What to Expect If Your Cat Has a Fecal Impaction

When it comes to social exchanges, fecal impaction in cats probably isn't high on anybody's list of ice breakers. However, if you have a cat that's acting strangely around the litter box, knowing what to expect if the cause is a fecal impaction can make life easier for you as well as the cat.

The feral Maine Coon we rescued and adopted began to vocalize loudly every time she walked into the bathroom filled with litter boxes. Over a three-day period, she never left us any piles among the litter. On the last day, I noted stool and matted fur all over her rear end. This observation was complicated by the fact that she was one of two feral cats in the house that couldn't be picked up without an altercation.

Thankfully, a grab of the unsuspecting cat landed her in a crate and on the way to help. The vet said she had one of the worst fecal impactions she'd ever seen. Fortunately, the cat recovered.

What is a Fecal Impaction in a Cat?

Some cat owners assume that a major case of constipation is the same thing as a fecal impaction. It isn't.

According to PetEducation.com, a cat's anal sacs are located on each side of and a little below its anal opening. Some cats require that their owners, groomer or veterinarian periodically express these glands to ward off an infection, abscess or impaction.

A cat usually experiences a fecal impaction when a lump of hardened feces gets stuck in its rectum. While the symptoms of the impaction might appear similar to those of constipation to the cat's owner, the two conditions really differ, Vetinfo reports. Fecal impaction is one of the major causes of chronic constipation. When a cat is simply constipated, it's often easy to treat it at home through diet, hydration and/or an increase in exercise.

With a fecal impaction, however, the cat experiences a serious disorder that can be fatal if untreated.

Signs and Symptoms

The first sign of a fecal impaction we noticed in our Maine Coon was her loud meows as she circled the litter box but wouldn't use it. The cat paced a lot. She didn't want to eat, and she stopped grooming herself. In our years as cat rescue volunteers, we had seen a number of constipated cats but never behavior this bizarre.

Other symptoms associated with a fecal impaction in cats are a general lethargy and a loss of interest in playing. Some cats that never used to crouch often start doing so. In a multi-cat household, they might become antisocial toward the other felines.

Affected cats typically head toward the litter box more often than usual but can't achieve anything. Some might actually have a little diarrhea, which is confusing to the owner, especially if it's bloody. Vomiting isn't uncommon.

Treatment

A fecal infection in a cat is very serious. When I grabbed our Maine Coon and rushed her to the vet, I had no idea she had a life-threatening problem. I assumed that due to her long hair and her chubby belly, she hadn't groomed herself very well.

If a cat can't eliminate waste, stool builds up and stretches the muscles of its colon. Eventually, the cat can develop systemic toxins and a condition known as toxic megacolon, in which the colonic muscles can't move properly.

Based on the severity of the impaction, the vet will need to manually remove the hardened stool from the cat. In some cases, surgery is required.

A cat owner can help prevent a fecal impaction by making sure the pet drinks enough water and gets enough exercise. One way to add fiber to the cat's diet is feeding it a spoonful of canned pumpkin every day or sprinkling Metamucil on its food, especially if the animal is reluctant to eat any dry food. Some owners feed their cats a teaspoon of vegetable oil to treat constipation. In the case of formerly feral or picky cats, management of fecal problems can be tricky and should always be directed by a vet.

Sources:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2122&aid=509

http://www.vetinfo.com/impacted-bowel-symptoms-cats.html

Personal experience