Cat constipation is a particularly common and uncomfortable complaint that you can treat at home. In some rare cases these steps will fail to solve the problem and a visit to your vet will be required. Some cats are more prone to constipation than others and it's particularly important for their owners to know about home treatment. Cat constipation cures are what we'll look at in this article.
As you know, proper digestion allows our kitty to breakdown and absorb all the nutrients in her food. Generally speaking, in the small intestine she absorbs nutrients and in the large intestine she absorbs water. Fiber and exercise keep the process moving along nicely and digestive enzymes and friendly bacteria inside her gastrointestinal tract ensure that food is properly assimilated.
Cat intestines are sturdy things. They are built to handle all sorts of matter, from hairs that she's ingested while cleaning herself, to the indigestible bits and pieces of small prey (feathers and hair for example).
Sluggish bowels are an indicator of poor digestive health. If she's straining to go and is unhappily producing hard stones of fecal matter then she's constipated. If she's only going every other day, but her bowel movements are soft and well formed, there is unlikely to be a problem.
As with all common conditions like this, prevention is better than cure. Here are some steps that you should take to keep kitty in good digestive health:
* Ensure that she has access to clean water always. Ideally this would be filtered instead of chlorinated tap water.
* Feed her on a quality diet, high in as many raw foods as possible. Where she isn't eating raw food, choose a premium quality manufactured food. Note that there is significant moisture in canned cat food. Dry food eating means water consumption is even more important. Avoid cheap, processed cat food.
* Exercise helps bowel motility. All that moving around helps the food travel through the gut. Inactive cats will suffer more from constipation.
If the above prevention tips fail to keep her bowels moving healthily, then try some digestive supplements:
* Probiotics help to keep a healthy gut flora of friendly bacteria. This gut flora plays a vital role in food digestion and absorption and it also helps to fight off harmful bacteria that may invade the gastrointestinal tract.
* Fiber, herbal remedies and tissue salts will promote healthy bowel functioning.
Keep an eye on your cat's bowel movements. This is especially important after a course of antibiotics or for indoor cats. Poor digestive health can usually be prevented with a healthy diet and sufficient exercise. When that is insufficient, try digestive supplements in your home treatment. Cat constipation can be cured by probiotics, fiber, herbal remedies and tissue salts that will promote bowel health.
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Home Treatment: Cat Constipation Cures (c) Herbapet 2009
