Cat constipation

[Littletreefrog]

Any tricks for helping a cat with constipation?

Lactulose, I used to get it from the vet but it was actually just the same stuff you can buy in Boots.

Mackerel is supposed to help.

Bumping this up for you.

I do know from another thread that hairball biscuits can cause diahorrea to firm up so maybe it can cause normal poo to turn into constipation in certain cats. Is your cat on hairball stuff?

Stupid question but is the cat definitely constipated and not going outside? I was worried our boy was as he had only done wees in the litter tray for a couple of days, but DP went out to hang some washing and watched him disappear into the bushes at the back and do a poo. Weirdly he never seems to wee outside and will come in to use the tray then go back out, but after about nine months with us he started to mix it up with litter tray and outside poos. Our previous cat stopped using the tray entirely when we started letting her out.

@Pixiedust1234 she isn't on any hairball stuff but good idea though.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses definitely no poops for 2 days as she is an inside only cat (her choice)

@Ilovemyshed I tried her with some sardines (we didn't have mackerel) she refused to eat it.

@Ihatemondays1962 I think we will have to go to the vets tomorrow she has a huge tummy she looks pregnant but is absolutely definitely not. They are usually good at telling us if we can just buy human medicine for them rather than the more expensive animal version but I will ask about this

One of our cats tends to get constipated, but I noticed she rarely drinks, so I add a couple of tablespoons of water to her food each day, and that sorts it.

Have just measured what I add - is probably nearer 1 tbsp.

I give a large number of dreamies!

Cats loves them and it seems to solve the problem. Works for both mine.

Though I heard some cats hate dreamies so if that’s yours Ive no advice except wet food and add more water if necessary.

Our vet suggested a little water, olive oil, and/or pumpkin in their food.
We buy wet food with pumpkin in from zooplus and that seems to help.

Thank you all so an update you didn't know you wanted. Cat had such a huge hard stomach today DH took her to the vet who did some checks and said that yes probably just constipation and gave her a laxative. Well on the way home then wrong end of the cat was against the door of the cat carrier and long story short now DH is cleaning the car and I have had to bath a very grumpy cat.

We have bought a cat fountain and some cat soup in the hope of keeping her a bit more hydrated in the hope it will help prevent a repeat performance.

Oh dear. I shouldn't laugh but 😂

The Stray sometimes refuses to drink the water (unless flavoured with blackbird mites or fox pee) so we regularly add a tbsp of water to the cat soups or the Dreamies version of lickelix. She hates cat milk so that's not an option.

Tinned sardines in oil, was advised this by a vet years ago

I have a cat fountain and use about 1/4 tsp on wet food what we in the US call purlax / clearlax . Older cats need more fluid.