How Long Does It Take For MiraLax To Work In Cats?

How Long Does It Take For MiraLax To Work In Cats

Constipation in cats is fairly common. For the most part, it’s easy to help them get over it with a little help from a laxative like MiraLax, a home remedy like olive oil, or even a little massage and plenty of water.

Personally, I’ve found MiraLax to be very effective in resolving mild constipation in my cats on a number of occasions. Often helping them poop within 24 hours, sometimes 48 hours.

How long does it take for MiraLax to work in cats? Generally speaking, MiraLax should work within 24-48 hours and you’ll notice your cat’s constipation has passed. If not, the issue is more serious and you need to take them to a vet.

If you think your cat is constipated, or know they are and want to treat them with a laxative like MiraLax, here’s everything you need to know.

Signs That Your Cat Is Constipated

Signs That Your Cat Is Constipated

Some of the more common and obvious signs that a cat is constipated include:

  • Not pooping for more than 24 hours
  • Straining or meowing in pain from the litter box
  • Passing dry, hard poop
  • Passing a small amount of liquid while pooping
  • Acting very lethargic
  • Not eating
  • Vomiting
  • General signs of looking and acting unwell

It can be a little bit scary the first time you deal with a constipated cat. You might want to seek the advice of your vet if you can. But if that’s not an option, or if you’re dealing with persistent mild constipation, a laxative should work fine.

What Is MiraLax?

MiraLax is the name of a drug used to treat mild and occasional constipation. It’s a laxative, and works by helping add more water into a cat’s bowels to soften stool and help relieve blockages.

It’s available to buy over the counter, no prescription needed. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. so I have no issues using it for myself or my cats.

Is Miralax Safe for Cats?

Is Miralax Safe for Cats

MiraLax is designed for humans first, and a lot of foods and medicines that are for human consumption are not safe for cats. So, you’re right to look into this and check it’s safe.

It’s always a good idea to at least give your vet’s office a quick call before giving any products to your cat for medicinal use. So if you can do that, go ahead.

I’ve heard vets recommending it, however, so I have no issues giving it to my cat. PetMD also recommends using MiraLax for constipated cats, as do many other credible sources.

How to Mix MiraLax for Cats

MiraLax comes in a powder form. When we take it, we mix it with drinks or water. For a cat to take it, you have to add it to wet food to be sure that they’re eating it.

The correct dosage is to add a quarter of a teaspoon to their wet food once a day. Keep an eye on them make sure they’re eating it all up. If you’ve given medicine of any form to a cat before you will know how crafty some of them can be.

How Long Does It Take For MiraLax To Work In Cats?

You should expect to notice it working within 1 to 2 days. For mild constipation, after your cat has eaten that first dose with their food, I’d expect them to be passing feces within 24 hours. At least, that’s always been the case for me.

Don’t panic if you haven’t seen any results in 24 hours and need to give them a second dose. If two doses and 48 hours pass by and you haven’t noticed that pooped, this is when it’s starting to get serious and I’d call the vet.

Other Cat Constipation Remedies to Consider

Other Cat Constipation Remedies to Consider

If, for some reason you do not want to give your cat MiraLax, there are some other products and home remedies to try.

I’ve seen success using Olive Oil before, and I wrote an article about how much olive oil to give a constipated cat if you want to look into this as an option.

I’ve read that coconut oil is also a safe and effective home remedy. I’ve not tried it though, so I can’t say from experience if it works or not.

Canned pumpkin is another thing that PetMD recommends as it’s high in fibre which helps to get the digestive system moving.

Other medicated products to look into (all recommended by PetMD) include Laxatone and Metamucil. Again, I have no personal experience with these, so I recommend you do some research of your own.

The thing to be aware of is that plenty of fresh water is the key to reducing constipation problems. It’s worth investigating if there’s any way you can encourage your cat to drink a little more if they get constipated.

This means placing water bowls in different locations around the house and changing their water more often. Maybe even trying a drinking fountain as a lot of cats prefer these and will use them more than a standard bowl.

Related: Can cats drink from water bottles? – When used in the right situation, water bottles can help encourage your cat to drink more.

Where to Buy MiraLax for Cats?

Because MiraLax is available over the counter, you can buy it at most of the large retailers that stock health products. You can browse all the different sizes and products at WalMart here if that’s where you like to shop.

Or, if you like the quick 1-click experience at Amazon, here you go:

In Summary

MiraLax is perfectly safe and fine to use with cats that are mildly constipated. With that said, what’s important here is that you put your cats health and well-being first.

Don’t risk anything. if you have any concerns, get your cat checked out by a vet. When giving them MiraLax to help with constipation, never give them more than the recommended dosage and don’t leave this issue for more than 48 hours.

Owning cats and dealing with mild medical issues like constipation is a learning experience for all of us. Generally speaking, there are some lifestyle changes we can make to ensure they don’t get constipated as often.

It might be down to the fact that you’re giving them too much dry food, so that’s worth looking into. As I’ve already mentioned, is worth looking at ways to encourage them to drink as much as possible too.

Keep a close eye on them if you start noticing persistent constipation issues. Cats have sensitive stomachs, but there’s usually an underlying cause.

Here’s some FAQs on the topic that might be helpful:

Can You Use MiraLax for Cats with Megacolon?

Megacolon is a term used to describe an incompetent colon. This can occur due to chronic constipation and results in a cat retaining feces too large for them to pass.

Kiki Bracker, a veterinarian writing for MSPCA.org wrote that MiraLax is a good choice of laxative for cats that are constipated and suffering from megacolon.

It’s a serious condition and an extra complication, so I’d recommend seeking advice from a vet in person too.

Can You Use MiraLax for Cats with Kidney Disease?

It’s advised that you should not use MiraLax if you have kidney disease, so it’s natural to wonder if the same applies to cats.

This is something you’re going to have to run past your vet because it could come down to some factors specific to your cat. My advice is to give them a call first before giving your cat a laxative.

Can You Use MiraLax for Cats with CRF?

CRF stands for Chronic Renal Failure, which is a term used to describe a form of kidney disease. So, the answer is the same as for the last question. You shouldn’t give your cat MiraLax, or any other laxatives without getting the OK from a qualified pet care professional.

How Much MiraLax Can I Give My Cat?

The MiraLax dosage for cats is ⅛ to ¼ of a teaspoon once a day. I’ve always found it really easy to add to their food as it has almost no taste, so mixed in with a wet food it’s going to go unnoticed. 

Never go over the recommended amount. Always read the label and be aware of any side effects to look out for, and if the symptoms persist for two or more days, take your cat to a vet.

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