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My kitten is constipated. Is it safe to switch formula back to powder?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 22 days old | 0.7 lbs

A vet recently had me switch my kitten from powdered kmr to liquid to help with constipation. Due to being left out too long the liquid may be bad, and I have some of the powdered formula left, so should I switch to that for the night until I can get more liquid tomorrow? I've heard it can be dangerous for kittens' systems to switch back and forth, but it's also risky to give them formula that has been left out too long.. it was in an off car for a couple hours in a cooler without ice.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 6th, 2017

Yes, I would give the powdered until you can get more liquid. I would not consider it dangerous to switch back and forth between the two. Constipation is quite common with all the formulations (liquid or powder) unfortunately. I would recommend the following which may help: -Dilute the formula an extra part with water. So instead of 1:2 ratio, use a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio. Use a 1:4 when dealing with a kitten who has hard stool, or very young kittens who just switched to formula. -Add 1-2 drops of oil to their formula. This can be canola, olive, or mineral oil. Use this when dealing with hard stool, along with dilution. -Use 1 mL of canned pumpkin along with a 1:3 dilution. Do not use if the stool has been hard. So, I would try these things to see if they help. Hope this answers your question. If not, please feel free to post again! Best wishes!

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