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My cat is constipated, pumpkin didn't work, and she won't take pills.

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

How to help a cat with hard constipated stools. Tried Pumpkin which did not really make a difference. This cat does not take pills.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 31st, 2017

I'm sorry Harley is having problems with constipation! One of the most common causes of constipation in cats is dehydration due to inadequate fluid intake, which can result from a dry food diet. As feces pass through the colon, water is normally reabsorbed via the colon. When a cat is dehydrated, the colon absorbs more water, leading to dry feces and causing constipation. Other causes include a foreign body, gastrointestinal tumors, megacolon, neurological problems, skeletal pain that makes posturing to defecate painful, hairballs, too much fiber in the diet, lack of exercise, stress, gastrointestinal polyps, and obesity. If pumpkin isn't helping, she needs to see a vet as soon as possible. The vet may need to manually remove any impacted feces, and can give an enema if needed. Please do not give her an enema yourself, as humans ones often contain very high levels of phosphate and giving one to a cat can result in high levels of phosphorus in the body, which can be deadly. There are also laxatives and stool softeners your vet can prescribe as needed, as well as a high fiber diet. I hope this helps!

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2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 9th, 2018

    Constipation can be a very serious condition, it can be caused by a physical blockage (foreign body like a bone) or a functional peristalsis deficiency of the intestines. In order to treat simple constipation, you should increase the fibers in the food (e.g. canned pumpkin) and can add a little mineral oil to the diet. I strongly advise taking Chill to the vet in order to check if there is a serious condition causing the constipation first.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 24th, 2019

    Hi, and thanks for your question. Mild constipation that lasts no more than two days can usually be resolved at home with increased fiber and hydration. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just the straight-up pumpkin) or liquid paraffin can be used, and should work straight away in the following 8 hours from administration. DO NOT TRY to give an enema as it could be dangerous and cause electrolyte imbalances and colon perforation. If constipation lasts more than 24 hours from administration of those or 48 hours in general, a check up at your local vet is required. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 13th, 2017

    Oh no, poor Nina! One of the most common causes of constipation in cats is dehydration due to inadequate fluid intake, which can result from a dry food diet. As feces pass through the colon, water is normally reabsorbed via the colon. When a cat is dehydrated, the colon absorbs more water, leading to dry feces and causing constipation. Other causes include a foreign body, gastrointestinal tumors, megacolon, neurological problems, skeletal pain that makes posturing to defecate painful, hairballs, too much fiber in the diet, lack of exercise, stress, gastrointestinal polyps, and obesity. You can try adding a teaspoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) to Nina’s food at each meal. A teaspoon of bran can be added to the food instead of the pumpkin puree. Canned cat food will add moisture to the diet, and you can offer her some of that as well. It is concerning that she won't eat, and she likely feels very unwell from being constipated. If she is still having trouble passing feces in the morning, have her seen by a vet first thing. She may need an enema or laxative to help her pass feces, or the feces may need to be manually removed. The vet can also diagnose the cause of the constipation.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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