It’s common for cat owners to wonder if feeding tuna can help their cats poop, especially if their cat is experiencing constipation or irregular bowel movements. Tuna is often seen as a special treat for cats, so it makes sense to think it may have beneficial effects on your cat’s digestive system. In this article, we’ll explore whether tuna can actually help a constipated cat poop and look at some other diet tips for improving feline digestion and regularity.
Can tuna help a constipated cat poop?
Tuna on its own is unlikely to resolve feline constipation issues. While tuna provides protein, some essential nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids, it lacks the fiber needed to promote healthy digestion in cats. Here are some key points on tuna for constipated cats:
- Tuna is very low in fiber, providing less than 1 gram of fiber per 3 oz can. Cats need 5-10 grams of fiber daily to support healthy digestion.
- The high fat and protein content of tuna can actually slow down digestion and worsen constipation if given in excess.
- Tuna is not a natural part of a cat’s diet. While a small amount as an occasional treat is fine, it should not make up a large portion of your cat’s intake.
- Overfeeding tuna can lead to hypervitaminosis due to its high vitamin D content.
So while tuna is an appealing treat for cats and a good occasional source of protein and nutrients, it should not be relied upon to relieve constipation. Focus instead on slowly transitioning your cat onto a high-fiber diet and ensuring they get enough exercise and hydration.
Best diet tips to help a constipated cat poop
To support healthy digestion and regular bowel movements in a constipated cat, focus on making the following dietary adjustments:
Increase fiber
Gradually transition your cat onto a high-quality, high-fiber cat food. Look for foods featuring ingredients like pumpkin, sweet potato, peas, and bran. These provide insoluble and soluble fiber to promote intestinal health. Canned food typically contains more fiber than kibble. You can also try adding a tablespoon of canned 100% pumpkin to your cat’s meals.
Add moisture
Feeding more canned wet food instead of dry kibble can help hydrate your cat from the inside out for easier bowel movements. Also ensure fresh water is always available and consider getting a cat water fountain to encourage drinking. Broths and cat milk can also boost fluid intake.
Go low-fat
Limit high-fat foods like tuna and opt for low-fat proteins, especially if weight loss could help your cat’s constipation. Obesity makes defecating more difficult for cats.
Avoid dairy
While dairy products like milk or cheese may seem soothing, most cats are lactose intolerant. Dairy can upset their digestion and worsen constipation.
Don’t abruptly change diet
Make any dietary adjustments slowly over several weeks to allow your cat’s digestive system to adapt without further disruption or gastrointestinal upset. An abrupt change could make constipation worse before it gets better.
Consider probiotic supplements
Discuss probiotic supplements with your vet. Certain probiotic strains can improve gut motility and support healthy digestion in constipated cats. Never give human probiotic supplements as the strains are different.
Ask your vet first about laxatives or stool softeners
While you can find over-the-counter laxatives and stool softeners for cats, it’s important to speak to your veterinarian before using these products. Your vet can help determine if they are appropriate for your cat’s situation and guide you on proper dosage and safety.
When to call the vet about feline constipation
Despite making dietary adjustments at home, contact your vet promptly if your cat still struggles to defecate or the condition worsens. Call the vet right away if your cat shows symptoms like:
- No bowel movements for over 3 days
- Repeated straining and squatting in the litter box
- Small, hard stools
- Blood in the stool
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain or distension
Constipation coupled with these signs could progress to obstipation – a complete blockage of the colon – which is a dangerous medical emergency in cats requiring urgent veterinary treatment. So don’t delay in calling your vet if feline constipation persists or worsens despite home treatment.
Other causes of constipation in cats
While diet plays a central role, constipation can also be caused by other issues like:
- Dehydration – Ensure fresh water is always available. Consider adding broth to food or getting a cat fountain.
- Lack of exercise – Encourage active playtime daily.
- Underlying illness – Constipation may result from conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease. Have your vet examine your cat.
- Side effects of medication – Some drugs like opioids, anti-convulsants, anti-depressants and NSAIDs may cause constipation as a side effect.
- Pain – Issues like arthritis can make litter box access difficult and painful.
- Stress or changes – Transition periods like a new home or family member can temporary cause constipation from stress.
- Old age – Intestinal motility can decline with age.
- Obesity – Excess weight presses on the colon and can impede defecation.
- Debilitating injury or illness – Severely injured or ill cats confined to a small space may have difficulty moving to the litter box.
Discuss any underlying causes with your vet to identify solutions. Younger cats who suddenly develop constipation warrant further diagnostic tests to determine the cause.
When is constipation normal in cats?
It’s normal for a cat’s bowel movements to vary somewhat day-to-day. Other situations where reduced bowel movements are not necessarily concerning include:
- Diet change – Transitioning food can temporarily reduce stool volume.
- Decreased eating – Bowel movements normally decrease when food intake is lower.
