The kitten does not go to the toilet for a big one: the reason
While kittens with a healthy gastrointestinal tract should defecate daily, defecation issues are quite common. Caring owners should never ignore this problem, hoping it will resolve itself, as this will only worsen the situation and can lead to chronic constipation.
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Symptoms
Any attentive owner will definitely notice that their pet is having problems with bowel movements, not only by cleaning the litter box (the feces will be hard and dry, and sometimes even contain blood and/or mucus), but also by changes in the animal's personality. Thus, signs of gastrointestinal problems include:
- frequent unsuccessful visits to the toilet;
- plaintive meowing with each attempt to empty the bowels;
- hard, distended belly;
- loss of appetite;
- weight loss.
Main reasons
Gastrointestinal problems are just one of dozens of reasons why a kitten has stopped defecating. Anything can trigger bowel problems.
Stress
Kittens often refuse to poop for the first three days after moving to a new apartment. This is completely normal, as the kitten is experiencing stress caused by separation from its mother. Help it adapt to the new environment quickly, create favorable conditions, and, most importantly, feed it the same food and feeding schedule as in its old home. If the litter box is still clean on the fourth day, it's time to sound the alarm.
Permutation
Even simply rearranging furniture, let alone buying new furniture, can be seriously stressful. Felines live in a world of scents and quickly become accustomed to certain environments. To minimize psychological trauma to your pet, it's best to remove them from the room during the rearrangement. If your pet had a favorite spot in the room, try to recreate it.
Poor nutrition
An unbalanced or inappropriate diet, as well as a new diet, are the most common causes of constipation. The advice here is simple: don't make drastic changes to the menu; introduce new foods gradually to allow your baby's digestive system time to adjust.
Intestinal pathologies
Although rare, it does happen that difficulties with defecation are caused by pathological changes in the intestines. In this situation, the owner is unlikely to be able to help independently, as surgical intervention is often required.
Dirty litter box or inappropriate litter
Cats are considered to be among the cleanest animals. Therefore, a common, but legitimate, reason for refusing to go to the toilet is a dirty litter box. Incidentally, if your pet doesn't like it filler type, he can also protest.
Unfavorable conditions in the house
Kittens are acutely sensitive to how people treat them. They are sensitive not only to lack of attention but also to aggression (screaming and hitting), and childish pranks. In this case, you need to decide whether you can provide adequate care for both the animal and the child.
How to help
A veterinarian can provide qualified assistance to a kitten. However, a pet's owner can also perform a few procedures to ease their pet's suffering.
- Vaseline oil has a laxative effect. Just half a teaspoon (preferably a regular syringe without a needle) is enough to induce a bowel movement.
- Condensed milk diluted with raw water in a 1:1 ratio also works well as a laxative. Give your baby a tablespoon of this mixture every hour. The maximum daily dose is 5 tablespoons.
- A surefire option is to insert a small bar of soap rectally. Typically, within a couple of minutes, your pet will run to the toilet.
- An enema. However, the procedure isn't exactly pleasant, so you'll need not only patience but also skill, and some help from family members wouldn't hurt. Fill it up Fill a small 10 ml syringe or syringe with warm water, lubricate the tip with Vaseline, and gradually insert it into the cat's anus. Then, gently pour the liquid in. Remember to feel the cat's tummy to avoid injecting too much water.
- For constipation, medications such as Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin,Duphalac", "Lactusan", etc. However, before giving them to your child, be sure to consult a specialist; he or she will help calculate the dosage.
- Massage also helps normalize bowel movements. To perform this procedure, you will need a damp cloth or a clean washcloth. Place your pet on their tummy and gently, without applying pressure, begin massaging their back toward the anus. Then, begin massaging their anus, remembering to regularly change the cloth or towel for a clean one. Repeat this procedure daily for 2-3 minutes.
Prevention of constipation
Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat! Constipation in cats is no exception. Preventative measures are effective and require little effort from owners:
- Organize proper nutrition for a kittenIf it's natural food, 80% should be meat and 20% vegetables (zucchini, pumpkin, beets, etc.). If you prefer dry food, choose premium and super-premium products.
