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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 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