6 Good (and Safe) Cat Laxatives (Reviews & Guide)

There can come a time in a cat parent’s life when they might end up looking for the best cat laxative. Older cats are particularly prone to constipation, but there are many other factors that contribute to cats experiencing this issue. While in most cases, it can be resolved with some changes in the cat’s diet, sometimes, you will have to resort to using safe laxatives for cats. One of the first products that you should consider is Pfizer’s Lax’aire. This is a gentle emollient laxative and lubricant that contains fatty acids, vitamins, as well as iron, so it is perfectly safe to use on your feline friend. If this one’s not available, maybe consider the Gimcat Malt Soft Paste + Dietary Fiber, another great option. 

Best Cat Laxatives (Reviews)

No matter the type of laxative that you might be searching for, its safety is by far the most important thing that you should focus on. But with the wide variety of products available out there and however tempting it can be to go for a cheap cat laxative, finding the right one can be quite challenging.

Here are some of the most effective ones that we have found. 

1. Pfizer Lax’aire

The reason I decided to choose this product as the first one in this selection is its ingredients. It doesn’t contain any nasty chemicals that could otherwise have a negative impact on your feline friend’s health. It merely contains liquid petrolatum (a lubricant) and cod liver oil (the actual laxative). 

Thanks to the cod liver oil, this product also contains essential vitamins, iron, as well as fatty acids, which are all paramount for a cat’s healthy development. The product is fully capable of relieving a variety of digestive issues, the two main of them being hairballs and constipation.

Since this is a paste, it can be rather easy to administer, particularly to cats who like the smell of fish. It’s also worth noting that you can use this option for both dogs and cats. So, if you have a household where both species live happily, you can keep it in the cupboard for emergencies until it expires – and use it on your canine friend, too, since it’s safe, as well. 

2. Vetoquinol Laxatone Lubricant Gel for Cats

Another good laxative for cats is Laxatone from Vetoquinol. I have recommended products from this brand in the past, as well, especially in my article about appetite stimulants for cats. Well, this one acts by basically lubricating the intestinal pseudo-blockages caused by hairballs. 

The gel smells like tuna, so it should speak to the needs and tastes of cats that like fish. This makes administration a breeze, although I wouldn’t go as far as to say that it’s as easy with all cats (my own hates fish, for example). In any case, the Laxatone coats the hair in the hairballs and helps it pass through the digestive tract.

Since some cats might be a little difficult to convince to swallow the gel, I recommend placing a small amount on the cat’s front paws or on her nose. What I’d like to note is that this product works in cases where the cat constipation is caused by hairballs and you know this as it has happened in the past. 

3. Laxanip for Cats by Butler

This product contains mineral oil, soybean oil, as well as petrolatum, and these ingredients are capable of coating the hairballs that might exist in the cat’s digestive tract so that they are safely and effectively passed on. Unlike other products which can be used strictly for digestive problems caused by hairballs, this one is also a laxative per se.

Laxanip also aids in the prevention of hairballs, and it even comes with a flip top tube that enables easy administration. Like with other products, with this one, as well, you can just add a small amount to your cat’s nose or paws if she doesn’t seem to appreciate the taste. Most of those that have chosen this product say that it is palatable, however. 

On the same note, we would like to add that Laxanip has mostly received favorable reviews, with people saying that they have managed to prevent hairballs and solve constipation issues even in older and long-haired cats. 

4. Only Natural Pet Laxa-Herb Herbal Formula

What laxatives are safe for cats? If you have ever asked yourself this question, we’ll tell you that only those that have as few ingredients and as natural ones as possible are perfectly safe. This one seems to be one of them given that it is marketed as being completely natural. It is appropriate for both dogs and cats and for all ages and breeds.

Furthermore, we couldn’t help noticing from the feedback provided by some of the pet parents that have given it a shot that it is effective, as well as gentle. There are folks who have used it on their 7-year old cats with great results. 

As is the case with any other product that contains natural ingredients, though, frequent administration is required for it to get the job done. Most pet parents give their cats this laxative around three to four times a day (in small amounts). While most cats respond to this treatment, there have been some that haven’t. 

5. Raw Paws Pet Organic Pure Pumpkin for Dogs and Cats

If your feline buddy has been experiencing digestive issues for quite a while and you’ve noticed him or her straining to poop, this product might be a good option. Often times, adding a little fiber to your pet’s diet can solve the problem. However, what some people might fail to realize is that cats can’t have just any type of fiber.

Because they are true carnivores (not omnivores, such as dogs or other types of animals), they do not do well when you add grain or other types of fiber into their diet. Probably the worst idea would be to add corn to a cat’s diet, which obviously brings up the question why so many pet food manufacturers decide to do that.

But pumpkin is one of the few sources of fiber that can improve a cat’s digestion and that creates no side effects whatsoever. It promotes regularity and it is a good remedy for diarrhea, as well, which makes it a versatile solution for pretty much all digestive issues. 

This product is 100% USDA certified as organic and completely natural and it can be used for cats as well as for dogs.  

6. Virbac Vetasyl Fiber Capsules

If your cat is no longer constipated as he or she has received treatment, but you are looking for something that can prevent the issue in the long run, the Virbac option should be right up your alley. This one contains fiber from natural sources represented by barley and psyllium. 

