My cat hasn't pooped in 2 days. How long do cats typically go between pooping? How long should I wait before I take him to the vet?
He is a neutered male domestic short hair, about three years old and otherwise in good health.
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So, for the short answer on this, I would get him into the vet to check his hydration and to, possibly, clean him out. Not so much because he's in immediate danger, but because there are long term risks with this situation in the formation of megacolon. As you know, cats are not necessarily avid drinkers and this becomes more risky if a cat is prone to constipation and he may well be. The food he eats and the amount of water he drinks will play a real role here.
There may be nothing to it, but if he's not getting the moisture in his diet, then a change in diet may help. In addition to wet cat food, I would recommend adding water to it to increase the moisture content. We do that with our cat that suffers from megacolon and it makes a big difference, in conjunction with some medications, in keeping him regular. The goal is to make the stool soft enough so that a cat with weak muscles can still move the stool through the system.
Joanne C
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Does your cat vomit, or has it tried vomiting recently? If he/she does, it might be a result of excessive hairballs, as constipation for cats might also be caused by excessive hairballs. In my case, I have tried giving my cat some Hairball & Laxatives and Hairball remedies, and it works well. For a safer and cheap remedy, try giving your cat some cat grass or wheat grass to clear the hairballs.
As what the previous answer suggests, it is good to constantly supply your cat with clean water and not too many dry treats if he/she is getting older. Veterinarians suggest that it's more efficient for cats to absorb water from wet food rather than just water.
