Constipation is a fairly common problem in cats, although not in all cats. As in people, some cats have more difficulty than others in going to the bathroom. It is important to identify the cause of your cat’s failure to poop and seek a remedy. If the situation lasts several days or is repeated often, it is best to go to your veterinarian for an examination. In this article we are going to tell you the possible reasons why a cat stops going to the bathroom, as well as ways to treat and prevent it.
Why doesn’t my cat poop?
Cats use their litter box daily, both for urination and defecation. If you check and clean the litter box every day, you will be able to see if there is any change in his routine in terms of the amount and frequency with which he does his needs. If your cat has not pooped for more than two days, he is probably constipated. If there are poops but they are very hard and very dry, this is also a symptom of constipation.
Constipation can cause health problems for our feline, such as intestinal obstructions.
Causes of my cat not pooping
Here are some of the most common reasons why your cat may become constipated and not poop:
- Drinking little water or being dehydrated
- Your diet does not provide you with enough fiber.
- Has accumulation of hairballs
- Ingested meat bones, a foreign object or foreign body
- Overweight, sedentary and not exercising
- Pain in the back legs, hips or lumbar spine
- Renal problems
- Digestive problems
- Intestinal obstructions
Another reason a cat doesn’t poop is stress. Cats are very easily stressed by changes that may seem insignificant to us. For example, changing the type of litter, the litter tray or simply putting it in a different place.
Symptoms of a constipated cat
- Spends a lot of time in the litter tray
- Tries to poop but can’t
- Meows inside the sandbox
- Hard, dry stools
- Stools with blood or mucus
- Abdominal pain
- Less desire to eat
- Vomiting
- It is declining
Prevention: how to prevent your cat from getting strangled?
These points favor a good transit for your cat to go to the bathroom normally:
- Fresh, clean water available
- Motivate them to drink more with cat fountains
- Include wet food in their diet for extra fluids.
- Give him malt and brush him to avoid hairballs.
- Provide a high quality diet rich in fiber.
- Avoiding obesity and promoting exercise
- Place your litter tray in a quiet and private area.
- Remove their stool every day and always keep the sand clean.
Treatment: what do I do if my cat does not poop?
NEVER give him laxatives or human medications to help him go to the bathroom as they can be very dangerous, even toxic, to his health.
If the problem is not serious, sometimes it is enough to change his diet: provide him with more fiber, increase his water intake and give him malt, which has a natural laxative effect. For punctual moments, we can also pour ½ tablespoon of olive oil in his food, which acts as a lubricant helping the food to circulate better and avoiding the accumulation of feces in the intestine; the oil should not be used for more than a week.
Also rule out that the problem is not the type of sand or its tray. If your cat does not improve and has not pooped for more than three days, take him to the veterinarian for tests to find out why.