It doesn’t contain any chemicals whatsoever, which is why it causes no side effects. It is a gentle, yet effective relief from constipation that can be used on dogs and cats like. The issue with this one is that you will have to go through a little trouble to give your cat the right dosage, however, since every capsule is recommended for a body weight of 20 lbs. 

However, the manufacturer does suggest opening up the capsule and sprinkling the contents over your pet’s food. But if your cat is tiny, you will have to first do that on a piece of paper and then estimate the right amount that you should add to your cat’s kibble or wet food. 

Cat Laxative Buying Guide

Finding the right laxative when your cat gets constipated can be quite a challenge. On the one hand, you have lots and lots of products to choose from. On the other, you can’t really know which ones are safe and which ones you should steer clear of. 

In this guide, we will look at some of the essential factors that you should bear in mind when you’re searching for a cat hairball laxative or a typical one for constipation. 

Consult your vet

If you have pet insurance or you are lucky enough to afford a vet, I have to advise you to take your feline friend to the clinic first. There are lots of people that don’t do this and don’t do enough research and they end up trying to perform techniques such as giving their cat an enema — this can be very dangerous and should always be performed by a professional.

Your vet can give you a lot of information as to what has caused your cat’s constipation, the exact location where your cat is ‘clogged up’, whether the problem is a hairball that has blocked the transit, or worse, whether there is a formation like a tumor present in the cat’s digestive tract.

This can all be done thanks to diagnostic methods such as ultrasounds or X-rays (contrast X-rays). Bloodwork might also be required if the cat has a poor health status especially if the foreign object, hairball, or whatever else might exist in the animal’s digestive tract cannot be removed or displaced by any means other than by performing surgery. 

Even if you take your vet just once, the consultation and treatment chosen by the veterinarian can mean the world. At least you will get the correct recommendations from the right person – both in terms of dietary changes and in terms of the medication that you can give your cat. 

Ingredients 

If you do not have the means to go to a vet right now (and many people in North America don’t, unfortunately), you need to look for the safest laxative for cats. Generally, opting for natural products instead of synthetic ones is a good idea. If the gel or whatever laxative form you choose is marketed as 100% natural and even more, certified by the USDA as being organic, you can rest assured that it’s pretty safe.

But there is an issue that I would like to discuss here and that doesn’t have anything in common with the idea of ‘natural’. Corn is natural and it shouldn’t be used in the diet of cats. Yet somehow, many pet food manufacturing brands use it as a filler in the kibble and even wet food that they produce. 

Cats shouldn’t eat carbohydrates as they do not need them. They are carnivores and they get all of their most important nutrients from things like meat, fish, or even eggs. If you come across a laxative that contains binders such as corn syrup or anything in those lines, you should know that it’s not the best choice in the world.

However, if you know for sure that it works and that your cat responds to it, you could use it for a very limited amount of time (such as one to two days tops). Once the issue seems to be solved, you can switch your cat to a diet composed of protein, but also healthy fiber such as pumpkin and even add some probiotics to the food, as well.

For cases that aren’t really severe, try to stick to products that contain healthy oils such as cod oil, for example. 

Form

As you can expect, cat laxatives can come in several forms – gel, paste, or even capsules or actual pills. From what we have noticed, the most convenient form that can be administered easily and conveniently is the gel (or the paste). In any case, liquids are far easier to give to your cat.

Whether you decide to put a small amount on your feline friend’s paws or nose so that he/she licks it or your pet actually likes the smell or taste of the product so they aren’t going to refuse it, it’s far easier to do all this with a liquid or creamy alternative than with a pill.

Cat Laxatives – FAQs

What is a natural laxative for cats?

Any product that contains mostly harmless ingredients such as oils (coconut, olive, or fish oil). Also, if you tend to give your cat omega 3 supplements in the form of fish oil, you might want to know that you are inadvertently preventing constipation. Omega 3 fatty acids are healthy anyway, so consider adding them to your cat’s diet. 

Can you give a cat human laxatives?

The answer to this question is a clear no. Some human laxatives that can be purchased online are effectively off-the-counter medications, and they could contain dangerous ingredients. On top of that, they could have a variety of enzymes that aren’t appropriate to give to cats. 

Besides, what are you going to do in terms of the dosage? Please consider that most laxatives for humans are made for adults weighing more than 110 lbs, which clearly makes them unsuitable for cats.  

How long do laxatives take to work in cats?

It depends on the product and the severity of the constipation. If your cat has been constipated for over a week, you can’t expect a laxative to work in a matter of under an hour. It takes time and patience, and it also takes a bit of commitment on the part of the pet guardian, as well. You shouldn’t feed your cat dry food during this time as it can over-complicate the constipation. 

Natural laxatives can take more than one or even two days to do what they’re supposed to, and during this time, you might have to give them to your cat twice or even three times per day. More ‘serious’ laxatives can act faster, but it can still take half a day or more for them to make the cat ‘go to the bathroom’. 

How often to give cats laxatives?

If your cat has chronic constipation, you should take her to the vet to find out the actual cause of the problem. Some cats can have megacolon, others can suffer from constipation due to a mainly dry diet, and senior cats are also known for being constipated compared to their younger counterparts. 

If you opt for a natural and safe laxative for cats, you could administer it every day or every couple of days, to prevent constipation. Actual medications shouldn’t be administered for longer than several days — but that depends on the specific medication. Make sure you talk to your vet for more recommendations.