The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
The is is my very first time posting on a site like this but I had to share what I use now. I have 3 cats one kitten. 16 yr, 6yr, 5yr & 3 month year old and the most issues I have had so far has been with my eldest cat. She is just as spry as all my other ones believe it or not but when she began to get constipated I didn't know what to do. It was so bad she had surgery. 8 years later and I swear by this.
I use coconut oil. A little bit on a syringe. All will be fine. Give it a day or two in the beginning they will still strain a bit but when they finally pass the feces they will be fine. Just give it to them every other day. They don't mind the taste. If you can't physically put in your cats mouth put it on the paw and or in the food. It doesn't take much to do the trick. (The olive oil works too. Coconut oil (cosco or bjs) $10 also has positive effects on their body just like ours.
Posted by Linda (Ontario, Canada) on 08/23/2014 ★★★★★
My Bengal cat chose to eat my large aloe vera plant daily. She never threw up or had loose stools. She's very healthy. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
Why would you heat cold pressed coconut oil in microwave? It ruins anything by changing it at a molecular level. Throw your microwave out. They are crap!
Yes, I have used probiotics on my cats. I rescued a kitten 13 yrs ago and he had the worst poop. Black, tarry and way stinkier than a normal cat and he was so tiny ... I don't know what this poor little guy had been eating but it took about 2 weeks of good food and probiotics to get him back to normal. He grew to be a big, beautiful cat and very healthy too :)
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Just an FYI: black, tarry stool is indicative of bleeding farther up in the GI tract. It may be related to parasites and worms or a very upset tummy/distemper. Super stinky stools can indicate poorly digested food and/or bacterial or viral infection. Kudos for nursing your kitten to good health!
Posted by Dorrie (Austin, Texas) on 03/19/2012 ★★★★★
My very old cat started getting constipated about three years ago. Firstly, you do have to switch to all wet food. Then I added canned pumpkin which worked until she started rejecting the food because she didn't like the taste. Then I switched to psyllium based human laxative which worked very well- but beware- this is not recommended for long term usage. It draws too much water away from the rest of their system. Then I read about aloe vera juice. Big bottle is around $8 at a health food store- buy the one that starts with G. Not too much- a teaspoon in the morning and one at night is plenty. Too much and they will throw up. But it really works and they have no idea it's there. Also love ACV- after two days they really poo but you have to give it orally and my cat hates it. Aloe has proven to be the best solution by far, and I also add a little bit to the water bowl.
Posted by Kerie (Garrison, Nd) on 03/04/2012 ★★★★★
Like someone else has suggested for cats with constipation, I would try cocount oil. I am an LMT and I use it home in my diet, on my hair on my skin, I give massages with it and I give it to my animals. Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral. It doesn't alter when you cook it at low temps, and it is not a toxic fat to your body. It will really help your poor kitty's intenstines. My family makes fun of me because I am ALWAYS preaching the health benefits of the stuff. I also use it in place of deoderant, (what a hippie huh LOL) Because I think it is unsafe. It is THE ONLY deoderant replacement that works. It does also kill fleas and ticks, and helps cats pass hairballs. They like it, too! Hope you kitty is better!
Since aloe vera is one of those remedies that can cause some confusion, here is a clear explanation that I find helpful:
"When you open an aloe vera leaf, you will see that it has a clear center which is the aloe gel. The plant also has a white or yellow colored substance located around the edges, beneath the aloe leaf's surface. This portion of the plant is the aloe latex, and the latex contains a natural chemical named aloin. Aloin can be toxic to animals. It has a laxative effect, so it can cause diarrhea and irritate the intestines, leading to electrolyte loss. Also, if an animal has a latex allergy, aloin can cause skin irritation. When this occurs, the skin will turn red after coming into contact with the aloin.
To reap the benefits and avoid any possible toxic effects, pet owners just need to make sure the latex part of the aloe vera plant has been removed during processing. To ensure a product is free of aloin, the label should state that it contains only the gel of the aloe vera plant I.e. the inner fillet. Avoid labels stating “whole leaf” since products would then include the latex substance that contains the aloin. Fortunately, most products on the market have removed the latex part of the plant."
Posted by Patricia (Miami, Florida) on 09/10/2013 ★★★★★
I once saved a cat's life by giving it aloe vera (the inside of the leaf). The cat was refusing to eat or drink so a friend told me to try aloe vera. I blended it with a little water and forced it with the help of my friend down the sick cat's throat. Miraculously, the cat recovered after 2 days of treatment 2X a day. I have also tried using it to treat other ill cats and it was unsuccessful. Do not continue treatment if you do not see improvement within 2 days.
Our cat has been constipated for almost two years. He has had several enemas, has been on lactulose, powdered laxative, wet food, etc. The last time we brought him we thought we would have to say goodbye, it was so bad. I finally looked up constipated cat on line and headed to Vitamin Cottage and got him oat bran, organic pumpkin and organic coconut oil. I mix the coconut oil with all natural wet cat food (with flax & fiber) and organic pumpkin, he loves it! He has gained weight, his coat looks great, his eyes are brighter and he is himself again. We bought him a kitty fountain as well and put water with electrolytes & ice cubes when it's hot, anything to get him to drink and soak up the water. He was doing so well that just this week we slacked on giving him the lactulose and he is backed up again, so keep that up with the new diet. He loves coconut oil, he eats it like ice cream!
Posted by Jeb1 (New York City) on 12/04/2016 ★★★★★
Recently gave aloe vera from the inner filet to my 16 yr. old female cat who is now having Kidney issues and after the first dose, she had a BM. Very impressed because it had been 3 days since she had a BM. Now if I could find something to reverse her Kidney issues, life would be perfect :)
I've taken aloe every day for years ..it is gods medicine and repairs alot of problems in the body...I cant see why it wont work on a pet as well as it has treated my hepatitis...After 40 years with hep "c" my liver enzymes are still normal..
