Best Cat Food for Constipation (2023) Top 10 Wet & Dry Options

Having a constipated cat isn’t ideal for them or you. Good gastrointestinal health is vital for happy and healthy kitties, so finding the best cat food for constipation is essential.

Adult cats and kittens can struggle to go to the bathroom occasionally, but it isn’t the end of the world.

There are plenty of ways to ease this ailment, and finding the best food for cat constipation is one of the easiest ways to help your blocked-up feline. Ensuring your kitties can easily digest their cat food will do wonders for the bowels and get them back in action in no time.

Taking care of your cat can be overwhelming at times, especially if they’re having tummy trouble. But a quick visit to the vet can put both your mind and your cat’s tummy at ease.

If your little friend is struggling to go to the bathroom, here are some of the best foods for constipated cats. So get ready to slash those vet bills with these kitty-friendly food options.

Best Food for Cats With Constipation: A Complete Guide

Identifying If You Need Cat Constipation Food

Before you go splurging the cash on the best cat food to help with constipation, it’s important you identify if you’re kitty is actually constipated.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

How Do I Tell If My Cat is Constipated?

Depending on where your cat goes to the bathroom, it might be tricky to pick up on constipation.

If your cat spends nights roaming the outside world, it’s possible they do their business outside. There are a few other symptoms to watch out for.

Things like a lack of appetite, a tense abdomen, and hunched posture can be telltale signs of cat constipation.

If your kitty uses a litter box, it’s much easier to pick up on constipation. If your cat hasn’t ‘done its business’ in more than 24 hours, you might want to keep an eye on him.

Besides the symptoms mentioned earlier, you should look out for small, hard, dry stool and straining when in the kitty litter box.

Why is My Cat Constipated?

Constipation in cats can be caused by several things. Once you’ve recognized that your fur baby is struggling to go to the bathroom, finding the cause is a good idea.

Dehydration is one of the main reasons for constipation, but it’s not the only one.

Other reasons for this bathroom trouble could be kidney problems, feline megacolon, an imbalance of fiber in their diet, or over-grooming (leading to hair in the digestive tract).

Other reasons include cat litter tray avoidance, a side effect of some medications, or maybe they’re simply not getting enough exercise.

A hernia, a tumor, or a nerve disorder can also cause constipation in cats. If your furry friend ingests something that does not agree with them, it may obstruct their colon and cause a blocked tummy.

How Do I Treat Cat Constipation?

Once you’ve identified the cause, treating your cat’s constipation is reasonably straightforward. However, it’s a good idea to visit your vet to get professional advice.

Until then, you can increase hydration and make sure your cat has plenty of access to fresh water separate from their food. Alternatively, feeding them wet cat food can also increase hydration.

You can also help your kitty get active, invest in new cat toys, or even a laser to get them some extra exercise. This will not only get their body moving, but it’ll stimulate their intestines too.

You should also check your kitty’s fiber intake and if you need some high-fiber cat food. This is good to run past your vet as too much or too little fiber can result in upset tummies.

One of the best and most efficient ways to treat mild cat constipation is with the right food. Specially formulated food will help your cat get their intestines moving and sort out any tummy trouble.

What Is the Best Food for a Cat With Megacolon?

Firstly, it’s essential you know what megacolon is and how it affects your cat. In short, a megacolon is when your feline’s colon loses the ability to function as it becomes progressively bigger.

If your kitties megacolon is bad, then they’ll get constipated more often than not and most likely need a major operation. Luckily or fluffy friends tend to make a full recovery from these operations.

But what causes megacolon? There are many factors, from spinal cord injuries to tumors and excessive instances of hairballs (most notable in long-haired cat breeds like Maine Coons). Although the food choice won’t always change the outcome of a megacolon, they can help your kitty go number two.

Wet food options (especially the ones on this list) are best for fluffies suffering from megacolon or post-colectomy procedures. So if you’re kitty has had a megacolon, jump straight to the wet food options in this post.

5 Best Dry Cat Foods for Constipation

A simple dietary adjustment can do wonders for your cat’s constipation. Choosing the right cat food will depend on the reason for their constipation.

After all, if they’re having tummy trouble because of low fiber, then the best dry cat food to prevent constipation may just be the way to go.

