Constipated cat

@jugsjugs (12967)
November 27, 2010 2:01pm CST
The other day when i was getting ready to go to an appointment, i noticed that my cat was acting rather starange indeed.She is getting old and i know that she is really scared of the out doors,so she has had a few accidents with her peeing.She had been wormed two weeks ago along with my other 3 cats that io have and all of a sudden she was rubbing or more like dragging her bottom along the floor and making grunting noises.I turned my cat on to her back and low and behold her bottom was open and you could see the poo there.The lady went to her house who was here and got some castor oil to see if that would help and as she picked up my cat thankfully she pooped, just missing the lady.Still got the castor oil on her bottom in case she was sore, problem sorted thankfully.
12 people like this
22 responses
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
27 Nov 10
I have a dog that has a problem with constipation. An old man told me to give him pumpkin and it worked! He loves it, too, just a couple tablespoons in his dinner takes care of the problem. You might try it on your cat. It's natural, harmless and animals like it.
2 people like this
@Amberina (1541)
• United States
27 Nov 10
Like pumpkin out of a can or a pumpkin you cut up an cook?
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
27 Nov 10
Pumpkin from a can, the kind with no spices or anything that you buy to make pumpkin pie with. Works great! I also give him watermelon, which he loves, and a piece of pear because fruit makes the bowels operate smoothly.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
28 Nov 10
Pumpkin, and butternut squash, are both high in fiber and high in vitamin A and are good for cats and dogs both.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Nov 10
I think sometimes cats that are inside don't get the grass and stuff that they need to keep regular. Cats didn't stay inside in years past. Now that they do they have alot of malidies that didn't have when they were outside. The fiber in grass will help them to be more regular. We had many outdoor cats when I lived on my grandmother's farm and they were fine.
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
28 Nov 10
Adding some cod liver oil or butter to her food may help. My cats like butternut squash in their food (cooked and mushed). It is hard when our pets get old.
2 people like this
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
28 Nov 10
I am glad you got the problem solved. It is awful for humans, it must be worse for cats and dogs. At least we can complain or eat something that might help. Pets can't do either. They just have to hope their owner notices something is wrong and helps them out.
2 people like this
@pogi253 (1586)
• Philippines
28 Nov 10
It is very significant to differentiate a constipated cat from a cat with a urinary tract infection as these often cause very alike symptoms and can be easily confused. This is vital because a urinary tract infection in a male cat can be life threatening and may need urgent emergency veterinarian care. There are some clue that can help distinguish these two conditions: a cat with a urinary tract infection will be straining to pass urine instead of feces and you may see that there may be some small urine drops often mixed with blood . Also a urinary tract infected cats will lick his/her genital area often but you must consider that some constipated cats may do the same. You can also turn into detective and examine kitty's litter box, check for feces and urine: whichever is lacking can help you understand what he/she is straining for. Constipated cats may turn bad-tempered and we may understand why, some may even cry out while straining poor babies, and in more relentless cases of constipation the cat may become tired, weak, may not want to eat and to add more, may vomit.
• United States
27 Nov 10
Awwh poor kitty, I suppose his digestive system is interrupted somehow. Did you change his regular type of food and maybe perhaps his eating pattern has changed. I am glad though that the problem is solved, as a human it is painful and uncomfortable and we can speak. A poor kitty can't so poor thing.
2 people like this
• Canada
28 Nov 10
I am very glad the cat was finally able to poop. I know how uncomfortable being constipated can be. I wouldn't know how to fix the problem in a cat, since a lot of the things that would help a human might be harmful to an animal.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
1 Dec 10
Glad she's ok. Since she'd been wormed recently maybe that's why? I've seen dogs scoot along the floor cause they itch (I'm assuming) or when they have a rectal problem.
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
3 Dec 10
Can it be that her poo was there because she accidentally sat on it?? lol =D THat's what happened to my friend, his cat jump on him, sat on him, then he realised that there's poo on the cat!! lol =D He's sure that the cat did not poo on him because the moment the cat lands, she leaves.. haha =D BUt are cats that careless? To sit on poo?? hehe
@savypat (20216)
• United States
28 Nov 10
As cats get older you need to be very careful with their diet. Most commercial cat food is full of grain, cats are meat eaters and grain is not only not necessary but even harmful to their bodies. Check with your Vet for a good diet for older cats.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
5 Dec 10
One of our cats was constipated once and we fed him oil bases tuna and took him for a car ride. It wasn't any time before he was pooping in the cat carrier.
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
28 Nov 10
I'm glad the castor oil really helped your cat. I haven't had a cat in years but I never have had to deal with this problem. I probably wouldn't have known what to do. I'm learning a lot from my mylotter friends, though.
1 person likes this
@acevivx (1566)
• Philippines
1 Dec 10
This is my first time to hear that cats can also get constipated. it never entered into my mind that that is possible most especiaslly since my cats never had the proble. i always thought that since cats, unlike dogs are fastidious eaters and their diet is mostly fish that they would never be bothered with constipation. you really learn new things every day such as using castor oil, fiber and so as shared by MyLotters. I guess what is effective with humans can also be effective with our pets.
1 person likes this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
4 Dec 10
I think so, too.
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
4 Dec 10
I didn't mean to add the rlof smiley up there. I meant to add the nice day one. Sorry about that.
• United States
30 Nov 10
I used to work in an animal shelter and sometimes we would get kittens in who were very young and their gastrointestinal system was not developed yet. We would put them in the litter box then lift up their front paws so they were standing on the back paws then rub back and forth in circles on their bellies. Usually this helped them poop when they couldn't. Also petroleum jelly helps. My silly cat ate grey duct tape when he was a kitten and got constipated. We had to feed him a tablespoon of petroleum jelly for three days till he finally passed the duct tape.
@Sanitary (3968)
• Singapore
2 Dec 10
Does cat get constipation? I didn't know that! I thought maybe only humans has that due to our eating habits and us being fussy over the kind of food. But cats? I'm surprised. SO is she cured now? U are quite observant to see that your cat has got problem. U are good! If i'm in your shoes, i would have sent her to a vet than to solve the problem on my own.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Nov 10
My Goldie has this problem and it was a hairball caught in her intestines. Get to a vet quickly.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
28 Nov 10
If I read this propertly, jugs...she had just been dewormed, and of course, that would interrupt her normal digestive function (or it can on some cats)so my vet tells me. When I take my cat (whom is seniorish) for deworming, the Vet suggests that I put "flax seed oil" on his dry food. It helps to soften the stool, and relieve the harsh effects of the "dewormer" in the intestinal tract. I also have the Vet, do the de-worming as I have been cautioned about the OTC one's, like Hartz Mtn., or the likes! I am truly happy, the problem is solved. Take care and Cheers!
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
28 Nov 10
This story reminded me of the constipated owl. The owl in question," thought it out, as opposed to the mathematician who worked it out with a lead pencil. Your cat was going about it the hard way, by dragging it out along the floor.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 Nov 10
I didn’t know cats could take castor oil, glad the problem got resolved. You’ve got good suggestions here and I’ve taken note because with two cats and a dog there is a chance I may have to face the same problem sometime. Poor kitty she must have felt so uncomfortable!
@doormouse (4599)
28 Nov 10
ahhh your poor kitty,my cats have never experienced anything like that before so i'm not sure what to suggest apart from maybe you should consult your vet,maybe they could prescribe a stool softener like they do for humans
• India
28 Nov 10
Well the age is one factor but try to maintain a healthy diet for cats are sensitive