What Causes a Cat to Be Constipated?
Dietary Causes A change in diet can cause constipation in a cat. The new food, especially a dry food, might be higher in protein, which doesn’t provide enough bulk for the cat. Conversely, a new dry food that is higher in fiber might cause constipation if the cat doesn’t drink enough water and become dehydrated. Canned food is less likely to cause constipation. Remedies for dietary-caused constipation include: switching back to the former food; switching temporarily to canned food; or encouraging the cat to drink more water. Some cats like to drink running water and will drink more if a bathroom faucet is left trickling for them several hours a day or if a pet fountain is provided. A constipated cat may instinctively try to eat grass as a laxative, but grass can make the problem worse. Lifestyle Causes Anything that keeps the cat from regular access to its litter box can cause constipation; if the cat ignores the urge to eliminate, fecal matter may become dry and compacted, making elim
