What to Do When Your Kitten Can’t Poop · Kinship Leave a comment

Bringing residence a brand new kitten is a pleasant expertise that places huge smiles on everybody’s faces. Watching a kitten play, whether or not they’re just a few weeks outdated or six months outdated, can deliver hours of pleasure. That’s why there are such a lot of movies of cats on the web — their antics may be fairly humorous. 

Nonetheless, in case your kitten turns into constipated — which may occur to any kitty — their playfulness can step by step flip to expressing discomfort or ache. And that’s a actuality test to be taken significantly. If you happen to don’t know precisely how one can acknowledge kitten constipation or what to do about it, you’ll by the tip of this information. 

Navigating life
with a brand new pet? Head to littleKin!

littleKin™ is Kinship’s residence simply for pet and kitten dad and mom. Bop over to take a look at skilled recommendation, new pet instruments, and particular offers—all curated on your latest member of the family.

Get Free Recommendation

What’s kitten constipation?

Constipation in kittens means the identical factor it does in people. When the meals your kitten eats travels by way of the intestines to the colon, however the stool can’t be handed, that known as constipation. Sadly, not solely is it uncomfortable, but when it’s not relieved instantly, it may be harmful on your cat. It’s essential as a cat mother or father that you just find out about constipation, its signs, causes, and remedy. 

Signs of kitten constipation

Recognizing signs of a situation early is at all times higher, even for constipation. The sooner it’s recognized, the earlier remedy can start, leading to a greater consequence. 

Frequent signs of kitten constipation embody:

• Small, dry, and onerous feces within the litter field 

• The sound of your kitten crying and straining whereas attempting to move stool

• A number of journeys to the litter field with out producing something besides urine

• A swollen stomach that hurts once you gently press on it

• A decreased urge for food or no urge for food in any respect

• Lethargy

A kitten or cat who has these signs wants assist. In the event that they’re a tiny kitten, it’s an emergency. 

Causes of kitten constipation

There are a number of causes of constipation in kittens. Realizing these can assist you stop future episodes of constipation. 

Dehydration

If a kitten shouldn’t be consuming sufficient water, they may produce onerous, dry stools. They’ll develop into onerous to move. Some of the frequent occasions this could occur is following the transition from mom’s milk or system to common kitten meals. Many individuals feed their cats dry meals, which has little or no moisture in it. This could result in dehydration and constipation. To keep away from this, add water to the dry meals or feed them canned meals. 

Gastrointestinal obstruction

Cats, being self-groomers, can ingest hair, resulting in constipation. In addition they wish to chew on toys, particularly after they’re younger, and might swallow a chunk of 1. Blockages could outcome, and may be very painful and require quick veterinary consideration. Surgical procedure could also be essential to take away the obstruction.

Parasites

Kittens usually include parasites once you undertake them. Normally, constipation is because of intestinal worms. There are a number of sorts, similar to roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. If there’s an overabundance, the worms can intrude with digestive processes and even trigger constipation or an obstruction. In these instances, dewormers prescribed by your veterinarian have to be administered. 

Age

Younger kittens who’re orphaned want stimulation by a pet mother or father mimicking what a mom cat would do to instigate pooping by stimulating their anal areas. They are going to develop into constipated in the event that they aren’t correctly stimulated, or if it’s not accomplished proper. Kittens will not be in a position to defecate on their very own till 4 weeks of age or generally longer. 

Different illnesses

Some congenital illnesses (situations your kitten is born with) can contribute to constipation. Cats can have megacolon (or, enlarged colon), neurological issues, or dietary intolerances that result in constipation. Your vet should establish these situations and resolve how one can handle them finest. 

How veterinarians diagnose kitten constipation

A go to to the vet begins with a radical historical past, which may give the physician clues. The vet will then conduct a complete examination. 

The vet will gently palpate the kitten’s stomach to really feel for stool buildup and to see if the palpation causes a ache response. The vet will even rigorously test the kitten’s hydration standing. An X-ray or ultrasound could also be wanted to confirm stool buildup and search for blockages or abnormalities. A fecal examination might be carried out to search for parasites. These steps help the veterinarian in growing a selected remedy plan on your kitten.

Therapies for kitten constipation

Remedy might be advisable relying on the outcomes of the vet’s examination and any checks taken. If no underlying trigger for the constipation was discovered — and the stool buildup was not extreme — your kitten could also be despatched residence with a light laxative. 

