Constipated Cat

[Disneyvillain]

Hello everyone, we took Gracie to the vet for her annual check up a couple of weeks ago. I had noticed that she seemed a little constipated which the vet confirmed after examining her. She gave us some lactulose for her. I’ve watched some YouTube videos on how to give the medicine but my attempts have not been very successful and they really stress her out - she hides for the rest of the day and I’m worried that will just make her tummy problems worse.

I’ve tried giving her tuna in oil - she won’t eat it. I’ve added olive oil to her regular wet food - she won’t eat it. She has always been very fussy about wet food but will eat any biscuits.

She’s eating grass and making herself sick almost every day and her poop is still dry and hard.

Does anyone please have any advice on what else I can try? She’s eaten nothing today but is also very fed up because of the rain so that’s probably not helping. I’m thinking we will have to go back to the vet but that is just more stress for her, poor thing.

Many thanks x

Have you tried cat soup, either alone or on top of dry food? Applaws do one. Most of the applaws fish sachets / cans are quite wet and are like crack cocaine to my cat (& nearly as expensive, definitely as moreish!). We ended up having to pay £60 to the vet to stick his finger up the cat’s bum to dislodge a poo 💩 :( cat found the whole thing so appallingly undignified that he’s not had a problem since; clearly not prepared to risk the finger again.

Hairball paste is basically a laxative but my cat loves it .

Another vote for cat soup as a way to get cats to increase their liquid intake. Sheba Cat Soup is a prized delicacy in this house.

Also malt paste or hairball paste - mine will lick it off my fingers, which I don't encourage as they like it so much they try to take my fingers with it.

Thanks for the replies! We’ve tried a soup based food in the past and she wouldn’t eat it but it wasn’t one of those mentioned so that’s worth another try. The paste also sounds good - her biscuits are a hairball formula but they haven’t helped so I’ll try a paste as well.

She is very sweet

I had a cat with megacolon. The vet prescribed lactulose, and fortunately he took it pretty well every single day. I used to put the amount in the cap and basically pour it into the back of his mouth. I know not all cats would tolerate that. Towards the end of his life, I was giving him liquid paraffin, as he was really struggling with bowel movements. Have you tried putting it into a pippet/syringe and, like a vet, putting it into the side of her mouth, with a quick squirt? I know you want to avoid stressing her, but she'll probably get used to it after a few attempts.

Take a look at this Helpful Vancouver Vet vid. Medication admin. starts around 7:20 , but it's useful to watch the whole thing just for reassurance. Good luck.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3meUkY2e4Y

Thanks for your support @Want2beme yes I’ve watched that and tried his method but it didn’t go well for Gracie or me 😂. I might need to give it another go x

Have you tried lickety-lix as something to hide the lactulose in? Its basically chicken/salmon/liver flavoured yoghurt in little tubes and my otherwise fussy cat who hates wet food cat bloody loves it! Its pretty strong flavoured so hides the taste of medication pretty well.

Thanks for the tip @MaudesMum I will try that as well

My cats love malt paste which helps them pass hair balls and definitely makes their stools softer. Have to be careful how much you give - i.e. can cause opposite problem!