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My cat is constipated. What can I give her to help her poop?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Persian | Female | spayed | 13 years and 6 months old | 7.7 lbs

My cat is constipated. What can I give her?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 2nd, 2019

Hello, and thanks for your question about Jessi. If Jessi is still eating and drinking well, and generally acting like herself, then I have a few suggestions, but I still recommend a conversation with your vet. Some cats are more prone to constipation than others, and sometimes giving them a prescription GI food can really help (I swear, Royal Canin GI Fiber Response food is magical for cats with chronic constipation!). Some cats can do well with a little miralax added to their life as well. So, there may be some long-term changes to discuss, but as long as Jessi is eating, not vomiting, and generally acting like herself, then you can try giving her a little canned pumpkin (about 1 Tablespoon 3 times daily - some cats will eat this, some won't), and encourage her to take in more fluids by offering some canned cat food or all-meat baby food that has a bit of extra water mixed in. The extra fiber and moisture can help hard stools pass. However, if Jessi *isn't* acting normal, then I'd have her seen by your vet right away. If she's not eating well, or vomiting, or lethargic, then she could be constipated to the point of discomfort / illness and requiring intervention from the vet - or, small infrequent stools could also be a symptom of something else worrisome such as a GI foreign body (an object stuck in her intestines that isn't passing through). Hope this helps!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Stephanie Echols, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 26th, 2017

    Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would talk to your vet about using a prescription food. Royal Canin Fiber Response is made for cats that have constipation. I would also talk to your vet about lactulose. It is a stool softener that you give daily to help soften his stools. Good luck and kisses to Daunte!

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on November 11th, 2016

    Poor kitty! This can be a challenging problem to manage in some cats. Giving lactulose as directed by your veterinarian is a good start, since this helps to keep the stool softer and easier to pass. In terms of diet, most of these kitties do best on a canned-only, highly digestible GI diet - ideally, a prescription diet like Hills i/d or Royal Canin LF would probably be best. If this isn't possible, you can use an over-the-counter canned diet instead. You can also try mixing a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin into her food twice daily, as this can be a good way of adding moisture and a small amount of fiber to the diet. There are other medications that can also be helpful for cats with this condition, including Miralax and cisapride, so it may be a good idea to talk with your vet about these options if she's still having problems that aren't well-managed with diet alone.

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    Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 19th, 2017

    Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! Some cats, as they get older, can develop constipation. Some of these cats can develop a condition known as megacolon in which feces becomes trapped and difficult to pass for the cat which leads to constipation, very painful constipation. In older cats with constipation I will recommend adding fiber capsules to the diet such as Vetasyl Feline fiber supplement capsules that you sprinkle over the food. In bad cases of constipation, I will perform an enema and then place the cat on a medication called Lactulose. This last method is quite effective at managing chronic constipation. I would try the vetasyl capsules and if there is no improvement, I would suggest having your veterinarian take a look at Spot to discuss long term management with a drug like lactulose. Also, when your vet performed in exam, he / she may also find out what the cause of the constipation is. A rectal exam should be performed and possible ultrasound to ensure that there is not a tumor / mass in the colon / rectal area causing the constipation. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available by phone or text based consultation if needed.

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