13 year old Female cat has been chronically constipated

Hello,

My name is Jessica and my female cat Chloe (who is roughly 13 years of age) has been chronically constipated for...well...what I personally believe to be years now. She has only been in my care for almost a year now but she was my mothers cat and I was aware that she had some (what we believed to be) behavioral issues when she had her such as defecating around the house. Since I have taken her into my care I no longer believe these to be behavior but medical issues. A few months ago I had to take her to the vet because I noticed she was having very small bowel movements and straining like crazy trying to poop just about anywhere in the house. She would also lie on her side and try to poop but nothing would come out or it would get stuck. I was given Lactalose and told to go on a prescription diet (no!). I took the Lactalose home and begin to administer it. After a few days I wasn't seeing any effects and I came home one day to find her straining more then I had ever seen and she was clearly uncomfortable. I rushed her to the vet and they administered 3 enemas and eventually a lot of small, hard poop came out. Since then I have been feeding her exclusively wet canned food and I put a bit of pumpkin in her food every day. She does not get hard food, ever! I find her constipation increases on hard food and she doesn't drink much either. Even though she is going a bit more normally now and taking larger poops they are still fairly small and about once a week she will become constipated and wonder around the house straining to poop.

I would also like to note that she vomits quite frequently. When she was living with my mother both of my cats would vomit multiple times everyday. I have switched both of them to a grain free diet and my other cat has stopped completely but Chloe continues to, though no where near as much. Lately, she has been vomiting every day. It's usually a clear foam or brown liquid.

I am in desperate need of help. I feel like I have tried everything. I fear taking her to the vet because they will just recommend a prescription food and give me some big speech about how grains aren't bad for cats when I know my cats don't do well on them at all. If anyone could provide me with some reasons why Chloe is like this and some possible all natural solutions I would be forever in debt to you!

Thank you so so very much!

[opus88]

first of all congrats on doing all your homework, I agree completely with what you've been doing...no grains, no prescription diets, no dry food, adding pumpkin all...great!!!
Even if a cat drinks water it is never enough to compensate for the dehydration that dry food causes.

poor Chloe must be in absolute agony, bless your heart for doing so much to help her through this...

I wonder if an xray was ever done? I ask this b/c I have one also who suffers from chronic constipation and I too am doing all the above and it was discovered he has a bowel constricture. a narrowing of the lower bowel near his anus...if the poop is a little hard or large it gets stuck at that spot and plugs him up.
I do use lactulose with varying results, and have to watch his litter box closely and keep track of results(hard at time with 2 cats).....I would keep up with the lactulose....2mls(cc's) followed by 4mls(cc's) of water up to 2x a day with a dropper...
OR
Lately I've also been using Benefiber..its in the green container... (NOT PHSYLLIUM for constipation)...just a small amount abt 1/8 teasp. mixed with a dab of warm water.than add to her wet food.....this has inulin an insoluable fiber that speeds up transit and softens stool, much like pumpkin does....

many cats are lactose intolerant...milk/cream will give them cramping and diarrhea, however you can try something that works for my Nemo b/c he's not lactose intolerant,  abt a 1/4 cup of 50/50 half and half cream in the eve. this and the benefiber is what I've been using the last few weeks with very good results. I would recommend starting with less if you are going to try that just to be sure she doesn't get diarrhea, however at times that is even a welcome sight when suffering so badly from hard little poops.

try that..and let me know how it works ok. and you are absolutely right abt grains not being good for cats.....and sticking to your guns!!!  I wish Vets would spend more time on learning nutrition and not believing everything their suppliers tell them...grains are just fillers...cheaper than meat of course and all manufacturers have their eye on profits above all else.

good luck♥

[ms100202]

I just checked the Metamucil Smooth white formula it's also 100% inulin which is vegetable protein. I use about 2-3 tsp per can mix it all up with the Tripsey I mentioned b4. I don't give them a full can every day they wouldn't eat it all they have free choice of bagged all day. I feed the canned once per day and so far so good. Let me know if it helps any?

[Linky99]

It's is a somewhat older post, so hopefully you will see my reply. I also have a 13 year old chronically constipated cat. My vet recommend 1/8 tsp of human original Miralax every day and it has worked wonders. I mix it into his WET (a must!) food every day and he has been regular for a year. I also add a capful (from a 16 oz water bottle) of distilled water to his food as well. The more water they get from their food, and not from their water bowl the better. Be careful of Lacatose - too much calcium and it can be bad for your cat. Use only in extreme cases. Ditch the dry food at all cost, invest in a high quality wet food (my cat loves Merrick Cowboy Cookout - at specialty stores, not the grocery store) and put water, preferably distilled in their food. If your cat is drinking from a bowl, he is dehydrated! Cats don't have a thirst drive and in the wild they obtain all their hydration from the mice and birds they eat.

[opus88]

thank you for your very informed reply....I agree with you on all counts!!!

I was using Miralax nearly everyday, now I give mine a more natural ingredient,  1/4 teaspoon of BENEFIBER..(.this is an insoluable fiber that speeds up transit) NOT metamucil..which is soluable and SLOWS transit...be sure its Benefiber in the green canister...I also add abt 1/4 cup of 50/50 cream....if your cat can tolerate, it has a laxative effect and okay to use as long as it doesn't cause diarrhea, with chronic constipation that shouldn't be a worry. don't use if your kitty has a weight problem, don't need any over weight kitties..

http://benefiber.com/fiberHealth/faqs.shtml

[Cucciolo]

I do agree on keeping cats as much as possible away from grains and dry food! I ve had multicat houlsehold for decades now, the only cats that developed renal issues are the ones that were formerly feal cats, fed by many volunteers only...dry food!
In case of chronic constipation ( by the way, does your kitty eat grass? Always have some fresh grass available, preventes hair balls too, which may be one of the reasons for her vomiting...) I ve uses 1 - 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil in their food, or, in case of very hard stools, paraffine oil. It always worked very well, even

[Cucciolo]

Srry, my Ipad....

It always worked very well, even for chronic constipation.

Did you have your cats kidney funciton checked? he vomiting could be kidney related. In this case you d need an acid protector, or green ventilated clay  ( 1 tsp diluted in water daily).

Hope your kitty feels better. Try to make her move more, exercise is good for everything, esp at an advanced age, including tha prevention of constipation...

Best of luck!

[Cucciolo]

Srry, my Ipad....

It always worked very well, even for chronic constipation.

Did you have your cats kidney function n checked? her vomiting could be kidney related. In this case you d need an acid protector, or green ventilated clay  ( 1 tsp diluted in water daily).

Hope your kitty feels better. Try to make her move more, exercise is good for everything, esp at an advanced age, including tha prevention of constipation...

Best of luck!