Why is my cat straining, vomiting, and constantly in the litter box?

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Smokey isn't feeling well. Vomiting in cats can be due to many reasons including gastric upset, obstructions (something stuck in the gut where it shouldn't be), constipation, pain and stress. Peeing outside the litter box can be due to a medical condition (urinary tract infection, metabolic disease like diabetes, crystals, or interstitial cystitis). Peeing outside the box can also be behavioral if the box isn't cleaned, if there aren't enough litter boxes (# of cats + 1 = # of litter boxes), or if she isn't feeling well and she is trying to tell you. Also, since your cat is unspayed, she is at risk for pyometra (infected uterus). If she is still bright and happy and wanting to play and eat I would try changing the litter, getting another box, and seeing if this behavior goes away. Alternatively you can bring her to a vet and get her urine checked- this is ideal. If she is not bright, not wanting to eat, and the vomiting continues and she continues to not use the litter I would have her seen right away by a veterinarian as there could be something seriously wrong. Also, since she is unspayed, she could be marking, I would recommend getting her spayed once this illness is cleared up. I hope she feels better soon.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Mamacat most likely has cystitis. It is usually related to bacterial infection of the bladder but it may be due to bladder crystals or stress. Please, take her to your local vets for an appointment, as most likely she will need a course of antibiotics to get better.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Sweety! If Sweety didn't eat for several days or isn't eating normally she will pass less stool which doesn't necessarily mean she is constipated. If Sweety is not spayed then I would be very concerned that she has a uterine infection (pyometra) which requires immediate Veterinary care and surgery to remove the infected uterus. This is a life threatening condition. Other possibilities is a urinary tract infection which also require a Vet exam and analysis of her urine and antibiotics. I recommend that Sweety sees a Vet today. I hope this helps and I wish Sweety a speedy recovery!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Nibbles is very sick and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. If she is vomiting so frequently, she may have an issue with her stomach or intestines. This could be something as simple as a dietary intolerance, or could be as scary as cancer. I recommend contacting your veterinarian and making an appointment for her to be seen. I hope this is helpful.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Is vito producing urine when he gets in the litter box, or is he straining and very little urine comes out? Male cats can develop a urinary obstruction, which is an emergency condition that needs to be evaluated right away, as it can be fatal. Otherwise, cats can develop bladder crystals, a urinary tract infection, or cystitis (an inflammation of the bladder). If there is a chance Vito has a urinary obstruction, I would have him seen immediately. Good luck!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The vomiting you describe can be bile which animals vomit when they are hungry. You can leave a small amount of food out for Tiger and his friend overnight. Inappropriate urination can be linked to medical conditions such as urinary crystals or stones, urinary tract infections, or diabetes. These can be ruled out with bloodwork and a urinalysis. However, it is important to rule out behavioral issues as well. I typically recommend that a home have one more litter box than the number of cats. In your case, for Tiger and his friend, there should be three litter boxes. You should place them in various areas in the home and make sure that one of them is covered to provide privacy. Any changes in litter type, people in the home, or moves can also alter bathroom habits and these may just take some time to adjust to. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

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.