My cat strains to poop, eats less, and has accidents. Is it constipation?

Cats often are not constipated but are having diarrhea. With her age I would be concerned about a disease causing a decreased appetite. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian for blood work and possible x-rays. At this age kidney disease, cancer and hyperthyroidism are very common. Also bad dental disease can cause a change in appetite. She most likely has an underlying disease that is causing her these secondary issues. I do not think changing her diet will be enough to make her feel better. A veterinarian visit is best. Hope she feels better soon

Some owners see a cat struggling in the litter box and they assume constipation but it is usually a urinary problem. With her having a recent problem with her urinary tract/bladder I would assume this is a continuation of the problem. I suggest you get a second opinion with another vet. This problem may be more than the ASPCA vet can handle. ( https://www.queensanimalhospital.com/ )

I'm sorry to hear that this is going on with your cat. The corn in the diet should not cause any urinary problems and it generally very safe and a very common ingredient in many cat foods. Oftentimes when a cat is peeing outside of the littler box it is because of a urinary tract infection or cystitis (inflammation of the bladder wall). When the cat has one of these conditions it can make it painful to urinate and the cat associates the pain with the litter box and thus starts going outside of the box. This could explain her constipation as well. If she is not frequenting the litter box and holding in her bowel movements it can cause her to become constipated. I would recommend making sure the litter box is cleaned frequently (twice a day) because some cats can be finicky when it comes to using a dirty litter box. I would also definitely recommend keeping your appointment with your vet. They may test the urine for infection and can give you a recommendation on a good, balanced diet for Inara. Good luck!

Cats should have a bowel movement roughly twice a day. When they don't, that generally means there is a problem. Sometimes this can be a sign of an inappropriate diet, not enough water intake, a neurological issue or a tumor blocking the intestines. Since she is older and it sounds like it's been a year, I recommend to start with a veterinary visit. Bring in a fresh sample of stool so the vet can check it. Make sure to speak with the veterinarian about food options as well. Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet can often help as can feeding a canned food with additional water added. There is also a special prescription diet made by Royal Canin called Fiber Response that many cats respond well to. Older cats often need more care (just like older humans) so have her examined within the next day or so. I hope this helps.

Straining but failing to pass anything can indicate severe inflammation, swelling or obstruction and should be checked by your vet, a rectal exam and possibly xrays of the pelvis would be required to investigate fully. It is a good sign her appetite is returning but I recommend a check up to be sure

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Jasmine. Poor girl! It could be she has a GI illness causing the vomiting and diarrhea. Likely she has had some loose stools, and it's normal to see a cat act like they are trying to poop but have nothing come out. It's not constipation, it's just she still has the urge to go but nothing comes out. It happens in humans as well who have diarrhea. Unfortunately I cannot recommend giving Pepcid or Miralax without seeing her in person, it's illegal. I can give you a home remedy to see if that helps. Feed her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If she vomits the bland diet, the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away. Best of luck.

Hello, sorry to hear about Lorna. Its unlikely to be an emergency but she may not be feeling like her normal self and may have an upset stomach. I would recommend having her evaluated by her veterinarian. If you note however that she is not eating, develops vomiting or lethargy then she should be evaluated sooner. Hope this helps and best of luck.