Why is my long-haired outdoor cat having trouble pooping? Hairballs?

He could be having difficult defecating due to the extra hair around his anus. You can use grooming clippers (not scissors!) to trim the hair on his backside and under the tail, or find a groomer for a sanitary clip. I recommend a supplement for hairballs, like Laxatone, that will help bind hairballs so they can pass. You may also consider daily brushing, as this will help Mr. Josie get rid of loose hair so that he doesn't ingest as much. However, what you have described could be a sign of constipation. Often times loose stool will move around the harder stool in the colon, and this fluid can have a very foul odor. Mr. Josie may need to see the vet to confirm constipation and receive appropriate treatment.

This could be due to a mild constipation, possibly due to hairballs. Mild constipation that lasts no more than two days can usually be resolved at home with increased fiber and hydration. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just the straight-up pumpkin) or liquid paraffin can be used, and should work straight away in the following 8 hours from administration. DO NOT TRY to give an enema as it could be dangerous and cause electrolyte imbalances and colon perforation. If constipation lasts more than 24 hours from administration of those or 48 hours in general, a check up at your local vet is required. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

It sounds like Mr Darcy is constipated. He may not poop in the box because it may be painful to poop and he associated the box with the discomfort. I would consider getting an over the counter hairball laxative such as laxatone at the pet store. These can help mild cases of constipation. If he isn't pooping normally with this or has vomit/lethargy/decreased appetite then a vet exam is needed. You can read more at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=634

Thank you for submitting your question Bosbos. He appears to have eaten a hair or thread. You can try to remove it with very gentle pressure. If it does not does come out, do not pull harder. It could be stuck to his intestines. If you cannot easily remove it, then he should see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Hi there. If snowball is having stool that firm and is having a hard time going to the bathroom, it's time for a trip to the vet for further diagnostics and likely an iv with fluids so that she can get rehydrated. They can also give her a sanitary shave to remove the excess hair back there that's getting matted. My best to you both!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It sounds as though Lil Man may be struggling to defecate and this may be causing him discomfort. I would recommend adding in Feline Laxatone and see if this helps normalize his bowel movements. With his age, if he hasn't had a veterinarian examine him in a while or have his blood tested, I would strongly recommend that you have this done in case there is something else going on systemically that is causing these symptoms. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

A little added fiber or a daily pet probiotic can help firm up loose stools, however bringing a stool sample into the vet to rule out anything such as parasites or an underlying illness causing it is a good idea. In some cases, even normal stools can sometimes get stuck on long-haired cats. Gently trimming the area to make it less easy for stool to stick, or using a pet wipe after Pockey gets out of the litter box before the stool can dry may help make it easier to clean.