Why is my cat straining in the litter box but not peeing or pooping?

I would be concerned if your cat is straining that he may be obstructed. Urine will not be able to exit the body thusly and will result in your cat becoming very ill very quickly. This is a medical emergency and Dizzy should be seen immediately to be sure this isn't the case. If it is, they will need to intervene and relieve the obstruction. Best of luck.

Poor Hiro! This could be a urinary tract infection or he could be blocked meaning he is incapable of urinating. The latter is an emergency. Since you haven’t seen anything come out, I would recommend to have him seen as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to determine whether he is blocked or just has a bad infection and get him started on the proper meds and treatment. I doubt this has anything to do with the food l, but if he is blocked or starts having chronic issues with his urine, the vet may recommend a special diet for him. I hope this helps!

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.

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.

I would recommend having Paws examined by a vet. Sometimes cats will start to feel sluggish and uncomfortable in the litter box if they have a UTI, bladder stones, some inflammatory conditions, or constipation. Since you aren't seeing much in the box, it is hard to determine which is the case, but a vet should be able to figure it out on physical exam.

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.

Hi there. Poor Mittens! Unfortunately with her history I would highly recommend having her seen as soon as possible-she could be blocked (it actually sounds like she is). It is possible she could pass it with laxatives and iv fluids without surgery (your vet would have to do x rays to determine this). The sooner she gets checked out the better if it's already been a while. I hope all goes well and my best to you both!