How Long Can Cats Hold Their Poop?

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Pooping habits can reveal a lot about your cat’s overall health.

Some felines frequently poop, while others don’t poop often, but if your feline visits their litter box occasionally, you must discover why they’re pooping less often.

How long can a cat go without a bowel movement? Generally, adult kitties can hold their poop for 24-48 hours, while younger kittens can go without pooping for 12-24 hours.

Moreover, how long your cat can last without pooping depends on age, physical activity, diet, and your cat’s water intake.

In today’s article, I will discuss cats’ toilet habits, so you know how long your cat can go without pooping if you’re traveling together in the future.

I will also list common causes of constipation in cats, so let’s begin.

How Long Can a Cat Go Without Pooping?

Most healthy cats poop at least once a day under normal conditions, but factors such as age, daily activity, diet, and water consumption can affect a cat’s bowel movements.

However, adult cats typically poop once a day and pee between three and five times.

If you have a senior healthy cat, expect your kitty to pee as many as ten times, as it’s normal for older cats to urinate more frequently.

In fact, if your senior kitten isn’t peeing for 24 hours, that’s usually a sign that something isn’t right, and you must visit your vet immediately.

Do Cats Need Toilet Stops When Traveling?

When planning a long trip with your feline, you should know that most cats don’t poop or pee often when traveling.

Unless cats regularly travel, they get stressed by road trips.

They get defensive and withdrawn; hence cats stop eating, drinking, and pooping during trips and just lay down in their carrier and process the situation.

So, you can stop for as many toilet breaks as you want, but your cat won’t poop or pee. Most cats wait until they’re out of the car and feel comfortable in their new home.

So, How Long Can My Cat Hold Their Poop in the Car?

Most cats can go without pooping for about 48 hours in the car, as car rides and moving places usually stress them.

Cat owners say their cats have gone without pooping in the car for 48 hours, so you can expect your feline to hold their poop for about two days without visiting the toilet.

If your cat doesn’t have a bowel movement for over 48, they’re probably experiencing medical issues. So, if you don’t see your feline visiting the toilet for more than two days, schedule a vet appointment immediately.

Your cat’s probably constipated, so you should consult your vet for advice. Your vet can suggest using home remedies for constipation, such as olive oil.

I will discuss home remedies for constipation below, but I highly suggest consulting your vet for advice, as constipation can cause other health issues.

Can Cats Hold Their Poop Overnight?

If you’re wondering if cats can hold their poop overnight because you’re planning a long night trip, the answer is yes. If your kitty doesn’t have access to a litter box, they can go without pooping for hours.

If you have a house-trained cat, you can rest assured knowing your feline won’t poop all over your car during the trip.

How Long Can Cats Hold Their Pee?

Cats must pee regularly. Cats can hold their pee for about 48 hours when traveling in a car. However, they shouldn’t go without peeing for days.

Experts suggest that if a kitty doesn’t pee for over 24 hours, they can become sick from the retained toxins. Simply put, if your kitten goes without peeing for 48 hours, they can die.

Therefore, I suggest you don’t give your feline a lot of water before traveling. The good news? Most cats will rather pee in their carrier instead of going without peeing for long. Luckily, they can hold their poop longer without the same health concerns.

Should I Worry if My Cat is Not Peeing?

If your feline isn’t peeing, they probably have a condition that affects their bladder, also known as lower urinary tract disease. And if not treated, this condition can cause more health problems.

So, if your male cat isn’t peeing, visit the local vet clinic immediately. If your female kitty hasn’t peed for over 24 hours, she will probably show other symptoms, such as vomiting and lethargy.

How Often Should a Cat Poop?

Your cat should poop every 12-36 hours daily. If you notice your kitty pooping less often or having difficulty, they might be constipated.

However, every cat has a different time frame for bowel movements, depending on age, activity, and diet. Still, you should call your vet immediately if your kitty hasn’t pooped in over three days or more.

What’s Constipation?

Constipation can result from dehydration, stress and anxiety, intestinal problems, nerve issues, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, or cancer.

Chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and irritated anal sacs, can also cause constipation in cats.

What’s the Difference Between Constipation and Obstipation?

When a cat passes small amounts of feces or poops less frequently, that’s constipation. If your feline doesn’t poop at all because of severe constipation, that’s called obstipation and requires immediate medical attention.

Why is My Cat Not Pooping Regularly: 8 Possible Causes

Sometimes, a sudden change in your kitten’s pooping habits indicates a serious health issue. Typically, if your cat’s not pooping regularly, it’s because of dehydration or just a simple diet change.

Let’s look at other possible causes for your cat not pooping regularly, so you can cross off things you think aren’t causing your kitty’s constipation.

That way, you consult your vet as soon as possible if you think there’s something more nefarious in question.

1. Hairballs

Cats with longer fur can experience fur-associated digestive issues.

Cats groom themselves, ingesting a small amount of their coat, and sometimes, these hairs create hairballs inside your cat’s stomach and cause intestinal blockages.

If your cat doesn’t throw up the hairballs, they can get stuck in their digestive tract.

2. Low-fiber diet

Fiber plays a key part in your kitten’s diet. In fact, fiber provides good bacteria to the gut and helps promote regular bowel movements.

