How to judge whether the cat is constipated
The cat is constipated, and generally has the following symptoms:
1. The cat’s stool is short and hard, approximately spherical, and normal The stool should be moist, soft strips of a certain length.
2. I often go to the cat litter
to defecate, but often there is no actual defecation. In fact, the cat wants to be convenient but can’t come out.
3. I have poor appetite and do not like to eat, this is because of constipation and bloating.
4. Touching the cat with hands will avoid resistance, because the abdominal distension is uncomfortable.
5. Vomiting, although cat vomiting is a normal physiological phenomenon, because cats need to vomit hairballs, but if the vomit is mostly undigested cat food, the owner must pay attention.
Causes of constipation
There are various reasons for cat constipation, which should be based on feeding Judging the situation, generally speaking, the common reasons are as follows:
1. Hairball. The probability of this reason is the highest, because cats will habitually lick their hairs, and these hairs will be swallowed by cats. , it may be mixed into the feces, and then you can find hair in your cat’s feces.
2. Eat goat milk powder or other reasons to get angry. Getting angry can also lead to dry stools and constipation.
3. With age, gastrointestinal motility is weakened. Older cats have weakened gastrointestinal function and poor digestion, so it is easy for the food in the intestines to be slowly excreted and the excessive absorption of water in the intestines leads to dry stools.
4. Dehydration. The daily supply of drinking water is not enough, or the cat does not like to drink water, resulting in a lack of water in the body, and constipation is a matter of course.
5. Foods lack fiber. For the same reason as humans, if there is too little fiber in food, it will also cause constipation, so when constipated, doctors will tell us to eat more whole grains, because they are rich in fiber.
6. Obese cats are also prone to constipation, thinking that their digestive ability is weakened.
7. Reasons for stress. Cats entering a new environment may also be unwilling to go to the toilet because of tension and discomfort, leading to constipation. And the cat litter box is too dirty, the cat does not like the smell of other cat excrement, etc., and they are reluctant to use cat litter.
8. Intestinal lesions, such as tumors, can cause intestinal obstruction and other problems, which can also lead to constipation.
9. Drug effects, some drugs will slow down the smooth muscle of the digestive tract, affect digestion, reduce the secretion of digestive juice, and then cause constipation in cats.
10. Disease effects, such as fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, renal failure, hypokalemia, diabetes, thyroid disease, endocrine disorders, nervous system diseases, intestinal parasites, etc., can cause constipation.
What should I do if I am constipated?
If the cat has found constipation, it is necessary to check for the reasons mentioned above, and then treat the symptoms.
Generally less severe constipation can be given to cats with stool softeners or laxatives, as well as hair removal cream.
There is also a simple and easy-to-operate method, which is to give the cat a spoonful of salad oil to lubricate the intestines, about 10 ml at a time, and the effect will usually be seen after 2-3 times.
If you have severe constipation, don’t treat it at home, ask a doctor to deal with it.
What should I pay attention to to prevent constipation
1. Give the cat some food rich in dietary fiber. Or use a special cat food suitable for the cat stage, and the formula of the cat food will take into account the provision of sufficient dietary fiber.
2. Let the cat exercise more, and it will also increase the mobility of the stomach.
3. Provide cats with adequate drinking water, as they drink.
4. Cat grass and hair removal cream are indispensable, and the supply must be guaranteed for cats.
5. Don’t change the position of the cat’s litter at will, keep the defecation environment stable and familiar, and handle the cat litter frequently to prevent the cat’s desire to defecate from being too smelly.
If there are more than one ragdoll cat in the house, it is necessary to observe whether there are cats who do not like to share cat litter with other cats.
6. Grooming cats frequently can greatly reduce the number of hairs they lick and swallow.