Hard, Dry Stools and “Scooting” in a 3-Year-Old Female Cat (Diet, Treats, and Hy

[Gesine]

Terrill, I’m not familiar with the food you are giving your cat, but I do know our diet now is quite different from the way cats evolved in the wild, where they obtained their fluid intake from their prey. Domestic cats should have several water stations around the house, and they generally don’t drink water if it’s located next to their food source. I had a cat that liked drinking out of the faucet as well, but I can’t imagine that’s enough. Best to buy a water fountain, which mimics water coming out of a faucet. You can get it at any petstore, Amazon, or Chewy. Try this first, then, if the stool problem persists, your cat needs to be checked out by a vet. Cats get a lot of water from the canned food we give them. Maybe you need to change the food source. Good luck with your baby! Gesi:)

[Chris]

Hi Terill, the issues with constipation you’re seeing could be related to an underlying medical condition, especially if it’s not something your cat has experienced before. It is best for cats to have multiple dedicated water sources with fresh water. If you’re not sure how much water intake is occurring, I would consider getting 2 or 3 bowls with measured amounts so you can track it over a week and see how fast that water is getting depleted. Kidney disease, for example (or diabetes too) can lead to an increase in water intake and subsequent dehydration, sometimes with resultant constipation.

Here’s an article from Cornell on how much water a cat should take in per day and other causes for dehydration: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/hydration

Miralax is an option to help with constipation. It’s an osmotic laxative that can be purchased over the counter. Here is our article on it for more information: https://cats.com/miralax-for-cats

The one important thing when using though is to ensure adequate water intake, as it works by pulling body water into the colon. That’s why I would first consider figuring out if your cat is drinking excessively first by recording water intake. If so, visiting a vet to rule out underlying conditions causing excessive drinking and resultant dehydration would also be important.

vet.cornell.edu

Hydration

Hydration refers to the amount of water in the body, and maintaining normal hydration for our feline friends (and for ourselves!) is essential for a variety of vital bodily functions, including temperature regulation, maintenance of normal electrolyte concentrations, digestion of … Continue reading

[Thompson]

Hard, dry stools are often linked to low hydration, even if a cat drinks from a faucet. Try increasing moisture by adding more wet or homemade food, adding water to meals, and using a water fountain or multiple water bowls to encourage drinking. For my own cats, I rotate dry food with a fresh wet option (Billi Treats) because moisture helps digestion and coat health. If constipation continues, a vet visit is important to rule out underlying issues and discuss safe stool softeners/syrups if needed.