- Travel or schedule changes – Cats often won’t defecate outside the litter box when in an unfamiliar environment or on a different routine. This usually resolves within a day or two once home and back to their schedule.
- Pain medication – Certain pain medications like opioids transiently reduce gut motility.
- Giving birth – It’s normal for new mother cats to not defecate daily immediately before and after giving birth as they care for their kittens.
As long as your cat is still bright, alert, eating, and not straining excessively in the litter box, periods of slightly reduced bowel movements due to changes like these are not necessarily worrisome. But if decreased frequency persists beyond 2-3 days or your cat seems uncomfortable, contact your vet for advice.
When to seek immediate emergency treatment
In certain circumstances, immediate emergency vet care is required. Take your cat to the nearest emergency vet clinic right away if you notice:
- No bowel movements or ability to pass gas for over 48 hours
- Repeated violent straining and crying in the litter box
- Hard, distended abdomen
- Vomiting and complete loss of appetite
- Visible bloating or swelling around anus and tail
- Difficulty breathing
- Dry heaving
- Collapsing or seizure activity
- Crying out suddenly as if in great pain
- Bloody discharge from anus
- Rectal prolapse – pink tissue protruding from anus
These are signs of a complete intestinal obstruction, a life threatening condition requiring emergency surgery to unclog bowel contents and prevent devitalized tissue, sepsis, and fatal organ failure. Immediate vet treatment is vital for survival. An obstructed cat can decline rapidly so don’t wait – seek emergency care if obstruction is suspected.
Home enema: Yes or no?
Do not attempt to give your cat an enema at home using over-the-counter products or methods found online. There are several reasons why home enemas are unsafe for cats:
- Improperly administering an enema could perforate your cat’s colon.
- Excess fluids forced into the colon under too much pressure can cause deadly electrolyte imbalances.
- The wrong solutions can dangerously alter your cat’s blood pH.
- Enemas do not address any underlying illness causing the constipation.
- Your cat will likely resist, increasing risk of rectal perforation.
- Overuse of enemas can weaken bowel muscles critical for healthy motility.
For severely obstipated cats unresponsive to medical therapy, vets may cautiously perform an enema using strictly controlled hospitalization, sedation, intravenous fluid support, and radiography monitoring, given the substantial risks. Home enemas could easily prove fatal. Leave all enema procedures to your veterinarian. The focus should be on addressing the root cause of constipation through diet adjustments, hydration, exercise, and appropriate medical treatment prescribed by your vet.
Can probiotics help a constipated cat?
Specific probiotic strains researched to support gastrointestinal health in cats can provide some benefit for constipation. However, probiotics alone will not cure an underlying medical issue causing chronic constipation. Here’s what to know:
- Only give probiotic supplements formulated specifically for cats – do not use human products. Probiotic needs differ between species.
- Look for strains like Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus coagulans, and Bifidobacterium longum which may promote healthy bowel motility in cats.
- Give probiotics on an empty stomach and refrain from using alongside antibiotics.
- Work with your vet to find a reputable supplement and appropriate dosage for your cat.
- View probiotics only as an adjunct support – other treatments will still be needed to manage underlying causes.
Discuss the potential role of probiotic supplements with your veterinarian for a constipated cat. While evidence for benefit is limited, some cats appear to gain modest advantage from select probiotic strains. Probiotics likely provide the most value when intestinal bacteria populations are disrupted, such as during antibiotic use or diet changes.
Will pumpkin help a constipated cat poop?
Pumpkin is probably the most popular and safest home remedy to try for cats suffering from constipation. Here’s how pumpkin can help:
- Pumpkin provides a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber to stimulate bowel motility.
- The fiber soaks up water in the colon to soften and add bulk to stools for easier passage.
- Pumpkin acts as a prebiotic to nourish healthy intestinal bacteria.
- The high water content in pumpkin helps hydrate the colon from the inside out.
- Pumpkin is palatable and gentler on the stomach than harsh laxatives.
- It’s easy to incorporate into food without significantly changing calories.
When buying canned pumpkin, make sure it’s 100% plain pumpkin – avoid pumpkin pie mixes with added sugar, spices, and flavorings. Give your cat 1-4 tablespoons based on their size alongside meals 1-2 times daily. Monitor stool consistency and adjust the dosage as needed. Discontinue if diarrhea develops. While pumpkin often helps relieve mild constipation, also have your vet examine your cat to identify any underlying issues requiring medical treatment.
Conclusion
Tuna may be an appealing treat, but it does not provide an effective solution for a constipated cat. Focus instead on transitioning to a high-fiber, moisture-rich diet, ensuring adequate hydration and exercise, and asking your vet about cat-safe laxatives or underlying medical causes. For an immediate obstruction emergency, get prompt veterinary treatment. While home remedies like pumpkin have a role supporting bowel regularity, they should not replace any prescribed medical treatments for feline constipation. Work closely with your vet to get your constipated cat feeling better and pooping regularly again.