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Among house cats, feline constipation is fairly common. Usually, hairballs are at fault, but other physical and psychological conditions may be the cause. Litter box aversion, kidney disease, and other physical and psychological causes may be a factor.

Constipation is experienced by just about every cat at some point in their life. Perhaps it’s from too much fur in the gut, or a recent change in diet. These bouts of constipation are normal.

Senior cats are more likely to get constipated than younger ones. Also at higher risk are those cats with other health problems. This includes those cats with kidney trouble, and untreated pelvic injuries. No matter what, you’ll want to be aware of a few issues and warnings on this condition.

Issues and warnings concerning feline constipation:

1. Never give human preparations to your cat — Preparations made for people may be harmful or fatal when given to cats. You should never give a remedy designed for humans to your cat unless recommended by a cat health professional. Talk to your veterinarian first to make sure it’s cat safe.

2. Home preparations — Check with your veterinarian before attempting a home remedy. I’ve seen some people recommending mineral oil as a home remedy, but this is not advisable. Mineral oil is easily inhaled into the respiratory tract, and never breaks down in body. This may cause long term problems for your cat.

3. Administering enemas — Enemas can be administered, but you should probably not attempt this yourself. The experience probably will not be very pleasant for either you or your cat, and you could end up being scratched or bitten. If you attempt this yourself, get advice and instruction from your veterinarian first.

4. Chronic feline constipation — With long term constipation, there may be other more serious underlying medical conditions that need to be addressed. You should have a conversation with your veterinarian about the potential risks and issues. Some cats develop a condition known as megacolon. In a cat with megacolon, the size of the stool in the large intestine grows too large for it to leave the body.

Whatever the cause, if your cat suffers from feline constipation and the condition persists, you’ll want to have a talk with your veterinarian about a solution.

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