How to give a cat a massage for constipation: purpose, technique

General information about constipation in cats

Constipation is not a trifle, but a serious deviation. Before self-treatment, you need to weigh all the pros and cons. You may not know, but even such a harmless measure as abdominal massage for constipation there are contraindications .

Let's start with the basic concepts - what constipation is and why it occurs. Constipation is the stagnation of stool in the colon for a day or more. In theory, a cat should go to the toilet at least once a day, but in practice this does not always happen. Depending on the animal's metabolism, bowel movements may occur once every two days. Constipation in an adult cat is defined as the inability to have bowel movements for more than 3 days.

As stool accumulates, the intestines absorb water from them. Feces become dry, hard, and compressed, making attempts to defecate painful.

Note! Constipation is often caused by chronic diseases, such as colitis. Also common causes of constipation include urolithiasis, which irritates the mucous membranes of internal organs.

A little about cat physiology and the reasons for this behavior

Why does a cat lick a person: the main reasons and what it means

Cat massage attracts a lot of interest among pet owners. From a physiological point of view, there is a rational explanation why a pet tramples its beloved owner with its paws.

So, as mentioned earlier, stomping is a way of marking territory. The paws contain a large number of ducts and sweat glands that produce and secrete a special secretion. In addition, the paws of all types of cats are sensitive due to the large number of receptors and nerve endings. It is inherent in nature that animals receive a large flow of information about the world around them in this way.

The results of numerous scientific studies have also shown that during diligent pawing and trampling, the pets’ body begins to actively produce endorphin - the hormone of happiness, which allows you to relieve stress, calm down and, of course, relax.

Ancient Egyptian painting featuring cats

Causes of constipation

The most common cause, depending on the owner, is an unbalanced diet. For normal digestion and bowel movements, the cat must receive foods with hard fibers. Inexperienced owners often believe that if they feed their pet only meat, it will be healthier. In fact, exclusively protein foods quickly lead to stagnation in the intestines.

Cats are nocturnal hunters, feeding in the wild only on what they catch. The cat eats its prey along with its fur, intestines and its contents. With a natural diet, the ratio of protein to fiber is approximately 10:1–10:2.

Important! If a cat receives an unbalanced diet, in which carbohydrate foods predominate over protein foods, it may also develop constipation.

Constipation can occur due to blockage of the small or large intestine. Due to the cat's curiosity, it may eat something inedible , for example, a piece of rope, Christmas tree decorations, wrapping paper or cellophane. An equally common cause of constipation is excess weight. If an animal is obese, metabolic processes are disrupted, which can lead to the formation of dry feces.

What you need to pay special attention to

Even the most professional massage for a cat can result in snorting and attempts to escape. Therefore, you must always listen to the animal’s mood. Attempts to get up, leave, grumbling signal an unwillingness to endure the procedure, while sharp twitching, screams and moans indicate that there is a problem and help is needed. If you suspect a reaction of pain in the cat's body, you need to immediately interrupt the massage, remember the problem area and monitor the cat's behavior. If possible, inspect it for scratches, bumps and injuries.

The desire to give your animal a massage is an excellent reason to examine your pet’s fur and skin. The fur should be dry, pleasant to the touch, without lumps or dirt. The skin should be free of bumps, bite marks and irritation.

Signs of constipation in a cat

How to determine constipation in a cat if you do not have deep knowledge of veterinary medicine? The most reliable method in this case is observation. During constipation, you may notice that your pet behaves restlessly, often coming to the litter box, but not entering it. It is important to show maximum attention at the early stage of development of the disease.

Note! When constipated, a cat may move into a defecation position, but instead of stool, a clear fluid may be released from the anus. Inexperienced owners often confuse this phenomenon with diarrhea; in fact, it is constipation.

When defining constipation, it is important to understand that passing too much dense, fatty stool is also not considered diarrhea. This condition may be the result of an unbalanced diet and too high a percentage of fat in food.

How to give a belly massage to a cat with constipation

Massage is simple gentle stroking that a cat, if properly prepared, will accept with pleasure. It is important to avoid actions that are unpleasant for the animal during the entire process, so that stress does not aggravate the situation.

Preparatory actions

To make the massage as comfortable as possible for the cat, you need to calm it down, stroke it, and talk to it. Then place the animal on your lap with a soft cloth. Additionally, the cat can lubricate the anus with a cotton swab with Vaseline or baby cream.

If your pet belongs to the category of cats that categorically do not accept touching their belly, you will have to choose your moment. It is better to start massaging while your pet is sleeping or in a drowsy state.

If the cat starts to struggle, ask a family member to hold him. In case of strong resistance, it is better to stop the procedure.

Technique

You can start the massage 2 hours after the cat has eaten. She should be calm and relaxed.

Abdominal massage is carried out with both hands, movements should be directed clockwise and from top to bottom. There is no need to press hard. The duration of the massage procedure is approximately five minutes.

1. Start from the top, almost from the armpits. Lightly pat the area and work your way down.
2. In the groin area, move your hand in a circle, applying slight pressure. You need to do 5-7 laps.
3. After this, slightly remember the tummy from the edges to the center, from the ribs to the bottom.
4. Repeat these steps 2-3 times.
5. If the cat responds favorably to the massage, complete the procedure with patting movements.

