My newly blind cat is constipated and inactive. What can I do?

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!

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.

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.

If your cat is unable to defecate, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Some cats become so constipated that they require subcutaneous fluids (under the skin), enemas, sedation, and manual evacuation of the stool by a veterinarian. Do NOT try giving enemas or removing stool at home. Constipation in a cat is a serious medical condition.

Since constipation issues are directed at increasing water content and fiber, I would recommend sticking with the canned Purina urinary food and then adding in fiber daily with 1-2 tsp of canned pumpkin or Metamucil. Also have him checked with your vet if there is ever a time he can't go at all because he may have a condition called megacolon (enlarged colon) which would require medicaiton to treat. You can also try Laxatone over the counter. Here is a website link with more information for you.http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=634 I hope your fur baby gets well soon.

I'm sorry to hear that Gizmo is having some trouble! Before worrying about his pooping, first make sure that he is urinating normally. Male cats can develop urethral obstructions (blockages) that can prevent them from peeing. This is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate treatment. Many cats with these blockages strain in the litter box and it can make it look like they're having trouble pooping. If Gizmo is urinating normally, it's possible that he's constipated. Be sure that he is drinking plenty of water. Adding water to canned food is a great way to get him to drink more. Also adding some canned pumpkin to his diet can increase his fiber intake, which can help him to poop. If he's gone 3 or more days without a bowel movement, Gizmo needs to go to the vet for further evaluation, as medications or an enema may be needed. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

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 Remy to the vet in order to check if there is a serious condition causing the constipation first.