Why is my 13-year-old cat constipated and not pooping for 3 days?

Poor Angel! This can be such a problem in older cats. You can add in some canned pumpkin (1 teaspoon a day) to help increase her fiber intake. Also, if you haven't already, I would talk to your vet about doing some abdominal x-rays. These will help the vet see how large the colon is and how much stool is present. Cats can get something called megacolon where the muscles in their colon don't work well and they get easily constipated. These cats usually need to be sedated and manually have some of the stool removed and then put on a drug called cisapride. Some cats will have to stay on this drug long term, but I have personally had good success with putting them on a food called Royal Canin GI Fiber Response and eventually getting them off cisapride and stool softeners. It is a prescription food so I would talk to your vet about it. Also, . Every cat is different and your vet will need to help guide you through this process. If your vet doesn't think she has megacolon then cisapride may not be needed but if she is REALLY backed up then she may still need to be sedated and have some feces removed to help her out. I hope this helps!

Constipation can be a very serious condition, it can be caused by a physical blockage (foreign body like a bone) or a functional peristalsis deficiency of the intestines. In order to treat simple constipation, you should increase the fibers in the food (e.g. canned pumpkin) and can add a little mineral oil to the diet. I strongly advise taking Acil to the vet in order to check if there is a serious condition causing the constipation first.

Cats should have a bowel movement roughly twice a day. When they don't, that generally means there is a problem. Sometimes this can be a sign of an inappropriate diet, not enough water intake, a neurological issue or a tumor blocking the intestines. Since she is older and it sounds like it's been a year, I recommend to start with a veterinary visit. Bring in a fresh sample of stool so the vet can check it. Make sure to speak with the veterinarian about food options as well. Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet can often help as can feeding a canned food with additional water added. There is also a special prescription diet made by Royal Canin called Fiber Response that many cats respond well to. Older cats often need more care (just like older humans) so have her examined within the next day or so. I hope this helps.

This could be due to a mild constipation, possibly due to hairballs. Mild constipation that lasts no more than two days can usually be resolved at home with increased fiber and hydration. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just the straight-up pumpkin) or liquid paraffin can be used, and should work straight away in the following 8 hours from administration. DO NOT TRY to give an enema as it could be dangerous and cause electrolyte imbalances and colon perforation. If constipation lasts more than 24 hours from administration of those or 48 hours in general, a check up at your local vet is required. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

If your cat hasn't pooped in three days I would be concerned about constipation. One thing you can try at home is adding some fiber to his diet, either by doing a teaspoon of metamucil on his food or some canned pumpkin on his food. If he is not already on wet food you could try adding some warm water to his food as well. If the constipation becomes severe your cat will stop eat, act painful and maybe start throwing up. If you notice any of these symptoms you should take him to your vet so they can give him medication to relieve the constipation.

Hello, sorry to hear about Jones. He may be dehydrated and needs fluids or he may need an enema. Have your veterinarian examine him and decide wether or not Jones needs an enema. Cats can occasionally experience problems with defecation when they are dehydrated but occasionally, they can also have a disease known as megacolon. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Episodes of constipation are not uncommon in cats. Be sure you are feeding Rey a diet that is high in fiber. 3-5% fiber is recommended. You can also supplement with plain canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) in her food daily. A little extra fiber goes a long way and will help pass her stool more easily. I would also recommend a fecal test be done at your veterinarian on Rey to rule out parasites as a potential cause of the constipation. I hope this helps and best wishes to you and Rey!