constipated cat may cry while defecating and pass only a little amount of feces. However in severe cases of feline constipation, the cat may squat on the litter box for a considerable period of time, but passing nothing at times. Constipated cats attempt to defecate outside their litter box, or return to it very frequently. Such signs in cats should not go unnoticed.

The following are considered to be major reasons behind your cat becoming constipated:

• Dehydration
• Gastrointestinal motility issues
• Fracture of the hind limbs or pelvis, effected anal glands or arthritis
• Neurological or orthopedic issues
• Megacolon

The most common cause of feline constipation is insufficient fluid intake by cats, as they are naturally inclined to drink less water. The lack of water stresses the kidneys, as a result of which the stool turns hard, dry and painful to let out. Lack of exercise, colon blockage by foreign objects, or swallowing excess hair during grooming also contribute to feline constipation.

The good news is you can treat your cat's constipation without having to worry much. The following tips will help you treat the issue without painful vet treatments:

• Make a slow transition from dry to canned food, which provides a more appropriate diet.
• Add some of the canned food to your cat's water to increase its water intake. A moisture-rich diet helps in lubricating the colon.
• Some amount of psyllium fiber added to the diet can make a huge difference in your cat's defecation.
• Use a non-petroleum hairball remedy in each meal to allow the hair to easily pass through the gastrointestinal track.
• Exercise your cat regularly.
• Consider adding natural laxatives like aloe vera to your cat's diet