Mary Allen
Constipation is quite common in cats and can be life-threatening. However, with the right feeding and a few simple measures, you can do a lot to ensure that your cat does not have to struggle in the litter box.
How Often Should a Cat Defecate?
Normally, the journey through the cat’s gastrointestinal tract takes about 12 to 24 hours. Since cats eat every day, they should also defecate every day. However, sometimes the whole affair takes a little longer without causing any problems for the cat.
When Do You Start Talking about Constipation?
The vet speaks of constipation or constipation when the cat either defecates much less frequently or is even unable to defecate at all. The feces then back up in the middle section of the large intestine, the “colon” (large intestine). Affected cats often try hard to defecate very hard, dry stools.
If constipation occurs again and again and several attempts at therapy fail, it is referred to as constipation. In the case of constipation in the narrower sense, it is assumed that an irreversible loss of function of the gastrointestinal tract has already occurred. However, the term constipation is often used synonymously with constipation.
If the feces can no longer be transported further from the large intestine, veterinarians speak of coprostasis.
What is Megacolon?
The term megacolon describes exactly what you see, for example, on the x-ray: a “mega-sized” colon. Such a pathologically enlarged part of the colon, in which large amounts of feces accumulate, can be both the cause and the result of constipation.
For example, megacolon can develop when the pelvic diameter is so narrowed by a poorly healed pelvic hernia that normal-shaped feces can no longer fit through the pelvis and it backs up in front of the obstruction. If this problem is recognized early and the obstacle is removed, the intestine can fully recover. However, if the bowel is overstretched over a long period of time, it eventually “wears out” (dilates) and cannot recover, even if the original obstruction is removed.
In almost two-thirds of cases, however, no such obstruction or other cause of the megacolon can be identified. Then one speaks of idiopathic megacolon. Idiopathic means nothing other than “without a known cause”. Studies suggest that the trigger of idiopathic megacolon is a dysfunction of the intestinal wall muscles. However, it is still not known why the smooth muscles of the intestine are not working properly.
What are the Symptoms of Cats with Constipation?
Typically, cats with constipation only defecate small amounts of hard stool every few days or have actually stopped defecating. However, when the cats are allowed to go outside, it is not easy to determine how often they defecate and what these feces look like. As a result, chronic constipation often goes unnoticed for a long time.
Other signs of constipation can include:
- Vomiting: Commonly associated with constipation, it can be the only noticeable sign of a problem.
- Loss of appetite, possibly weight loss
- weariness, exhaustion
- restlessness
- unsuccessful pressing on feces (possibly there is mucus or blood with a small number of diarrhea feces)
- Dropping small, hard balls of feces outside of the litter box
- Stomach pain (cat reluctant to be touched on the stomach)
- With increased abdominal circumference, you may be able to feel firm “lumps” or a hard cord in your stomach
- Dehydration (skin fold does not disappear immediately, mucous membrane of the mouth is sticky dry)
If mild constipation recurs, cats are usually otherwise fine — but that doesn’t mean they don’t need treatment. If constipation lasts for a long time, they can get into such big problems that they have to be treated in an intensive care unit as an emergency; for example when they dry out.
What Causes Constipation in Cats?
In many cases, the cause of the blockage can no longer be determined. However, a number of factors are known to contribute to constipation and also some conditions that can lead to constipation in cats.
The mechanism by which constipation develops is always similar:
- For some reason, the contents of the intestine have a harder consistency than normal, making it difficult to transport them further.
- For some reason, the intestinal contents remain in the colon longer than usual. As long as it is there, water will continue to be withdrawn from it, it will thicken, become harder than normal, and can no longer be transported.