If their situation is extra extreme, an enema could also be crucial. If any parasites are discovered, a dewormer might be given. In case your kitten is dehydrated, fluids could also be given both subcutaneously (underneath the pores and skin) or by way of an IV. If any obstructions or abnormalities are discovered, your vet will talk about choices with you: There could also be additional testing or a advice for surgical procedure. 

The severity and underlying reason for constipation decide the remedy choices. Residence treatments and medical interventions could also be essential to resolve the problem.

Residence treatments

For delicate instances of constipation, you’ll be able to strive the next treatments at residence.

• Provide contemporary water, refilling the bowl regularly.

• Add water to dry meals (which has little or no moisture in it), or feed them a canned meals food plan. It’s possible you’ll even add water to the canned meals.

• A pet fountain is a wonderful addition. Cats usually favor transferring water and can drink extra if it’s from a fountain.

• Add a small quantity of pure pumpkin puree (which doesn’t have any added sugar or spices) to their meals to extend fiber consumption.

• In case your kitten could be very younger, your vet can educate you to softly stimulate their anus with a heat, damp, delicate material to encourage defecation. This must be accomplished after each feeding. 

• Attempt to get your kitten to play extra and transfer round in any method doable to stimulate the intestines. 

• A small drop of coconut or olive oil (ask your vet for the right dosage) can assist lubricate the intestinal tract and make stool passage simpler. 

• Ask your vet whether it is OK to provide your kitten a probiotic. Probiotics can enhance intestinal well being and assist digestion. They might be particularly useful in case your kitten has not too long ago skilled stress or a dietary change.

If these residence remedies don’t alleviate constipation, your kitten ought to see the vet for doable medical remedy.

Medical remedies

For extra extreme instances, a veterinarian is required. They are going to play a crucial position in relieving your kitten’s constipation and discovering the underlying trigger. Among the aids they may use embody the next.

• Medicines similar to a laxative (lactulose) or stool softener (polyethylene glycol) will encourage simpler bowel actions. These medicines should be administered rigorously to keep away from overcorrection, inflicting diarrhea. 

• Your vet may additionally give your kitten an enema to melt their stool and make it simpler to move. By no means try and administer an enema at residence, as a result of this requires the right experience and tools to keep away from harm and extra problems. 

• Administering subcutaneous or IV fluids can rehydrate your kitten and enhance stool consistency. Correct hydration helps soften stool.

• In extreme instances, when nothing works, the veterinarian could should manually evacuate the stool. Your kitten will doubtless be sedated to maintain them comfy. 

• In uncommon instances of extreme obstruction, surgical procedure could also be essential to take away the blockage.

• The vet will search for and handle the basis reason for constipation, which may very well be as a result of parasites or an absence of fiber within the food plan. This may increasingly contain giving deworming remedies, altering the kitten’s food plan, or different long-term administration methods. 

• Surgical procedure, though uncommon, could also be wanted to deal with GI obstructions or extreme anatomical abnormalities. This can be a last-resort process. 

At all times seek the advice of your veterinarian earlier than administering any medicines or remedies.

Easy methods to stop kitten constipation

Many causes of kitten constipation may be prevented.

• Guarantee your kitten has contemporary water out there on a regular basis.

• Feed canned meals as an alternative of dry kibble.

• Feed a high-quality balanced food plan labeled for kittens, with the correct quantity of fiber. 

• Preserve all of your veterinarian appointments for vaccinations and dewormings.

• Encourage train with toys, and put aside a time when you’ll be able to play together with your kitten.

• Preserve the litter field clear always. Scoop it twice day by day and monitor its contents. 

Following these solutions ensures that your kitten is much less prone to endure from constipation.

FAQs

How do you make a four-day-old kitten poop?

Kittens as much as 4 weeks of age can’t defecate or urinate independently. The mom cat stimulates them to poop by licking the anal and genital space. A four-day-old kitten must be stimulated by mimicking the mom’s licking. A heat, damp material or cotton ball can be utilized to softly therapeutic massage the world till they urinate and defecate. Do that after each meal. 

What’s the triangle technique for kittens’ poop?

The triangle technique is much like the tactic described above. Use a delicate, heat material and create a triangular movement across the kitten’s anus and genital space. That is much like what a mom cat does to assist kittens relieve themselves. 

References

White, RN. “Surgical Administration of Constipation.” Journal of Feline Medication and Surgical procedure, vol. 4, no. 3, Sept. 2002, pp. 129–138, https://doi.org/10.1053/jfms.2002.0171. Accessed 16 Apr. 2022.