Mild Laxative for Cat

[Icequeen01]

My poor Little Cat had to have an emergency vet appointment on Sunday night as she was constipated and was unable to go at all. She had an enema at the vets as she had started to leak urine as she was straining so much and retching. She’s absolutely fine now but as she seems to always suffer from hard poos I wondered if anyone uses a mild laxative for their cat which they could recommend? She only eats wet food and doesn’t suffer much with hairballs. She does drink but, like my other two cats, it never seems to be huge amounts. The emergency appointment cost £450 so would like to try and avoid this happening again if possible.

I add a tablespoon of warm water to each food bowl before serving. It’s helped my cat to go more easily.

May seem odd but fresh pineapple can help if they will eat it. Helps with rabbits too.

My cat is less mobile so I have to give him a small amount of lactulose (mild laxative poo softener that vets also prescribe) . Buy from a human pharmacy (much cheaper and tell them it’s for you). I started on 2.5mls a day in his food and works.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Really helpful.

Interestingly@MumsworkneverdoneLittle Cat is elderly now (she’s 16) and would spend all day at the moment on her heated pad so she’s not very mobile. I even wonder if the heated pad is making her dehydrated so I’ve turned it down slightly. I think the emergency vet mentioned going back to my usual vet to get something so I wonder if it’s the lactulose. Good to know I can get it cheaper from the chemist, thank you.

Lactulose twice a day on their food - we give 5ml per dose for our 11yo arthritic boy.

We thought we were going to have to take her back to the vets today as she hadn’t done a poo since her enema on Sunday. She was trying to go this morning but then stopped and I could see she was straining again. I had to pop out for half an hour and when I returned she had managed to go! Phew! But it’s solid as a rock so I’m going to look into getting her some lactulose. Can I ask how heavy your cats are? Little Cat is teeny and only weighs about 2.5 kg so I’m guessing she would only need a small dose.

If it's that bad again so soon, I think you need to see her regular vet. Partly to avoid ending up at the emergency vet again.

It needs investigation and a management plan, and you need to know the max meds you can give her if needed.

My vet gave macrogol for a similar issue, it's not always lactulose.

If she would accept a little cooked pumpkin in her meals that can also help soften things. And soups can add fluid eg Check it out: https://zooplus.onelink.me/yg8Z/vvgc6vhe

I agree @TryingAgainAgainAgain We have an appointment with our regular vet on Monday with one of our other cats (we seem to be having nothing but problems at the moment!) so I will have a chat with her then and see if she wants to see her or if she will prescribe something. Funnily enough I bought some soup for her this afternoon as I thought it might be a good way of getting some fluids into her. The only one I could find was a Felix one and she turned her nose up. Luckily, I had some Encore in broth which she has whoofed down.

I think it’s more urgent than that, OP. I’d get her to her regular vet tomorrow. Otherwise she could be in pain and at risk over the weekend. Vets can’t legally prescribe without seeing the cat anyway. She is elderly and it’s not a minor issue.

@Icequeen01 ours weighs just under 5kg so maybe you'd want to half our dose.

Vets can't technically prescribe lactulose though they can sell it and recommend it. We get ours off Amazon - a massive bottle is only £9. I just squirt the amount on his food twice a day and it keeps him nice and regular.