Food suggestions for kitty with constipation issues

[Sandy and Brie]

Brie's constipation is under control for now I hope. Miralax, cisapride and petroleum jelly are helping. He has CKD and I have been thinking for a while about switching to a lower phos food. He's been eating the ff classics and after looking at the earlier post of the updated food list I look at the phos content and know I should change. I was going to change his food in the beginning of March but his phos was in the 2s so I didn't do anything. His phos from this week is 4 so now I'm thinking I should change. Has anyone used the wellness brand wet foods? I'm just worried that I may end up choosing a food that will make his constipation worse.

 

[BJM]

When you do a food change, slowly transition from one to the other. This will let you monitor for problems.

Check out the Friskies SD canned foods. Much less expensive than Wellness, designed for cats with urinary tract disease.

 

[KPassa]

I have heard canned pumpkin works very well for both constipation and diarrhea. Make sure it's pure pumpkin (and not the pumpkin pie stuff).

 

[BJM]

Have you found this site: Feline Constipation?

Lots of good info so you'll have options when needed.

 

[tuckers mom]

I have heard canned pumpkin works very well for both constipation and diarrhea. Make sure it's pure pumpkin (and not the pumpkin pie stuff).

We use canned pumpkin. Rather than letting it sit in the can in the fridge and end up tossing some, we have ice cube trays that make the smaller ice cubes. I smear the pure pumpkin into that, freeze and when frozen I pop the frozen pumpkin pieces into a freezer bag. Each day I take out a few to use. They defrost quickly. I don't end up tossing old pumpkin this way.

 

[Amy & Papaya (GA)]

Not a food suggestion exactly, but I read something the other day about human diabetics that made me go "aha!" - that they also often have trouble with constipation because of nerve damage from the diabetes. I have noticed hind leg weakness in my cat but hadn't thought about the fact that the constipation could be happening for the same reason. I have noticed that since I recently started giving my cat methyl-B12 to hopefully help with her hind leg weakness, that she has had less trouble with constipation. I'm still giving Metamucil in her food but have been able to cut it back a bit and she's more regular. I don't know if it would help for your cat, but I wanted to mention it as one more thing to consider.

 

[KPassa]

Not a food suggestion exactly, but I read something the other day about human diabetics that made me go "aha!" - that they also often have trouble with constipation because of nerve damage from the diabetes. I have noticed hind leg weakness in my cat but hadn't thought about the fact that the constipation could be happening for the same reason. I have noticed that since I recently started giving my cat methyl-B12 to hopefully help with her hind leg weakness, that she has had less trouble with constipation. I'm still giving Metamucil in her food but have been able to cut it back a bit and she's more regular. I don't know if it would help for your cat, but I wanted to mention it as one more thing to consider.

This is a definite "Aha!" moment! I wonder if many chronically constipated kitties could also benefit from some extra B12! Nice sleuthing! :thumbup

 

[BJM]

Great catch! You might post that note as its own topic in feline health AND share it with folks over at Feline Constipation

 

[Sandy and Brie]

Thanks for the replies. Yes I have seen the site about feline constipation. I actually belong to the yahoo feline megacolon group. Everyone is a poop watcher over there. I should post my question there. I just have not had a lot of computer time the last few days. I've thought about the pumpkin. I may start adding it next week. I do have B12 but have not started it. I have a big bottle left over from my other kitty that crossed last month. I read on Tanya's CRF site not to give B12 to cancer kitties. There is no link as to why. I mentioned it to my vet and she thought it was a good idea to start and that she never heard of not giving it to cancer kitties. She even went online to look up contraindications while I was at the office. I have the cyanocobalamin.

 

[BJM]

The methylcobalamin is supposed to work better. Its a water-soluble vitamin so any excess will be excreted through the kidneys (not sure if that is an issue for renal kitties or not)