Cat owners have to take care of their cats and to help them to feel better if they have health problems. It is important to treat cats as soon as possible, because even a small health problem, like constipation, can be fatal. Cats which are constipated often refuse to eat or drink, so they can die of hunger or thirst.
Because of that it is important to help your cat right away. It is good to know that one of the best natural remedies for cat’s constipation is certainly an olive oil. In this article you will find out more about olive oil and about its effects on cat’s health.
More About Olive Oil
Olive oil is actually a fat which is obtained from olives, fruit which comes from Mediterranean area. Olive oil is commonly used in cooking, but also in pharmaceutical industry and in cosmetics. It can help with skin problems and it has also great effects on hair. But, you probably didn’t know that olive oil is one of the best home remedies for cats, if they have constipation or problems with hairballs.
Health Benefits of Olive Oil for Cats?
Cats often suffer from constipation. When cat has constipation occasionally, that is normal and it is often caused by a change in a diet, stress, hairballs or different health problems in digestive tract. But, if it is chronic constipation, that means that the cat is sick or that there are not enough fibers in cat’s diet. It is normally for cats to defecate one or two times a day, but if they don’t defecate more than two days, they probably suffer from constipation. There are many remedies that can help, but one of the most effective is certainly an olive oil. The olive oil stimulates a bowel movement and makes the feces more liquid. It can regulate digestion for a short time and cure the constipation. But if your cat is suffering from some other illness, then the cat will need some additional treatment.
Apart from relieving constipation, there are some more benefits of olive oil for cats. It can also help if your cat has diabetes or high cholesterol. Just like with humans, treated meats like ham are not good for cats. Olive oil can help cats with hairballs, too. If you add olive oil to cat’s food, it can also reduce dry skin and improve different coat issues. It is known that many cat foods in animal stores contain olive oil.
How Much Olive Oil is Good?
In the case of constipation, recommendable dosage for cats is one tablespoon of olive oil daily, but if you give olive oil to your cat for a long term, then cut the amount on one teaspoon per day. If your cat has a problem with hairballs, it is enough to put only 1/8 of teaspoon of olive oil on cat food. In this case olive oil will work as a lubricant and it will help hairballs to pass. But, it is important not to put more than a 1/8 of a teaspoon, because olive oil is also a laxative, as we have already explained.
Side Effects
The biggest advantage of olive oil is that it has no side effects on cats. The only possible side effect is diarrhea, if you give too much olive oil to your cat. High dosage of olive oil can also cause a lot of other intestinal problems to your cat. It is recommendable to call a veterinarian first and to ask him for advice. The veterinarian will tell you what is wrong with your cat and what you can do to help him.
Read more about your feline pets and their food, and know if broccoli and cats are good together.