- Give your kittens fermented milk products periodically.
- Ensure an active lifestyle by purchasing special toys for cats.
- Keep the tray clean.
You can also ask our website's staff veterinarian a question, who will answer them as quickly as possible in the comments box below.
Read also:
- Self-cleaning litter box for cats
- How to litter train a kitten
- What to do if the kitten doesn’t eat anything?
7 comments
Olga
Hello. We found a kitten on the street, about 1.5 months old. He only pees in the litter box when you put him there after eating. He eats natural food until I bought kitten pouches. This has been going on for two days now.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! There are several possibilities. First, the animal is stressed and can't relieve itself, as it hasn't gotten used to its new home yet. Second, the kitten wasn't litter-trained, and soon I'll be encountering "surprises" in the most unexpected places. Third, improper feeding or a change in diet (perhaps the kitten was previously on a different diet) has caused constipation. If you're feeding only protein foods (meat, fish) and no cereals or vegetables, then this shouldn't be surprising. Such foods move through the intestines much more slowly, as they become dry in the gastrointestinal tract. Another option is to give a small amount of Lactulose (a cheap analogue of Duphalac, equally effective, but three times cheaper) – literally 0.5-1 ml after feeding. No more is recommended, as the kitten is small, so you don't want to cause diarrhea.
Irina
Hello, we have a half-breed Scottish Fold kitten. We got her when she was 7 weeks old. We started introducing her to solid food. We started with cereal, but she refused it. Constipation started right away, although she wasn't lethargic, but rather very active. After 5 days, we took her to the vet for an enema. They prescribed Duphalac. We took it for 3 days, but she still didn't go. We gave her Vaseline oil, and only then did she go to the toilet. Now we're feeding her kitten food. She likes more or less liquid food. She won't eat other food, she buries everything, and she won't even try dry food. But she eats very little, going to the toilet once every two days. What can I do to get her to eat and go to the toilet normally? Thank you.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Your kitten isn't used to solid food yet. Start gradually introducing larger particles (e.g., boiled fish, finely chopped meat, finely grated vegetables) into her liquid diet. What kind of porridge were you feeding her that caused her bowel problems? It's essential to provide fiber to promote good peristalsis. She should also drink more fluids. Duphalac takes a few days (3-4 days) to start working, so give it for a few days. Add probiotics and prebiotics to repopulate her intestines with beneficial microflora. What kind of food are you feeding her? Have you tried baby food (meat with added grains and vegetables)? Maybe she'll give it a try. Mine, on the other hand, won't eat liquid or wet food under any circumstances, only dry food. I'd advise you not to change her diet abruptly. Stick to the same feeding schedule for at least a week so she gets used to it (otherwise, she'll start manipulating you, just so long as you feed her what she finds easiest to eat).
Irina
Thanks for the reply. We started with baby food, and she'd eat it sometimes, sometimes not at all. Then we added rice and oatmeal to the cereal. It was only later that I read that you can't give her everything at once. That's probably where the problems stem from. She just didn't want cat food at all, only drank milk, and that was it. She lost a lot of weight. The vet told her to give Duphalac only for three days. We gave her that, but she still wouldn't go. She only managed to eat Vaseline oil. Now she's eating kitten food, more or less, but very little—about a teaspoon three times a day, with long breaks. What probiotics can I give her?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Of course, feed rice. How can you avoid constipation? It's incredibly constipating. I was surprised by the instructions: ONLY Duphalac for three days, or can you still feed it? Remember, cats on a starvation diet (meaning without food) should not be kept for more than 24 hours. Kittens are generally best kept for 12 hours (well, 24 hours maximum). Don't give milk. After two months, the amount of the enzyme that breaks down lactose decreases. This can lead to flatulence and indigestion. Fermented milk products are better. Fortiflora is a highly praised probiotic. Give it with food. Although some fussy cats may turn up their noses.
Irina
Thank you very much for your reply. I meant Duphalac with food. We'll fix that!
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