Saw the remedy using pumpkin and I wanna tried .... look at the result! Picture says it all!!! We have our chihuahua some canned pumpkin, took him out to poop and within an hour the big lump was gone!!!
Our poor old, ancient cat was so constipated, he only passed concrete hard poops, a couple of times per week. He is on kidney K D special canned cat food. He ate very little.
I thought one day how unappetizing the cold food was coming out of the fridge so started adding about 50% very hot water and smashing with a fork, I also gave him about 1 level teaspoonful of plain canned pumpkin to a 1/4 can of food. This makes almost a gravy consistency. He just laps it up (has also lost some teeth). He is now eating this 4-5 times per day, and pooping normal, soft poops every day. It took several days to get the hard stuff passed so don't be surprised if you don't get instant results. I also gave only 1/2 teas. pumpkin to start as I didn't want to cause major gas, tummy ache, etc. He seems to be much more active and eating regularly, comes running when he sees his dish. Poor old guy!!!
I have given my cats aloe juice daily for weeks without any problems. It is the outer leaf of the plant which apparently is toxic, not the inner "fillet" (as they call it). My vet prescribed a product, which is distilled from the plant, to give to one of my cats (for a skin allergy problem). Very expensive, though, so I bought the juice which does not have any of the outer leaf.
Posted by Tanya (Michigantown, Indiana) on 08/03/2011 ★★★★★
My cat has a bad pelvic fracture that I didn't know about until one day I took her in and out of surprise it was found, along with a bullet lodged a few inches from her spine. I had found her as a stray and took her in - She walked fine and acted fine. Her doctor informed me her injuries were done on purpose and we were all shocked that she recovered without any medical attention.
She has chronic constipation and the lactulose was not working, she's had several surgeries and it seemed to really effect her, she's an old lady and I seriously got tired of her going through this every month and having all these surgeries to remove it and started thinking it was finally time to let her go. Out of desperation I went to the store and tried one last thing before I took her in which, I was going to do the following day. I bought some Mineral Oil and gave her an enema - it was so huge, there was no way she'd pass it, and you could see it. I've tried to take it out myself, but it was too painful for her. It was horrible and she got to the point, where she would sleep with her rear in the air. I started the enema of mineral oil, the next day looked at her rear it it was gone. I looked in the litter box and there it was. She had passed it during the night. I was so exstatic I couldn't believe it and still to this day I still use the Mineral Oil and it does work. It lubricates them so they can go easily.
BUT, DON'T GIVE IT BY MOUTH, WHEN YOU SQUIRT IT INTO THE MOUTH, THE CAT CAN EASILY ASPIRATE IT AND IT COULD CAUSE LUNG PROBLEMS AND OTHER PROBLEMS. USING AS AN ENEMA DOES WORK.
Posted by Paulette (Sydney, Australia) on 06/03/2009 ★★★★★
One cap full to four caps water of apple cider vinegar. When blocked do every 30 mins Put in wet foood-catfood tinned NO flour cereal in it.Human Tuna O.K. too if stuck. Our cat was blocked and it unblocked him 2 and a 1/2 hours later enough to sleep, I can lose sleep but not the cat as I dont have another $1200 straight away Two days out of the vet.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
There is no conflict in the reports. Pumpkin has fiber which adds bulk to loose stool which firms it up; it also has antimicrobial properties which help fight certain parasites which cause loose stool. The same fiber also works to help with constipation because it retains moisture, which softens the stool and the bulk helps the stool pass quickly. As for toxicity, pumpkin is not toxic but too much will cause large and excessive stool production.
ABOVE ALL...find yourself a good holistic vet. You don't want to manage kitty's symptoms with toxic drugs in the cut, poison, burn method. You want to get to the root of the problem and help the kitty regain good health.
Posted by Beth (Brighton, Mi, Usa) on 11/08/2011 ★★★★★
Pedialyte (1/4 teaspoon in water bowl) to return electrolyte balance. Cold pressed virgin coconut oil - about 1/8 of a teaspoon, heated in microwave for 10 seconds, then add wet food on the plate you used in the microwave. My vet put my 16 year old cat on a stool softener, but there was still blood in her stool. After putting her on the coconut oil (2 weeks now-morning and night with her wet food), she's healed internally and only a trace amount of blood in her stool.
I now give all my geriatric cats the 1/8 teaspoon of coconut oil in each (wet) meal. This has been a godsend for their health and well being.
Posted by D.A. Daly (Jacksonville Beach, FL) on 04/18/2022
I grow organic cat grass in a pot outside for my cat and bring it inside and she loves it. Begs for it. But need to know does it help with constipation or make worse? She was just diagnosed with constipation for the first time and Nosey is 4 yrs old. Currently giving Miralax but looking for something more natural.
Posted by Susanne (Springfield, Illinois) on 11/11/2019 ★★★★★
Pumpkin for constipation works wonders in my cat. I buy it by the can and freeze it in ice cube trays. Yadi begs for it every day and dances around meowing until I get it thawed out. He knows the word pumpkin. AND it works! His stools are larger and softer now yet not runny. Finally I am seeing "normal" stools.
Posted by Dan (Seattle, Wa, USA) on 07/06/2013 ★★★★★
After reading many of the cat constipation posts here, I tried 1/4 teaspoon of virgin coconut oil and 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar mixed in her wet food. She had no trouble with it and ate it up. Within a half hour she was pooping good. This was after four days of having trouble. I have used it a few more times when she needs it but she has been pretty regular since. Next time I will try either one or the other and check the results. She is a 19 year old Main Coon.
You must be logged in to this post! Please sign in:
Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy
