Cat Constipation-ish Help Needed

[andys1988]

My 8yo male cat has pooped outside the litter box twice over the past month — different rugs in different rooms. I think it’s due to a unique situation. Basically, his poop has always on the dry side. Sometimes a hard piece will get stuck on his butt. It scares him, making him jump out of the litter box and run around. Then, he needs to finish. Would this be something to do with constipation? He already gets a completely wet diet (Wellness Turkey minced) and drinks water.

I’d appreciate any suggestions you may have. Would Cat Lax or Laxotone help?

Thank you!

 

[Caspers Human]

Our cat, Casper, has digestion issues. We give him Miralax. (From the grocery or pharmacy.)

He gets 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. mixed into his food, daily. We watch his litter box and adjust the dosage, based on observations.

I know that you said he's drinking water but it would pay to double down on making sure he drinks enough water. Miralax works by absorbing water and holding it in the digestive tract so that things move along easier. So, when you give Miralax, the cat will need to drink more water. The cat should just drink more water, naturally, but you still need to make sure that there is enough water available.

Our cats have multiple water dishes located all around the house. Casper likes to drink from a dripping faucet so we leave the bathtub drip a little bit so that he can drink (and play) whenever he wants.

 

[andys1988]

Our cat, Casper, has digestion issues. We give him Miralax. (From the grocery or pharmacy.)

He gets 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. mixed into his food, daily. We watch his litter box and adjust the dosage, based on observations.

I know that you said he's drinking water but it would pay to double down on making sure he drinks enough water. Miralax works by absorbing water and holding it in the digestive tract so that things move along easier. So, when you give Miralax, the cat will need to drink more water. The cat should just drink more water, naturally, but you still need to make sure that there is enough water available.

Our cats have multiple water dishes located all around the house. Casper likes to drink from a dripping faucet so we leave the bathtub drip a little bit so that he can drink (and play) whenever he wants.

Thanks! I appreciate it. Yes, we have a fountain for them. In fact, it has a fake faucet that the water comes out of!

 

[Caspers Human]

I think I might need a fake faucet for Casper!
He loves that faucet!

 

[FeralHearts]

Our cat, Casper, has digestion issues. We give him Miralax. (From the grocery or pharmacy.)
He gets 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. mixed into his food, daily. We watch his litter box and adjust the dosage, based on observations.

I'm going to second this, very gentle on the cats tummy too.

The other thing to try is to get kitty moving a bit more. Extra play time seems to help mine boy along with Miralax.

Adding plain psyllium husk could help as well, but I do like the miralax better.

Start slow and add more as needed. Sometimes you have to find that balance between hard poop, good poop and accidentally giving then a bit of runny poop. There are some weeks I give mine the same amount of miralax and we go from hard poop to opps getting a little liquid there.

You could also try adding a little bit of wate rto the wet food. Not making in a soup - just a little,

 

[Caspers Human]

Psyllium is good but it adds bulk. Sometimes, that's good but I think that Miralax is the better choice, in this case.

Our cats drink out of an old fishbowl in the front window. They have a watering can, under the plant stand in the living room. There are two stainless steel bowls in the corners of the upstairs rooms. The bathtub faucet also drips and both cats like to drink and play under the dripping water.

Heck! Even if they only play in it, water is water! Right?

 

[FeralHearts]

Psyllium is good but it adds bulk. Sometimes, that's good but I think that Miralax is the better choice, in this case.

Absolutely. Psyllium is often my "I'm desperate" moment and I end up using it with the Miralax. I do avoid it thought. Miralax is soooo much better. I've leaned now I can add a bit more miralax without worry instead.

So yeah maybe scratch the Psyllium thought. Miralax for the win.

Heck! Even if they only play in it, water is water! Right?

Absolutely.

andys1988 I'm really sorry you're having to experience this with your furbaby. I know how not fun it is.

 

[lisahe]

Our cat with mild-to-moderate constipation does much better now that she gets herbal supplements with slippery elm bark and marshmallow root. Vet's Best digestive tablets (which also have a little psyllium, among other things) and Adored Beast's Feline Gut Soothe, plus small amounts of slippery elm syrup, have eased her problem tremendously -- the herbs help things slide through. She does still have blips sometimes when she doesn't eat quite as well as she should but they're not chronic like they used to be. I also brought out the cats' fountain, which she loves. It doesn't have a faucet but it kind of bubbles up. Unfortunately, it also functions nicely as a paw rinser but oh well!

 

[silent meowlook]

My cats eat canned pumpkin with temptation treats ground up on top. It helps.

incresing water intake is the best, with multiple water sites and a fountain.

 

[lisahe]

My cats eat canned pumpkin with temptation treats ground up on top. It helps.

incresing water intake is the best, with multiple water sites and a fountain.

I so agree about water! When Ireland had her "blip" recently, the fountain was a key element -- she loves water anyway but the fountain makes it more fun. I wish she'd stop rinsing her paws in it but oh well!

Oddly (or maybe not, I don't know?) pumpkin never really helped her that much. I'm glad the various supplements work for her since they're also good for both cats' digestive quirks.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

I just want to add that if you do add Miralax, be sure to dissolve it in a little bit of water before giving it. I dissolve it in a little bit of warm water, then add the wet food right on top of it. It typically gets lapped right up since it doesn't gel up or have any taste or odor.

Also, in answer to your other question, yes, you can also use Laxatone or Cat Lax. Sometimes we use both if things aren't going well in the litter box.

 

[Caspers Human]

It typically gets lapped right up since it doesn't gel up or have any taste or odor.

Casper is a picky eater and he doesn't even know the difference!