How to help a constipated cat

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Most cats poop at least once a day. A cat that goes more than 48 hours without pooping, or passes small, hard, dry stools, may be constipated. It's especially common in older cats, and in most cases the fix starts with getting more water into your cat.

First: is it really constipation?

A cat straining in the litter box and producing little or no urine is an emergency, especially a male cat. A urinary blockage looks very similar to constipation and can be fatal within a day or two. If you can't tell whether your cat is trying to poop or pee, call your vet right away.

A quick way to check: look for wet clumps in the litter. If your cat is visiting the box often and there are no new urine clumps, or only tiny ones, treat it as an emergency.

Signs of constipation

• Straining, or spending a long time in the litter box
• Small, hard, dry stools, or none at all
• Crying or discomfort when trying to go
• Stools left outside the box (your cat may be linking the box with pain)
• Less appetite, vomiting or lethargy in more severe cases
• A hunched posture or a tender belly

Common causes

• Not drinking enough. Cats on dry food only are at higher risk.
• Swallowed hair (see our guide to hairballs)
• Not enough exercise, or being overweight
• Pain, such as arthritis making it hard to squat or climb into the box
• A dirty box, or a box in a stressful spot, so the cat holds it in
• Underlying illness, like kidney disease, diabetes or megacolon (a stretched, weak large bowel)

Gentle ways to help at home

For a mild case in an otherwise well cat:

1. More water. Switch some or all meals to wet food, add a little water to meals, and try a water fountain. This makes the biggest difference.
2. More fiber. A high-fiber or gut-health food can help. Make changes gradually over 7 to 10 days.
3. More movement. Play sessions with wand toys get the gut moving too.
4. Make the litter box easy. Keep it scooped, use a box with a low entrance for older or arthritic cats, and put it somewhere quiet. Have one more box than you have cats.
5. Brush regularly to cut down on swallowed hair.
6. Keep a note of when your cat last pooped and what it looked like, so you can tell your vet.

Don't

• Give human laxatives, stool softeners or enemas. Some human enemas (phosphate types, like Fleet) are toxic to cats.
• Give oil by mouth. Cats can inhale it into their lungs.
• Try to remove stool yourself, beyond gently cleaning the fur around your cat's bottom.

See a vet if

• No stool for 48 to 72 hours
• Your cat is vomiting, not eating, or seems unwell
• There's blood, or obvious pain
• Constipation keeps coming back

Your vet can give safe laxatives, an enema under supervision, or fluids, and check for underlying causes like kidney disease or arthritis. Cats with repeated constipation often do well on a prescription diet and a daily stool softener chosen by the vet, at the dose they prescribe.

Common questions

How long can a cat go without pooping?

Most cats go once or twice a day. If your cat hasn't pooped for 48 hours, start the home steps above and watch closely. After 72 hours, or sooner if your cat seems unwell, see your vet.

Can I give my cat pumpkin for constipation?

A small amount of plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) adds fiber and is often suggested, but there isn't much evidence that it helps cats. More water and wet food usually make a bigger difference. Ask your vet before relying on it.

Is constipation in older cats a sign of something serious?

It can be. Kidney disease, arthritis and megacolon are all more common in older cats and can cause constipation. A senior cat with repeated constipation should have a vet check and blood tests.

Does dry food cause constipation?

Dry food alone doesn't cause it, but cats on dry food take in much less water overall, which makes hard stools more likely. Adding wet food is one of the simplest ways to help.

Can I use a stool softener from the pharmacy?

No, not without your vet's advice. Human laxatives and stool softeners aren't made for cats, some ingredients are harmful, and a cat that needs one may have an underlying problem that should be checked first. If your vet prescribes one, give it exactly as they say.

Written from published veterinary guidance. How we write our guides.