Additionally, fiber retains water in the intestines, which helps treat and stop constipation. Fiber also helps keep your kitty’s stool soft, so always feed your cat a high-fiber diet.

3. Dehydration

Typically, cats become constipated because of dehydration.

Your cat’s colon can get dehydrated due to a lack of water in the body. Large intestines withdraw the water to hydrate their body. And if there’s insufficient water in your kitten’s body, their stool will get dry, hard, and hard to move through the colon.

So, make sure your cat drinks enough water regularly. If you have a cat that doesn’t like water, pour a small amount of tuna liquid into your cat’s water bowl.

4. Obstipation

Obstipation happens when your feline can’t poop because of severe constipation.

Symptoms of obstipations include hard, dry feces, bloody stool, vomiting, defecating out of the litter box, difficulty pooping, small amounts of liquid stool without mucus, sadness, decreased appetite, irregular bowel movements, etc.

Schedule a vet appointment immediately if you see any of these symptoms in your cat.

5. Megacolon

Sometimes, cats get a significantly increased colon known as a megacolon.

This condition causes severe constipation in cats and occurs because of problems with the lining muscles of the colon or neurological impairment.

6. Colon Blockage

Cats can accidentally ingest fur or other items. And if hairballs or items get stuck in your cat’s intestinal tract, they can cause constipation and colon blockages.

Additionally, growths can also cause blockages. Moreover, growths can indicate tumors, so schedule a vet appointment and have your vet check your feline for these things.

7. Spinal or Pelvic Injuries

If your cat has had a spinal or pelvic injury, maybe that’s causing changes in your kitty’s bowel movements.

These injuries can cause pelvic canal narrowing and extreme pain during pooping. They can also damage the nerves that help the colon function properly.

8. Dirty Litter Box

If you don’t see feces in the litter box, maybe your cat poops outside or somewhere else inside your home because their litter tray isn’t clean.

Cats don’t like dirty litter boxes. Therefore, they usually poop outside of their litter tray if it’s too messy.

So, before suspecting serious causes for your feline’s “constipation,” ensure they’re not doing their business elsewhere.

How to Get Your Cat to Poop: 10 Effective Solutions

If your kitten has difficulty pooping, don’t worry. The following solutions, including home remedies for constipation, can help, so take a look.

1. Ask Your Vet for Advice

Call your vet immediately if you notice health problems in your cat, such as bloody stool, difficulty pooping, dehydration, vomiting, and constipation.

2. Change Your Cat’s Diet

Maybe the diet you’re feeding your feline causes constipation, so I suggest you ask your vet for cat food recommendations.

If your feline has diabetes, digestive issues, or other medical conditions, make sure they consume the appropriate diet your vet suggests.

Furthermore, provide a fiber-rich diet, as fiber helps keep your kitty’s digestive system in order and promotes regular bowel movements.

3. Install a Water Fountain

If your cat isn’t drinking enough water, they can become constipated due to dehydration. So, make sure your cat has clean water at all times.

I suggest placing multiple water bowls all over your home, so your feline can easily take a sip whenever they feel thirsty.

If your cat doesn’t like water bowls, buy a water fountain, as some kittens prefer running water over stale water in bowls.

4. Olive Oil to the Rescue

Olive oil can help constipated cats, say experts. So, mix one teaspoon of olive oil or five drops if using a dropper into your cat’s food and wait for results.

This oil helps for a mild case of constipation. If your pet has constipation regularly, olive oil isn’t a good solution because your cat will experience diarrhea.

5. Maybe Castrol Oil Can Help

Some vets suggest using Castrol oil for constipation, as it’s a strong laxative. Castrol oil consists of vegetable oil mixed with the seeds of the Castrol bean.

Castrol oil helps improve the moisture in the feces by softening the digestive tract. So, if your feline experiences constipation, mix some Castrol oil in their food and provide fresh water for your feline so they can hydrate after consuming the food.

6. Feed Your Cat Wet Food

You can help your constipated cat by providing canned foods, as they contain a decent amount of water, which can help your cat’s condition.

Additionally, I suggest offering your feline pureed pumpkin every 2-3 days until you see results.

7. Sprinkle Some Ginger

Ginger can help your cat poop but confirm with your vet if you can sprinkle some ginger in your feline’s food. If your vet approves of ginger, mix a small amount of ginger in your cat’s daily meals and wait for results.

8. Try Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe vera juice can improve your cat’s digestion and pooping habits, as it’s natural and hydrating. However, consult your vet before using aloe vera juice to restore your kitty’s pooping cycle.

9. Stool Softeners

If you don’t trust home remedies for constipation, consult your vet for suggestions about over-the-counter stool softeners.

A wide range of laxatives can help your cat, such as lactulose.

10. Probiotics

Lastly, you can give your cat probiotics, as they boost the good bacteria in the digestive tract. They also improve digestion and rarely have side effects.

However, consult your vet before mixing probiotics into your cat’s food.

Cat Constipation: Summary

So, how long can a cat hold their poop? Most cats can hold their poop for 24-48 hours; however, if your cat shows signs of constipation, schedule a vet appointment as soon as possible.

Sometimes, constipation is a result of serious health problems. Other times, it’s something as simple as dehydration causing constipation in many cats.

Lastly, never try medication, especially over-the-counter laxatives, without consulting your vet first.

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*image by Strelka13/depositphotos