Why is my cat constantly in litter box, straining, but not peeing?

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.

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.

Hi, it is important for Percy to be checked over urgently as he could be having troubles passing urine. If this should continue to the point of being unable to pass any urine at all, it would potentially be a life threatening emergency. Best to have him checked over sooner rather than later ! Hope he feels better soon,

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.

Hello, and thanks for your question. Poor Boo! It sounds like Boo probably has a urinary tract infection. She should be seen by your vet, where they will examine her and evaluate a sample of her urine to look for evidence of infection. They will set her up with antibiotics if indicated to treat the infection. I also see she is unspayed. Frequent attempts to urinate can also be a symptom of a life threatening uterine infection ("pyometra"), or very rarely a urethral obstruction (though this is much more common in male cats, and quite rare in females). If Boo gets sicker overnight she may need to be taken to the emergency vet. However, these possibilities would be much less likely than a urinary tract infection. I hope this helps and she feels better soon!

Hello, thank you for your question about Atticus. The symptoms that you are describing could be indicative of two possibilities - constipation or urinary obstruction. Urinary obstruction is much more common in male cats due to their anatomy; however, if Atticus had an underlying condition such as bladder stones, she could experience an obstruction. Constipation is a not uncommon condition in cats. It can have many different underlying causes. Since Atticus is otherwise acting normally I would recommend continuing to monitor her for the next 12-24 hours. If she continues to go in/out of the box and does not produce any urine/feces or she develops any other symptoms (lethargy, vomiting, inappetance) I would recommend having her seen by your veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!

Hello! I would recommend keeping his litter completely clean so you can monitor his urine output. A blocked cat will continue to return to the litter box, strain unproductively or only pass small amounts of urine that may be bloody, and often be vocalizing. If you notice any of these signs, he needs to be taken to a vet immediately to be assessed for possible blockage. Feeding wet food, fountains, and dripping sinks and good ways to encourage cats to drink more water. Urinary tract infections in cats are fairly uncommon. Usually the urinary disease is a result of a production of crystals or stones or a sterile inflammatory bladder disease. Keeping Jack on a urinary diet forever may be necessary for him to maintain good urinary health. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!