If your cat can’t poop, it’s not necessarily constipation, so to pinpoint the cause with precision, I’ll explain everything in this article. I will then explain to you how to act to allow your cat to no longer suffer from this problem.
Cat that can’t poop: The causes and their solutions
Here are all the causes of this problem, with for each, how to recognize it and above all how to react to prevent the problem from getting worse and endangering your cat’s health.
A power problem
The most common problem, cat transit can cause her to have problems pooping, so if your cat is constipated, make sure she eats not only kibble but also wet food for better transit.
His diet should be 1/3 soft food, especially if he’s indoors and he can’t hunt when he’s outside, otherwise he’ll have constipation problems but in the long run, he’ll also have heart problems that can lead to early death.
Cat food is the typical food when it comes to wet food, but you can also give him moistened kibble if that’s not enough to make him defecate normally.
Problem with litter
If your cat doesn’t want to poop in his litter box, he’ll hold back and end up pooping all over the place . So double check several things with the litter box to make sure it is suitable for his needs and that he is using it.
The litter should have good quality granules that do not damage the pads . Then, 5 to 7 cm of granules are necessary so that your cat can cover its needs without sinking.
Then, the litter box should be in a quiet, clean and personal place, free from the smell of other animals or household products. These conditions are necessary so that your cat does not feel in danger there, because it puts itself in a position of vulnerability when it does its business.
Finally, for old cats, a litter with a part without edges allows them not to tire their joints when they go there.
Hairballs
Cats can have hairballs stuck in their stomach, in this case, do not give them a laxative but olive oil or even malt butter which will act as a lubricant. If that’s not enough, you’ll need to get your cat to the vet.
It’s easy to tell if your cat has a stuck hairball because they’ll be coughing up hair . To avoid recurrences, brush it well during periods of hair loss to prevent it from swallowing it while licking it.
Lack of activity
A cat must always be very active for about 15 minutes a day, so if your cat does not exercise, its transit will necessarily be affected. So, if your cat never plays sports, make sure he can train with interactive toys, the older he is, the more exercise he will need.
The problem is that old cats will always have a lack of desire to play, so don’t forget this always unstoppable trick, associate exercise with a reward, like a piece of chicken for example.
Diseases
Illnesses abound in old cats, so if your cat seems weakened and nothing is changing, go to the vet so they can cure it. You can wait 48 hours before going there, but only 24 hours if your cat is old or has already had illnesses.
Then, while waiting for the veterinarian, give him an easy-to-eat food, even liquid to facilitate transit as much as possible, also moisten the kibbles. Everything must be done so that his stomach and intestines have the least amount of work to do.
Dehydration
If your cat is dehydrated, he’s going to have a hard time pooping, so if your cat has hydration issues, encourage him with cool, clean water. You can add a little fish oil or chicken juice to make it really want to drink.
Sometimes cats prefer to drink from a tap because the water is runny and seems cleaner to them, which is true in the wild.
What you should not do
Avoid at all costs giving him human medicines such as Smecta because your cat will suffer from them and they will have no effect. So make sure your cat can be treated for the cause of the problem and don’t give it anything for humans.
It is also useless to upset him if he relieves himself elsewhere because it is not on his part and he will be fine without it.
Cat that can’t poop: The final word
If your cat can’t poop, it’s vital to implement the right solutions to get them to poop again. Needless (even dangerous) to give him medication, treating the problem at the cause is much simpler and much more effective.