The effect is usually very good, and after a few minutes the cat runs into the litter box. If your cat has chronic constipation or does not tolerate massage well, it is necessary to solve the problem together with a veterinarian.

Massage for kittens

The massage technique for kittens over 1 month old with constipation is no different from the massage technique for an adult. Remember that the pressure on the tummy should be minimal.

The first rule is that the procedure must be performed in a calm environment so as not to scare the animal. Lay the kitten on its back, preferably on your lap, start stroking in the direction from the head to the stomach, from the ribs to the middle of the stomach. Stop in the intestinal area and make 5-8 circular movements. It is advisable to perform a massage twice a day, the duration of the procedure is 5-10 minutes.

Kittens up to a month old, left without their mother, need to be massaged daily, regardless of whether they have problems with stool or not. Without proper stimulation of the intestines, the animal simply will not be able to go to the toilet.

Treatment of constipation in cats without the use of medications

Treatment of constipation at home should begin with gentle measures. Refrain from using medications if the animal's condition allows.

Abdominal massage is considered a relatively safe technique. However, before doing a massage, it is important to compare the clinical picture with the symptoms of colitis and volvulus:

• For colitis and similar diseases, massage will not be beneficial, but will be accompanied by severe pain.

• When intestinal volvulus occurs, massage is useless and a waste of time.

Important! If a pregnant cat is constipated, massage is contraindicated.

There are no universal techniques for massaging cats. Much depends on the animal’s temperament and its condition.

If the cat is healthy

If there are no health problems and you just want to do something nice, then massage procedures for your cat can be done at any time.

© shutterstock

Pediatricians give some valuable advice on how to choose a place and time for a massage:

• After eating, you should wait two hours to avoid causing vomiting or indigestion.
• You need to start the massage when the cat is lying relaxed. You should not distract him from licking, playing and other important activities.
• During the first days, it is better to simply gently and gently stroke the cat, scratch it, accustoming it to prolonged contact, and palpating the body for pain points. If you unexpectedly find a pain point, you should first contact your veterinarian for a consultation.
• While stroking, you need to speak to the animal in a quiet and low voice. High and loud noises will frighten her.

What to do if massage doesn't help?

What to do if massage doesn’t help, and there’s no way to go to the vet? At home, it is permissible to use gentle laxatives.

A relatively safe remedy is flaxseed oil, which the animal will have to forcefully drink. One teaspoon of oil is enough for an adult cat. After taking the drug, the animal’s condition should be monitored for 2–3 hours. If the cat has not become interested in food and bowel movements have not occurred, it is necessary to use a medicated laxative.

All laxatives have a number of contraindications and side effects and are prohibited for use in cases of bleeding, attacks of colitis or peptic ulcers. As practice shows, in mild cases of constipation, contact laxatives in the form of enemas and suppositories help well.

During constipation, the animal’s body suffers from intoxication, but the use of adsorbents is not always relevant. The fact is that almost all sorbents absorb water, and in case of dehydration and intestinal blockage, dry feces will only worsen the situation. To reduce intoxication and irritation of the intestinal mucous membranes, you can use Enterosgel diluted in water or coating agents, for example, Phosphalugel.

In what cases is massage prohibited?

The owner should know when massage helps against constipation, and when it can be dangerous. The procedure is contraindicated in:

• intestinal diseases;
• pregnancy;
• skin lesions in the abdominal area (traumas, burns, dermatological pathologies);
• hernia;
• inflammatory processes;
• exhaustion of the body;
• vomiting;
• elevated temperature;
• convulsions;
• mechanical blockages of the intestines;
• fractures of the pelvic bones;
• spasms of the large intestine;
• tumors of various types.

You should also refuse a massage if the animal reacts inadequately to it - growls, bites the owner, etc. The cat is not able to communicate its feelings. She might be in pain. The procedure is not performed on cats that have recently given birth and those animals that have undergone surgery in the abdominal area less than 5 months ago.

Benefits of massage

The therapy will not take much time - a maximum of 20 minutes. But the effect of the procedure can improve the health of your mustachioed friend. The positive aspects include the following:

• Regular massaging of the tummy or back reduces the need for laxatives by forty percent. This is convenient if the animal is already old, peristalsis is reduced and the tailed animal cannot cope with bowel movements on its own.
• Works as a prevention of flatulence.
• Helps eliminate or prevent other digestive problems. But only if massaging is carried out regularly.

This is an affordable method that does not harm the cat, especially in comparison with medications.

Massage technique

The technique is quite simple:

1. Stroke the top of the tummy a couple of times.
2. Continue gentle stroking down to the groin area.
3. Massage your belly with circular movements.
4. Using kneading movements, go from the edge of the ribs to the bottom of the belly, but act gently, do not overdo it.
5. Gently move from the bottom of the tummy to the top using pulling movements three times.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5.
7. Strokes left and right, moving from top to bottom.
8. Finish the massage with light pats on the belly.

It is not necessary to strictly follow all the points in a row; they can be swapped. The main goal is to stimulate peristalsis.

Check with the doctor