Here are my top picks if you’re looking for dry food for constipated cats and kittens:

1. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Food

Royal Canin makes a variety of gastrointestinal food. Each recipe has specific benefits, and the one you choose will depend on your cat’s needs. All of these foods require a veterinary prescription to purchase.

Here are the various options:

Royal Canin Standard Gastrointestinal Food

Their standard gastrointestinal food is designed to keep your cat’s tummy happy, helping them sort out any digestive problems along the way. It delivers all the nutrients your cat will need.

Royal Canin standard gastrointestinal food is infused with prebiotics which supports a balance of good gut bacteria. The blend of dietary fibers and digestible proteins helps support healthy digestion.

Royal Canin Moderate Calorie Gastrointestinal Food

Their moderate-calorie food has all the benefits of the standard food and a little extra for cats prone to weight gain. Its low-calorie content will keep your kitty both healthy and slim.

Royal Canin Fiber Response

This food has high levels of psyllium to help maintain a healthy transition between foods, which is perfect for constipated cats. It provides moderate energy and low calories to keep your cat moving.

Note: You’ll need a prescription from the vet to purchase these cat food options.

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Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Food

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Food

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Food

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Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Food

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Dry Food

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Food

⇒ Getting a new kitty? Check out my guide to How to Look after a Kitten and 8 Best Kitten Dry Food Options

2. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Formula/ Naturals

Not only is this food designed to help cats with gastrointestinal conditions, but it also supports urinary health. Purina Pro Plan tastes great and is specially formulated to be easily digestible.

And to make it even better, the low-calorie content means you don’t need to worry about your kitty-cat putting on that extra weight. Trust me. They’ll love it. It’s high in protein and energy-dense, allowing for optimal nutrient absorption.

Purina’s Naturals’ food has all the same benefits as the gastroenteric formula food but uses high-quality ingredients without any corn or wheat. This food is also free of artificial colors and flavors, so your pristine feline will only be getting the very best.

Note: You will need a veterinary prescription to purchase this food.

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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Formula Dry

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Naturals Dry/ Wet Food

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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Formula

3. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support

Blue Buffalo’s food is a great choice if you’re looking for a natural meal with easily digestible ingredients. Their food is made with proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that promote optimal nutrient absorption.

This food also contains prebiotic fibers to help balance your fur baby’s gastrointestinal microflora. Their formula also contains antioxidants and vitamins E and C to support a healthy immune system. And if your cat needs extra hydration, you can even get the wet food variety and offer your kitty the best of both worlds.

Note: You’ll need a prescription from a vet to purchase this food.

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Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Dry

4. Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Food

Indoor cats with tummy trouble will love this food. The natural fiber blend of whole grains, beets, and rice helps to support a healthy digestive system. This also helps to reduce litter-box odors and hairballs.

Plus, it’s got fewer calories, as well as L-Carnitine to help burn fat, making it perfect for lazy cats who need to shed a few. And let me not forget the omega acids that help your lap cat’s coat in beautiful condition.

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Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care

5. FirstMate Chicken Meal With Blueberries Dry Cat Food

If you want the best dry food for a constipated cat at any stage in its development, this single-source meat option is fantastic. Produced from free-range chickens and a carefully selected range of ingredients, your cute kitty can eat without any trouble.

Its curated range of ingredients makes it a great alternative for allergy-prone kitties, and the blueberries provide your feline with loads of antioxidants. Trust me when I say this is something every cat needs in their diet.

Adding blueberries to its diet doesn’t just promote a healthy gut but also aids your cat’s urinary tract, memory function, and overall immune system. And thanks to its pairing of quality chicken, your fluff ball won’t even notice it’s eating fruit.

Top Tip: FirstMate recommends a 7-day transition period when moving over to this food option.

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Firstmate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Dry Cat Food

5 Best Wet Cat Foods for Constipation

More often than not, your fluff ball just needs that extra bit of hydration in its diet. In that case, the best wet food for a constipated cat is the way to go.

Here are my top choices for wet cat food for constipation to help your kitty do its daily business:

1. Hills Prescription Diet Digestive Care

This specially formulated food is a great way to help support your cat’s digestive health. Not only is it clinically proven to improve digestion and stool quality, but it’s also full of antioxidants, helping your cat successfully do its business.

It’s a highly digestible protein-based cat food with plenty of fat and a healthy fiber source, which helps maintain gastrointestinal health. This comes in both wet and dry food, made with easily digestible ingredients that will get your cat’s bathroom habits back to normal in no time.

