Constipated senior cat

Hi everyone,
I heard restoralax was recommended by many vets, and have read through these forums to see that many cat owners use it. My cat had been constipated for 5 days, so when I heard that restoralax worked, I ran straight to the pharmacy to buy it. After giving it to her, I read the label (stupid me, I should have read the label BEFORE giving her some) anyway, it said do not use if you have kidney disease. Well my poor cat does have kidney disease so I'm just wondering if any of you have experience with this, should I discontinue use? It did make her poop last night and she has such a pep in her step ever since! She's playing as if she was a kitten (she's 21!)

A little background on missy,
She's 21 and has kidney disease. Due to her disease she's not able to absorb water as well as other healthy cats which leads to frequent constipation and very hard stools. Usually she goes every second day, but it's not that uncommon for her to go three days without pooping. However, she recently went 5 days! I've been giving her pumpkin and coconut oil in her food (she only eats wet food) and I've been watering it down for extra hydration. Nothing was working until I heard about restoralax but like I said, I'm hesitant to keep giving it to her because of her kidney disease. Do you think that because people with kidney disease shouldn't use restoralax, that that would apply to cats to? I kind of assume it would but if others could offer up advice, or even alternative laxatives thatd be great. She only went once last night after giving about a 1/4 teaspoon of restoralax, and her poop was rock hard. Because she was constipated for so long, I know there's still more that needs to come out of her so should I keep giving pumpkin or switch to a different laxative and give her that tonight? Thanks all!

Also, how often should I give her a laxative? I've read that some people give it to their cats everyday

Welcome to the site

Not familiar with Restoralax but if instructions read it could be unsafe under certain conditions best Not to use.

Why take chances with your cat's health?  That's an awesome age   Are you doing Sub Q fluids yet?

That helps with hydrating, not hard to do.  I've had children's glycerin suppositories recommended to me and

that worked -  a small amount but on a younger cat 

Seventhheaven said:

 
Not familiar with Restoralax but if instructions read it could be unsafe under certain conditions best Not to use.

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Restoralax is the Canadian version of Miralax in the US, bascially Polyethylene glycol 3350.
Don't forget that the instructions for Restoralax is for Humans, not animals. I honestly don't know if Restoralax or other similar products is ok for use for a cat with kidney issues so it's best to ask the vet.

If the vet says it's ok to use and has given you the proper cat dosage, then it is fine to give as often as twice a day. It's best to dissolve the Restoralax in a little water first and then mix it wth canned food.

I would check with your vet. When was her last senior health wellness checkup?

LTS3 said:

Don't forget that the instructions for Restoralax is for Humans, not animals. I honestly don't know if Restoralax or other similar products is ok for use for a cat with kidney issues so it's best to ask the vet.

If the vet says it's ok to use and has given you the proper cat dosage, then it is fine to give as often as twice a day. It's best to dissolve the Restoralax in a little water first and then mix it wth canned food.

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A friend's vet recommended it for his cat, so he told me about it. I read lots of people on this site use miralax, which as you said, is the same as restoralax. It's just the kidney issue in worried about. I'm going to discontinue use and find a different laxative to be safe.

Her last check up was last year

Pooter got 1/4 teaspoon of Miralax everyday in her food for 2-3 years. She also had kidney disease and lived to be 21.  If it is the same thing as Miralax, it's used here for kitties all the time.

gardenhoe1 said:

A friend's vet recommended it for his cat, so he told me about it. I read lots of people on this site use miralax, which as you said, is the same as restoralax. It's just the kidney issue in worried about. I'm going to discontinue use and find a different laxative to be safe.

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Miralax /Restoralax works great for many cats but since your cat also has kidney issues, I'm not sure if the Miralax / Restoralax would affect the kidneys in any way. The vet would be the best one to ask.

Some vets prescribe Lactulose for constipated cats. You can ask the vet about that.