My seven year old cat is straining to pass stool.   What can I do?

Any cat who is straining in the litter box should be examined by a veterinarian immediately. Because cats take a very similar position to urinate and defecate, it can be difficult to distinguish if they are having trouble doing one or the other. Straining to urinate can indicate a potentially life-threatening urinary tract blockage, so taking you cat to his or her veterinarian is extremely important.

Cats who are having trouble defecating may strain in the litter box or produce small amounts of dry, hard stool. Sometimes you might notice blood in the feces. A constipated cat will often have tiny bits of what can look like diarrhea as they strain to push the larger stool volume out.

There are many different reasons for cats to become constipated. Your veterinarian may elect to do x-rays or blood tests to help pinpoint the cause. Stool softeners can be very effective in helping cats defecate, but be sure to only use ones recommended by your veterinarian. Sometimes a diet change can help relieve the problem and there is even a surgical procedure that can benefit some severely affected cats. Your veterinarian can assist in figuring out which method will be most effective for your individual cat.

This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.