Dietary Tips for Constipated Cats

First, and foremost, if your cat is experiencing difficulty is passing stool or urinating, take him or her to the veterinarian for a physical. This article is for those who have already had their cat examined to rule out any more serious conditions than mild constipation due to dry diet.

Cats are carnivores. It's in their nature to eat meat. This is the way nature intended it. The problem with that is once cats became domesticated through the ages, their diet changed. Capitalists, seeing an opportunity to make money off the love and care of pet owners, began making cat food that became dryer and dryer until it ended up the cat chow we know today. Where's the meat? If you read the ingredients on a bag of cat food, you'll notice it says "animal bi-products", and "Chicken meal". Chicken meal? What the heck is that? Granted, most of these cat food brands include the all important vitamins and minerals necessary to a cat's health, as well as taurine which is needed to maintain a cat's eyesight. But if you look closer, you'll notice at least three different types of corn (corn gluten meal, canola oil, whole grain corn) along with many other unnecessary fillers in your cat's food. Examples of this are dried beet pulp, dried cranberries, soybean oil, and brown rice. Since when did cats become vegetarian? Even the amount of protein in these products is minimal; up to 34% crude protein. Only 34 percent? The worst part is that most animal food products fill in the remainder of the one hundred percent formula with ash. We're feeding our cats ash!

Now think about this. If this is all a cat eats a day, how is its digestive system handling all that fiber? Again, cats are carnivores. When a cat is feral, it hunts for its food. This means it's eating birds, mice, and often slugs and bugs as well. Pure, 100 % protein. A cat can survive the day on the protein of one, small mouse. That's not a lot.

So here we are, feeding dry, crude, sub-par, protein deficient cat food to Puddy. And Puddy's reaction? Dry, difficult to pass stools. What can be done to help? Glad you asked. Due to the dry nature of the average cat food, moisture (and more protein) often needs to be added to the mix. Try adding some wet cat food to your cat's daily diet. Make sure to read the label on the can to verify the amount of protein in the formula, and also seek out an organic brand that does not add ash or any type of modified corn. If you have difficulty finding one that satisfies you, try a simple can of tuna. Use the kind packed in water, not oil. A can of packed chicken will also do. When mixing the wet with the dry, remember to measure it out as a "mouse-sized" portion. Having lots of fresh water available is also very important.

There are a couple of other things you can do to help improve Puddy's potty. If your cat already eats a wet diet, and is still experiencing some difficulty, do this:

Add one tablespoon of fresh, pureed pumpkin as a treat to your cat's diet. It must be pure pumpkin, not pie filler. Since it comes in a can, the best way to make it last without going bad before it's all used is this - using a spare ice tray, spoon out pumpkin into the ice cube tray. Freeze the pumpkin ice cubes. Once frozen, pop them out and into a freezer bag. You can take one out a day to give to your cat. Most cats love this.

Another great idea given to me by a veterinarian when my cat had some trouble was to add some fresh, cut up green beans to his wet food. Again, I bought a large bag of frozen green beans, and would unthaw about three days worth at a time in a Tupperware container that I kept in the refrigerator. I'd cut up about 6 to 7 fresh beans a day to add to Sam's wet food. No one else was allowed to eat his green beans. They were marked specially for him.

The previous methods are the natural approach. But there is also the use of Laxatone. Laxatone is a cat hairball remedy that looks and smells like pancake syrup. It comes in Malted or Tuna flavor. Most cats will smell this and lick it right off your finger (follow the directions on dosage), but some will not be so eager. In this case, you need to dab the directed amount onto the tip of your cats nose (great entertainment watching them lick it off), or onto the top of their front paw. Fastidious groomers that they are, cats will make sure to clean off the offensive stuff the only way they know how, to lick it. Beware of the paw method, however, because sometimes the cat will quickly flick his paw and syrup gets flung far and wide.

This is the wisdom I've picked up over the years after living with a constipated cat. I've tried each method with some success, but in my own case, was fighting a losing battle with Sam's Megacolon. His condition was one that deteriorated over time. I did the best I could with help and advice from his veterinarian. It is in his honor that I crusade for his cause; constipation and Megacolon. If his condition had been diagnosed earlier on, more (probably) could have been done to extend his life. He was one awesome cat, my Sammy!

The most important thing you can do with a cat experiencing constipation or passing dry stool is to take him/her for a checkup with your veterinarian. Prevention is the best medicine. After all, we love our animals like our own children. And the mark of a good parent is one who sees to their children's health. If your cat is exhibiting any symptoms of constipation:

a. difficulty passing stool,
b. unsuccessful trips to the litter box,
c. moaning with belly cramps,
d. is listless, lethargic,
e. shows lack of appetite,
f. or grunting in seeming pain while trying to pass a stool,

please, take him or her to the veterinarian's office immediately. Don't wait. Don't try to treat the problem yourself. Your cat may not be constipated due to diet, but might have a colon blockage or some other condition. Once your cat is cleared through a physical exam as not having any other condition besides some mild constipation, the suggestions in this article will be of use to you.