My cat isn't pooping after illness and vet visit. Is she suffering?

Hi there! It can often take several days for cats to fully calm down and return to normal after a stressful event, so I would tend to agree with your vet - it's likely that he just needs more time. You can try using a Feliway pheromone diffuser to help him relax, or a natural calming supplement such as Composure or Zylkene to see if this helps.

It is not uncommon when pets have not been eating or drinking well to have more extended time between visits to the box. It your kitty was a bit dehydrated from being sick this will also mean less urine in the box too. As it seems that your kitty is feeling better with the care your vet provided i would give it a little time. If he or she is eating then things should normalize. If he or she starts to feel sick again then dehydration may make things worse, and a recheck with your vet is then advised. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lilith. I agree that two months is a bit for grief, especially if they were not bonded. I see that she is an older girl, and so the first thing to do is take her into a vet for a health check. Even though she appears healthy, a sudden change in behavior can be the first sign of an illness. So have her seen by a vet in the next few days. I would also get a Sentry calming collar and a Feliway diffuser. Both release calming pheromones, and that may help with her behavior. While at the vet, if she checks out healthy, the vet can discuss other strategies to deal with this. I hope this helps!

I would recommend having Lilly see a veterinarian. I would want to make sure it isn't medically related and more related to having the other cats gone. If they don't see anything medically going on I would recommend making sure you are spending extra quality time with her doing things she loves and then discussing medication with your vet. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I hate to hear this is happening. Unfortunately, your cat needs to be examined by the veterinarian again. When pets don't respond to treatment as expected, it generally means the real cause of illness has not been identified. Likely she needs further diagnostics and treatment. When cats stop using the box, it's often because it hurts to have the bowel movement and they think the litter box is related to the pain. Unless your vet told you to give the imodium, I recommend to stop the medication. It can have some bad side effects: https://www.petcoach.co/article/7-human-medications-that-are-dangerous-for-your-pet/ Keep your kitty in an area that is easy to clean and keep her calm and quite. Making her more stressed will not help and may create a negative association. Once the diarrhea and GI pain is resolved, she will likely start using the box again. I hope this helps and that she starts feeling better quickly.

Since she was gone for so long, an examine with your veterinarian would be recommended. This may diagnose any underlying injury or infection. Frequently, either can be responsible for a sudden change in behavior. In the meantime, give her space and time to reacclimate to you. Don't force her to be held or pet. Offer treats and praise when she comes close. A pheromone product, such as Feliway Spray or plug in diffuser, may help to decrease any anxiety.

Cats can become stressed by other cats but they do often work things out eventually. There are a few things you can adjust to help decrease stress. Cats are sensitive to the type of litter, size of the box and location of the box. If you have more cats, you need 1 litter box per cat + 1 additional box. You should also have a litter box on every floor of the house. This article discusses different types of litter and litter boxes: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-litter-finding-the-right-fit-for-your-cat/ In general though, cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes, clay-based clumping litter that is scoped every day and a private, quiet location. If you have other cats or dogs, if they can access the litter box, it may cause Luna to be afraid that she could find herself trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with anxiety. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.