Best cat food for constipation to buy in the UK (2023)

There are a number of reasons why cats can become constipated, which is why we reached out to Take A Break Pets' resident vet, Dr Michael Lazaris, for his expert advice on the causes. "Constipation in cats can be caused by dehydration, a lack of fibre in the diet, obesity, hairballs (or other foreign bodies), arthritis or spinal issues and some diseases like kidney disease or hyperthyroidism," says Dr Michael. "If constipation is left untreated it can cause irreversible damage to their colon, which can have devastating consequences, so it's important that you take your kitty to the vet so they can find out why this is happening."

Best cat food for constipation shortlist:

• Best premium dry cat food for constipation: Royal Canin Veterinary Health Gastrointestinal Fibre Response Adult Cat Food
• Best premium wet cat food for constipation: Royal Canin Veterinary Health Gastrointestinal Wet Adult Cat Food
• Best symptom-reducing dry cat food: Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Dry Cat Food with Chicken
• Best symptom-reducing wet cat food: Hill's Prescription Diet Feline Gastrointestinal Biome Wet Food
• Best hairball dry cat food to aid with constipation relief: Purina One Coat And Hairball Dry Cat Food

You can find more expert advice from Dr Micheal in our FAQs section at the bottom of this article, but one of the things he suggests may help, alongside making sure your kitty is as hydrated as possible, is switching your cat to a high-fibre diet. Dry or wet cat food with a high amount of fibre included can help to regulate bowel movements. You'll want to make sure it has the right balance of soluble and insoluble fibres to help make stools easier to pass and improve their consistency.

Of course, as with any food we pick for our pets, you'll want to make sure it's nutritionally balanced and tasty, too. This is why all of our best cat food for constipation top picks are packed full of the essentials your kitty needs to be happy and healthy, with ingredients that are sure to get them purring at mealtimes.

Best cat food for constipation UK

If you're worried about your cat being constipated and have some questions about how you can offer relief or prevent them from suffering in the first place, we put some frequently asked questions to Dr Michael to give you the answers you need.

What food helps a constipated cat?

"If your cat is on dry cat food and doesn't like to drink much, switching to a wet, high-fibre diet can definitely help. I also like to add in a course of cat-friendly probiotics during the switch to improve their gut bacteria," says Doctor Michael.

"If you think your cat suffers from hairballs, you can give them a paste once a day which helps the fur move freely along their digestive tract. Equally, there is hairball-specific cat food you can try."

What can I give my cat for constipation?

When asked what to give cats for constipation, Dr Lazaris said: "If helping them stay better hydrated isn’t helping, you can try to soften their faeces by giving them some lactulose twice a day. However, if the constipation is this bad, you should seek advice from your vet. They can also tell you how much to give based on their weight.

"Some cats need an enema given rectally, which can work quickly to help alleviate constipation. In more severe cases, cats need to be hospitalised on intravenous fluids and to have a manual enema under general anaesthetic."

How can you prevent constipation in cats?

"Make sure your cat is adequately hydrated. If they only eat dry food, you should have several water sources or try a water fountain to encourage drinking. I personally feed my cat, Otto, dry food in the morning and wet food at night, along with fibre, salmon oil and probiotics, which seems to do the trick!

"For hairball sufferers, you should groom your cats daily. The more you remove with a brush, the less they swallow! And make sure there are no underlying causes of constipation. Other causes like kidney and thyroid disease should not be left untreated."

This article contains expert advice from Dr Michael Lazaris. Dr Michael is a small animal vet and co-director of his practice, Vets on the Common, in London. You can also find him on Instagram and TikTok, where he shares all the latest pet advice and adorable patients he treats.

Rosie Floyd is a Homes and Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things dogs. She grew up always having at least one dog as part of the family and has experience in owning a variety of breeds, including Labradors, Cockapoos and Yorkshire Terriers.