My cat is crying and straining in the litter box. Is it an emergency?

Poor Max! It's very concerning that he is crying when urinating, and I would check him to see if he is straining while urinating and if no urine is coming out. Crying when urinating can indicate a blockage by bladder stones, and the other symptoms seen are straining and producing no urine. A blockage is a medical emergency which is fatal without treatment, and if he straining and producing no urine, you have to get him into a vet right away. There will be a vet on call in your area for emergencies, and the information to reach that vet will be on their answering machine or website. I would find a vet on call to have him seen now, if he is blocked it absolutely cannot wait until the morning.

Oh no, that's not good. This can be a sign of a blockage in the urethra from bladder stones. A urethral blockage is fatal without treatment, and since I can't see Mittens in person to rule one out, I think it's best to take him into a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

Be sure that Dizzy is urinating normally. If he seems to be straining at all, trying to urinate frequently or there is a decreased amount of urine in the litter box then it could be a life threatening urinary blockage. If he is crying, acting at all sick or not urinating he should see a veterinarian asap.

Having a male cat that is unable to urinate is a medical emergency. This obstruction can lead to secondary kidney damage and death if untreated due to an electrolyte imbalance. The vocalization is associated with pain. Since he is the uncomfortable and struggling, you need to take him a clinic immediately to have him checked and hospitalized if needed. They will check the urine for crystals and an infection and possibly consider a diet change to prevent future episodes.

Poor Oreo! Straining in the litter box can be caused by constipation, diarrhea, or urinary issues - it's often quite difficult to tell if a cat is straining to pee or poop, so it can be hard to differentiate these things if you aren't used to looking at them. The most concerning possibility is that Oreo may have a urinary obstruction, especially if you have not seen a significant amount of urine in either box since yesterday. This is unfortunately a very common problem in male cats, because their urethra is extremely narrow where it exits the penis - this area can often become "plugged" with crystals or mucus from the bladder. Signs of this problem include repeatedly going to the litter box without producing much urine, crying when trying to urinate, and often lethargy, decreased appetite, and vomiting. If he does have a urinary obstruction, this is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate treatment, as the bladder can rupture and cause death within 24 hours in some cases. It's also possible that Oreo is using the litter box so much because he has diarrhea, or is having trouble passing stool because he is constipated. These problems are less common than urinary issues in my experience, but would still need to be treated by a vet - especially since he's been acting this way for two days now, and seems to be getting worse. I would recommend taking Oreo to the vet today for an exam. He/she can palpate his abdomen to check his bladder and colon, and may also recommend some diagnostic testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

I'm sorry to hear that Gizmo is having some trouble! Before worrying about his pooping, first make sure that he is urinating normally. Male cats can develop urethral obstructions (blockages) that can prevent them from peeing. This is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate treatment. Many cats with these blockages strain in the litter box and it can make it look like they're having trouble pooping. If Gizmo is urinating normally, it's possible that he's constipated. Be sure that he is drinking plenty of water. Adding water to canned food is a great way to get him to drink more. Also adding some canned pumpkin to his diet can increase his fiber intake, which can help him to poop. If he's gone 3 or more days without a bowel movement, Gizmo needs to go to the vet for further evaluation, as medications or an enema may be needed. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

This is an emergency and you need to take Duke to a veterinarian or PetER right now or he will get so ill that he might die. This is not a urinary tract infection primarily but very likely an obstructed urethra caused by crystals or bladder stones. Please take him to a Pet ER now, do not wait. Penicillin will not clear this up.