8 Best Cat Laxatives in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Everybody, including your cat, poops, but sometimes things just don’t come out the way they should. Constipation in cats can have several causes, including hairballs, obesity, and not getting enough exercise. If your kitty frequently struggles to poop properly, your vet may suggest using a laxative.

But which options are available, and which is the right choice for your cat? To help you answer these questions, we’ve gathered reviews of what we think are the eight best cat laxatives available. Check out our top picks and use our buyer’s guide to select the product you need to treat your cat.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Vetoquinol Laxatone Control Supplement	Most cats like the taste Can be used daily if needed Often suggested by veterinarians	Check Price
Best Value		CatLax Cat Supplement	Made in the USA Most cats seem to like the taste Contains cod liver oil and Vitamin E	Check Price
Premium Choice		Lactulose Generic Oral Solution	Available in two sizes Can be mixed with food Functions as a stool softener and laxative	Check Price
		Pet Wellbeing Smooth BM Liquid Digestive Supp	Includes medication dropper Made with herbal ingredients Can be mixed in food or given directly	Check Price
		Lax-Aire Medication for Digestive Issues	Easy to administer Can be used for cats and dogs Fewer ingredients than similar products	Check Price

The 8 Best Cat Laxatives

Our pick for the best overall cat laxative is the Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna-Flavored Gel Hairball Control Supplement. Laxatone is easy to administer as the tasty gel can simply be placed on your cat’s nose or paw to be licked off. It may get a bit sticky, however! If your cat isn’t a fan of tuna, the gel also comes in a maple flavor. If needed, this gentle product can be used daily in consultation with your veterinarian.

Laxatone is one of the best-known and widely used cat lubricant products. Many users mentioned that their vet suggested they use Laxatone. Overall, customers were satisfied with this product. Some found their cats didn’t like the taste of the Laxatone and had trouble giving them a dose if they didn’t eat it readily on their own.

Our pick for the best cat laxative for the money is the CatLax Cat Supplement. Like our top choice, Catlax also prevents and eliminates hairballs and keeps things moving in the digestive tract. It has a similar gel texture and flavor as our top pick at a more affordable price and contains cod liver oil and Vitamin E for skin and coat health.

Your cat’s dose can be administered by placing it on their paw for licking. Most customers reported no issues getting their cats to eat CatLax. A few stated their cats wouldn’t touch the product. The gel can be tricky to administer if your cat won’t eat it. CatLax has caramel and malt syrup, so it’s best to check with your vet before using it if your cat is diabetic.

If your cat needs a more powerful laxative, ask your vet about Lactulose Generic Oral Solution. This laxative may require a prescription, depending on where you’re purchasing it. Lactulose functions as a stool softener along with a laxative. The sweet liquid formula can be added to your cat’s food or given by mouth, and it’s available in two sizes.

If your cat doesn’t take medications by mouth well, you should be aware this product is extremely sticky. It’s best to administer Lactulose in a room that’s easy to clean. According to users, getting a dose of Lactulose out of the bottle with a syringe can be messy and a bit tricky.

If you prefer giving your cat herbal products, try Pet Wellbeing’s Smooth BM Gold Bacon Flavored Gold Liquid Digestive Supplement for Cats and Dogs. This liquid relies on a blend of herbal ingredients to keep stools soft and bowel movements regular. Pet Wellbeing is gentle and designed to be used long-term if necessary, and it comes with a dosing dropper.

The bacon-flavored liquid can be added to food or dripped directly into your cat’s mouth. It is higher-priced than some of the options on our list, which could be an issue if your cat dislikes the taste and resists taking their medicine. Some customers mentioned their cats couldn’t tolerate the strong flavor and wouldn’t eat it mixed in food. 

Multi-pet households may find that Lax-Aire Medication for Digestive Issues for Cats and Dogs is the best option for them. This gel lubricant laxative is designed for cats and dogs. It is a petroleum-based laxative, not herbal, but it contains fewer ingredients than other similar products.

