Continued
Cats can get constipated for a number of reasons, including:
- Over-grooming, which leads to extra hair in the digestive tract
- Kidney problems
- Feline megacolon -- when the colon gets very large and its muscles no longer squeeze, making hard, dry stool build up inside
- Something blocking their colon, such as string or bones
- Diets that don’t have enough fiber
- Problems inside the colon, such as tumors or narrow places
- Spine problems or pain
To ease your cat’s constipation, your vet may suggest that you give him more fiber, such as by adding canned pumpkin to his regular food. Or she might tell you to change to food that’s easier for your pet to digest.
It also helps to make sure he gets more exercise and drinks more water so that waste will move through his system more readily.
You should talk to your vet about any poop problems your cat has, but this chart may help you figure out what may be causing them:
|
Symptom |
Appearance |
Frequency |
Possible causes |
|
Constipation |
Small, hard, dry poop |
Less than once a day |
Dehydration, megacolon, dietary issues |
|
Constipation |
Small, hard, dry poop that has a lot of hair |
Less than once a day |
Hairballs, over-grooming |
|
Constipation |
Thin, ribbon-like poop |
Less than once a day |
Colon problems, like a tumor |
|
Diarrhea |
Black, tarry, runny poop |
It varies |
Stomach or intestinal bleeding. Call the vet right away |
|
Diarrhea |
Smelly, pudding-like poop |
2-3 times daily |
Food intolerances, inflammatory bowel disease |
|
Diarrhea |
Gooey poop filled with mucus |
Multiple times daily |
Too little fiber; colitis |
|
Diarrhea |
Soft, frothy, greasy poop with mucus |
It varies |
Parasites |