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Why is my cat straining to poop and has a red ring around her anus?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Russian Blue | Female | spayed | 1 year and 9 months old | 7 lbs

I have a f cat that might be straining. I've given her pumpkin purée to help but today when she went to poop, she seemed to be straining. Her poop is always a light green, formed and litter sticks to it. She poops every 24-36 hours and is on canned food only. Sometimes she does poop in little bits but they are not dry. Today when she pooped I noticed a red ring around her poop while still in her anus. The still had no blood and nothing protruded. Is that red lining normal? Is she sick?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on March 4th, 2017

The red ring may be a potential rectal prolapse from all the straining. Add water to the meals to increase fluid intake. Too much pumpkin may worsen constipation. Add no more than 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds body weight of plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) to the meals.
Ideally, Olivia should be examined by your veterinarian. Abdominal x-rays should be done to determine if she is obstipated (obstructed with stool). If so, she may need sedation and manual emptying and or enemas. Do not administer an enema at home.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
The red lining is the lining to her colon and that sounds normal based on your description. She may have been a bit dehydrated today, causing her poo to be hardened and difficult to pass. Adding pumpkin to her food does help bulk her stools for easy passage. However most cats don't drink enough water, which can lead to dehydration issues. You are doing a great job by feeding her canned food. You can also try adding in a water fountain as well to encourage her to drink more water.
Keep a close eye on her and as long as she is producing a stool and the straining doesn't become consistent, then she will likely be ok.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA
Veterinarian
Published on March 4th, 2017
Cats can be prone to constipation. Making sure that Olivia is getting enough fluids either through drinking or through wet food might help her to poop. However, if she continues to be constipated, your veterinarian may want to perform and enema to clean out her colon. He may also prescribe medications that will help to get things moving.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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My cat's anus protrudes and is red when pooping, then retracts. Is this normal?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If it has gone back to normal, then it likely was just a bit harder for him to pass that bit of poop. This could have been a one-off episode for Pumpkin, or it could be a sign that his poops are too hard. You can try just monitoring him and feeling his poop to see if it is hard or squishy. If it is hard, or very wide for his anus, then try adding canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling, just plain canned pumpkin) to his diet. This will increase fibre. Also, with his name it is fitting that this should help him. Otherwise, just keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't stay out. If it comes out and stays out, this is a true emergency which requires fixing right away. Best of luck with Pumpkin.

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Ollie may need to go to your veterinarian for an enema to relieve the constipation. This can become a chronic problem so it's important to get Ollie's stool emptied completely soon. I recommend that you feed plain canned pumpkin, about one tablespoon twice daily, to prevent constipation in the future. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ollie.

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