Why is my cat straining to go in the litter box and scooting around?

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 would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian. He could have something mild like a urinary tract infection but he can also have stones or crystals in his urine that is causing discomfort. They can check a urine to see if it is an infection or if there are crystals and he may need an X-ray if they are suspecting stones. I hope Simba feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

It certainly sounds like Lolo could have a urinary tract issue as urinating in small amounts without producing much is definitely abnormal. I would take her to your vet. They may want to check her urine for infection and take an x-ray to check for bladder stones. Often cats don't have UTIs but still can have bladder inflammation. Making sure they drink plenty of water, and feeding wet food can help with bladder health. Good luck!

It sounds like your cat might be painful when he is urinating - the tail shaking can be seen in cat's with urinary discomfort. This is common in young adult male cats and can be related to cystitis, bladder stones or a urinary tract infection. If he seems to be going more frequently, passing less urine than normal, or if he begins urinating outside the box you should see your veterinarian right away. They may recommend checking a urine sample.

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!

I would be concerned she may have cystitis - painful inflammation of the bladder (or possibly colitis or constipation of the bowel). This is an extremely distressing and uncomfortable condition and should be assessed and treated by your vet as soon as possible. Try to encourage fluid intake with wet food and freshly boiled chicken broth in the meantime