What to do if your cat hasn't pooped for several days?

If you suspect that your cat is constipated, take it to the pet hospital for inspection to determine if your cat needs medication or a change in diet to eat high-fiber cat food. It's best to treat constipation early without delay. Because constipation may not be a sudden occurrence but a sign of other serious diseases such as colon obstruction, megacolon, and colonic dilation.

Causes of Cat Constipation

Insufficient water intake, long-term feeding of dry hard food, hairball syndrome, insufficient exercise, and sudden changes in cat food can all cause constipation in cats.
Anal swelling, anal gland inflammation, rectal diseases, and other factors can cause pain in the anus, leading to difficulty in defecation, and eventually causing constipation.
Severe infection of parasites can also block the intestines and cause constipation.

Symptoms of Cat Constipation

When a cat is constipated, the owner will notice that the cat's recent bowel movements are irregular. The cat often goes to the litter box but doesn't produce feces, or if it does, it's short and hard. Massive fecal accumulation in the intestine makes the cat resistant to being touched on the abdomen. It is recommended that the owner supplement the cat's water intake and stop feeding dry hard food and canned goods, etc. Adjust the cat's stomach with probiotics. In desperate cases, the owner can consider using enemas to help the cat defecate. If constipation has lasted for several days, the owner should take the cat to the vet for treatment.

How to Deal with Cat Constipation

If you notice symptoms of constipation in your cat, take it to the vet for a check-up. Your cat may need artificial assistance with defecation through enemas or injections of tranquilizers. If the constipation is severe and long-lasting, it may require tranquilization or general anesthesia to clean the intestines and facilitate defecation. You can also give the cat medication as per the vet's instructions. In cases where constipation is not severe, you can add mashed pumpkin or cream pumpkin to your cat's food to increase fiber intake.