Like other gel laxatives, it can be placed on the cat’s nose or paw.  Lax-Aire has a sweet smell and cod liver oil (the second ingredient) flavor. Most users said their cat enjoyed the taste, and the lubricant seemed to work as intended. They did not like that Lax-Aire has no safety seal and is higher-priced than many other laxative lubricants.

If you’re worried about the sticky mess of gel laxatives, consider the BestLife4Pets Cat Constipation Relief and Stool Softener. This plant and mineral-based laxative and stool softener comes in a small, tasteless pill that can be given whole, crushed in food, or dissolved in water. It’s also odorless, so even the pickiest cat hopefully won’t notice that the tablets are in their food. BestLife4Pets is made without artificial additives, preservatives, or flavors and contains non-GMO ingredients. It can be given to cats of all ages, from kittens to senior pets.

Customers reported that the tablets are easy to crush and dissolve, and most claimed their cats didn’t notice they had been added to food or water. These tablets have to be given twice daily. Since two to three tablets are served, the bottle will go fast if you have multiple cats to dose.

Pumpkin is often suggested to battle cat constipation, and Raw Paws Organic Pumpkin Powder is the quick and easy way to do just that. Raw Paws is made in the United States from pumpkins grown in the country, and it’s pure air-dried and pulverized pumpkin, conveniently available in a resealable bag. Eight ounces of this powder equals six cans of pumpkin.

The powder can be mixed with water to form a puree, sprinkled on food, or mixed into it. In addition to supporting smooth digestion, this powder contains numerous nutrients, including fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that benefit immune, skin, and eye health. Users found that Raw Paws was generally effective but a bit messy to work with. They caution that you should check the expiration date on the product before use, as many received powders nearing the end of their shelf life.

If your cat loves treats, try Tomlyn’s Laxatone Chicken-Flavored Soft Chews Hairball Control Supplement as your lubricant laxative of choice. This product offers the familiar, effective Laxatone without the sticky mess of the gel form. Instead, your cat gets a tasty soft chew with added fatty acids for skin and coat health.

Since it’s formulated primarily for hairball control, these chews may not be enough to relieve other forms of constipation. Users loved not having to deal with the messy gel formula, and most found that their cats enjoyed the chews. However, if your cat doesn’t eat the chews, you can’t just smear them on their paws like you would the gel. The treats contain natural chicken flavor and may not be a good choice for cats with food sensitivities. 

Buyer’s Guide: How To Select The Best Cat Laxatives

Now that you have an idea of which types of cat laxatives are available, here are some key points to keep in mind as you shop.

Product Form

The most prominent difference between most cat lubricant laxative products is the form it comes in. Gel laxatives are common, but we also included liquid, powder, tablet, and soft chew options on our list. Many of the products contain similar ingredients as well, so your choice may come down to which form of the product you think will be easiest to administer. A laxative can only work if your cat actually ingests it, so choose carefully.

Ingredients

Traditional cat laxative and lubricant products are usually petroleum-based, possibly with other oils such as cod liver oil. If you prefer using natural ingredients or herbal remedies instead, that will narrow your choice of products considerably. For example, the simplest laxative is the Raw Paws Pumpkin Powder, which contains nothing but pumpkin.

What Does Your Vet Say?

If you feel your cat needs a laxative, speak to your vet before giving your cat one of these products. Chronic constipation may need more medical intervention than an over-the-counter lubricant laxative. If not adequately treated, cats can require more intense treatment like enemas and rehydration with IV fluids. Frequent laxative use can also dehydrate your cat, worsening the problem. As with any supplement, the safest plan is to discuss laxatives with your veterinarian first.

Conclusion

As our top pick, Vetoquinol Laxatone Hairball Control Gel is a tasty, easy-to-administer product frequently suggested by veterinarians. Our best value pick, CatLax Cat Supplement, is made in the USA and helps support skin and coat health in addition to digestion. If your cat needs help keeping things moving, one of these laxative products might be just what you need. We hope our reviews make the shopping process as smooth as possible.

Featured Image Credit: Creative Cat Studio, Shutterstock