You will need to check with your vet before you’ll be able to buy this food.

PS: It may be available in wet and dry forms but is far more effective in the wet food option. It’s a bit pricier, but definitely worth buying wet if you can.

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Hills Prescription Diet Digestive Care Wet Food

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Hills Prescription Diet Digestive Care Wet

2. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Mousse

If your fur baby is having a hard time digesting food, then this specially formulated-food might do the trick. It’s not just great for babies, as the silky soft mousse is also perfect for nursing or pregnant kitties.

Its high protein levels give kittens and mother cats just the right amount of energy for the day while also helping their tummies bounce back from constipation.

If your kitten is making the change from milk to solid foods, they can often have tummy issues, and that’s where this ultra-soft mousse comes in handy. Aside from being super tasty for your fur baby, it’s also packed with vitamins E and C, as well as antioxidants to help your kitty through this transition.

Simply put, this is possibly the best cat food for constipated cats that either need more energy (pregnant kitties) or are transitioning to solids.

Top Tip: Royal Canin also have a great IBD-friendly cat food option if you’re kitty still has tummy issues.

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Royal Canin Mother and Babycat Mousse

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Royal Canin Mother and Babycat Wet Cat Food – Mousse

3. Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Pumpkin Canned Food

For a non-prescription cat food for constipation, look no further than this fantastic blend of real meats and pumpkin consomme. This 100% carrageenan-free and grain-free food option provide a healthy balance of vitamins, amino acids, taurine, and minerals to keep your kitty as happy as ever.

Its broth-based formula means there’s plenty of hydration to help your constipated kitty, all while offering a tasty meal in the process. It’s great for picky eaters, and with its high levels of taurine and amino acids, you’re also keeping your cats heart in fantastic shape.

It’s best paired with a tasty kibble, but your feline will be just as happy digging into this consomme by itself. And to make it even better, it’s free of MSGs and GMOs, so you know your fluff ball is only getting the best.

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Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Pumpkin Canned Food

4. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Canned Cat & Kitten Food

It’s not easy finding the best wet cat food for constipation, but Nulo easily makes this list. It’s packed with protein, including turkey, tuna, and chicken, making it great for every feline, even some of the biggest cat breeds.

Its broth-based gravy also helps keep your kitty hydrated and helps prevent them from getting all clogged up. As it’s free of grains (which would make it a high-calorie meal), you don’t need to worry about your fluff monster putting weight on after the change to this delectable food option.

You may wonder what makes this one of the best cat foods for megacolon. Its fantastic health benefits, such as healthy omega and taurine, are thanks to the other fantastic ingredients, such as pumpkin, cranberries, and kelp.

In other words, if you want to keep your kitty healthy and give them a tasty meal, Nulo has it all.

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Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food

5. Wellness CORE Turkey & Duck Pate Canned Cat Food

Not only is this food great for constipated kittens, but it’s also a fantastic high-calorie cat food option for an underweight kitty. Its’ protein-rich ingredients and pate texture make it a great food source to mix with dry kibble.

The combination of DHA and EPA omegas helps keep your kitties gut in tip-top shape, while the addition of cranberries helps detox its gut. The grain-free recipe means there are no fillers, so you’re pristine feline is only getting the best ingredients North America has to offer.

It’s best for adult cats, as pregnant felines and kittens have specific dietary requirements. It’s also a good idea to introduce the food gradually, as your kitty will need a few days to adapt to the increase in nutrients.

But don’t be surprised if your fluffy friend just wants to gobble down the whole tin.

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Wellness CORE Natural Turkey & Duck Pate Canned Cat Food

Final Thoughts on Best Food for Constipated Cats

Once you figure out the reason why your cat is struggling to go number two, there are plenty of solutions that’ll help its tummy start working properly again,

Ensuring proper hydration, plenty of playtime, and investing in good quality food are just a few ways to sort out your cat’s gastrointestinal problems. So no matter the case, with this list in hand, you’ll easily find the best cat food for constipation to help your furry friend thrive.

Next Read: Do you have an older kitty with tummy trouble? Read all about the best cat foods for older cats that vomit.

Please Note: This best food for constipated cats post contains affiliate links. That means if you click through on most of the links and end up making a purchase, I will receive a small commission. This will not affect the price that you pay. I wanted to make sure that you were aware of this.

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