Constipation is as common in older cats as it is in older people. The basic principle to understand is that constipation should never be undertreated. If it is it often becomes progressively worse and chronic. Young cats can be affected as well.

Treatment for severe constipation (obstruction) is called obstipation and is treated in a variety of ways – most frequently involving a short stay at The Cat Practice. Almost always enemas are part of the treatment - often multiple enemas of warm water and mineral oil. This is a very messy procedure and often the enema fluid will continuously leak out of your cat, sometimes for 24 hours or more. While they are here we attempt to keep them clean, but it is a big job especially if the cat is nervous or fractions. When we send these cats home, they go into their carriers as clean as possible, but the stress of travel will often cause further leakage of the oily solution. This can also happen at home so you should protect you furnishings.

Cats will usually clean themselves up, but a spot wash of the soiled area may be necessary at home. If so use Ivory soap and rinse thoroughly. Please call us if you need us to give the cat a full bath.

Please follow all our directions when it comes to stool softener or laxatives.

Natural Laxatives –

Psyillium Seeds are best

Psyillium Husks are better

Psyillium powder is good

Pumpkin Pie filler

Milk (for some cats)

Liver ( for others )

Fur Ball Preparations like Laxaire, Petramalt, etc.

Liquid Laxatives like Lactulose, Enulose and Cholase

Peristaltic Intesifiers like Reglan and Propulsid

Again remember that Enema’s and their aftermath are messy and were all in this together.

Dr William Sullivan & Dr. Kevin Shimel