Is it safe to give Epsom Salt to cats? It’s a grey area, really, but, if you most definitely had to pick a side, the answer would be, no, probably not.
Though this may seem a little bit of a erring on the side of caution approach towards your cat, since Epsom Salt are quite commonly used to treat many ailments, it’s probably the better viewpoint to have.
A lot can go wrong if the cat is given more than the permitted amount. Overdose can result in diarrhea and extreme dehydration in cats.
Can I Give My Cat Epsom Salt? Answer: Yes, But Be Careful
That said, there are many cat owners who give Epsom Salt to their cats, especially for constipation. They use it as a laxative and claim that this solves the problem quite magically. Epsom Salt, which is actually a trade name for magnesium sulfate, is approved by the FDA to be used as a laxative, but this designation is for humans. And, if you are a cat owner you probably know that not everything that is ok for people is permissible for their feline companions.
Cat’s Digestive Systems
Cat’s have an extremely sensitive digestive systems and are prone to getting an upset stomach. Your have to be very careful what to feed the cat. The problem, however, is that cats have an uncanny knack of finding their way into things that are not meant for them. If you’ve left Epsom Salt somewhere cats can reach, and unlike dogs there are a lot of places your cat can easily access, then chances are you’ll be making a trip to the vet soon.
Cats eat grass when they feel sick. In fact, when a cat is not well, some owners will also give them clean, fresh grass. This apparently helps them cleanse their stomachs and they mostly end up vomiting, thus clearing what was troubling them.
External Healing Power of Epsom Salt
What is much safer than giving cats Epsom Salt in their food, is using it externally. Though this is probably a much more difficult task – getting cats to cooperate as you sit them down and dab them with wet cotton swabs is not exactly the easiest thing to do. But if you cat has a wound then Epsom Salt, with its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, is quite effective in treating it. You can mix about eight tablespoons or about 120 ml of Epsom Salt in, say about a gallon or almost four liters of lukewarm water.
Get a clean cloth and wet it, then apply it on the wound. It’ll probably be a good idea to get someone to help with this, as your cat is unlikely to go through this without making her displeasure quite clear and trying her best to resist.
However, you must always consult a vet when your cat gets a wound and not rely only on home remedies. The wound may become infected and you may not be the best judge of what treatment your cat needs. Also, there are some wounds that need a cold compress and some that need a hot one. Doing the reverse of what’s needed will result in a delayed road to recovery for your cat. So when in doubt speak to your vet.
A Curative Hot Soak
Epsom Salt is commonly used to treat tired feet, or in this case, tired paws. Many vets will prescribe this to treat multiple paw-related problems. Even if your cat is not hurt but has had an overly active day or a few days, then a warm soak is something that might be useful in alleviating some of the soreness caused by the fatigue or injury. The trouble, however, is that cats dislike water and to get them to soak their paws in it can be an uphill, not to mention thankless, task. So good as your intentions might be, this may not be taken too well by your cat. And to do this you’ll need help, to put it mildly.
If your cat accidentally eats too much Epsom Salt, which you’d kept in the house, then contact your vet right away. Most probably your cat will get an upset stomach, will have diarrhea and maybe vomit, but this can lead to dehydration very quickly, and sometimes without you realizing it, so it’s best to take them down to the clinic.
Also, as a lesson, keep anything that you do not wish your cat to lick or eat, locked away where the cat cannot reach.
You say to be careful about the dose but do you have some suggestions?
I’d give 1/4 teaspoon in a 6 mL syringe orally. 2-3 times per week if the constipation is constant or megacolon related. Experiment with the syringe full of purified water first, so you know how much room to leave for the 1/4 teaspoon measurement of Epsom Salt.
Then, work to 1/2 teaspoon the next week. If it’s too much you’ll see diarrhea. Then, your measurement should stay at 1/4 per week. I’d never go over half because a human uses 1 teaspoon for laxative effect.
The vet taught me about using Epsom salt for megacolon in cats, which mine has.
This month the vet told me Epsom salt could work for my cat’s mega colon issues. I had never heard of that before. He said the dosing can’t be the amount you give a human. He said it would be better than keeping him on Laxatone. There’s varying opinions, but I would say in very small amounts 2-3 times per week would be harmless.
Thank you! Our cat has a mega colon as well and we are concerned because he has not released bowels in a few days.
What amount of Epsom salt would be safe for a constipated 3 week old bottle baby kitten? Or is there something else that would be better?