Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why is my old cat constipated and vomiting? What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Maine Coon Polydactyl | Female | unspayed | 15 years old | 10 lbs

Iris isn't pooping often. Also vomits a couple times a week. The vomiting has been going on for years. She had a good visit at the vet last year. She is old and thin but doesn't act like anything is wrong. Could she be pooping in a secret place? I gave her Miralax which worked. But still not regular poop showing in the litter box.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on January 11th, 2020

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on October 4th, 2017
If you want to increase the fiber in his diet then you could add a tablespoon of canned pumpkin to his food and see if that helps. If he is always hungry and is drinking a lot then he should also be examined by a vet to determine the cause. Hyperthyroidism is common in older cats and caused increased appetite and water consumption. Your vet could check his thyroid level to make sure it isn't elevated.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on November 16th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If you are unable to afford medications or supplements you could try adding 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin to her meals which may help with constipation and also to regulate her stools. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on April 25th, 2019
Hello. You do need to try & get more liquids into your cat the best you can. This includes switching to a wet or canned diet, or one of the fiber responsive diets made by Royal Canin. Offering additional liquids such as beef/chicken broths or stocks & tuna water will also help. I would also add 1/8 teaspoon Miralax to her food twice a day. You can slowly, over a week or so, increase this to 1/4 teaspoon per meal. If this does not work to help soften her stool, then medical management with stool softeners like lactulose, & possibly using intestinal motility modifiers like cisapride may be necessary. But you will need to work with a vet to go this route. Try my suggestions for a few weeks & hopefully you can make things more comfortable for Baby. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

My 19-year-old cat is constipated, not eating, and throwing up. Help!

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

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My older cat is constipated and throwing up. When should I see a vet?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bucky! If Bucky hasn't defecated in 2 days and is vomiting and/pr straining he needs to see Vet for an exam, belly X-ray and likely an enema. Constipation is a symptom of something else. In older cats constipation tends to be secondary to kidney disease or intestinal disease. Your Vet may also want to do blood work. he likely will have to be on Miralax, or a stool softener long term. I hope this helps and I wish Bucky a speedy recovery!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My senior cat is severely constipated and very sick. What can I do?

Poor Angel! This can be such a problem in older cats. You can add in some canned pumpkin (1 teaspoon a day) to help increase her fiber intake. Also, if you haven't already, I would talk to your vet about doing some abdominal x-rays. These will help the vet see how large the colon is and how much stool is present. Cats can get something called megacolon where the muscles in their colon don't work well and they get easily constipated. These cats usually need to be sedated and manually have some of the stool removed and then put on a drug called cisapride. Some cats will have to stay on this drug long term, but I have personally had good success with putting them on a food called Royal Canin GI Fiber Response and eventually getting them off cisapride and stool softeners. It is a prescription food so I would talk to your vet about it. Also, . Every cat is different and your vet will need to help guide you through this process. If your vet doesn't think she has megacolon then cisapride may not be needed but if she is REALLY backed up then she may still need to be sedated and have some feces removed to help her out. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Is my senior cat constipated? Vomiting, straining, liquid poop.

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat is straining, vomiting, and constipated. What should I do?

Poor Eddie! Before doing anything else, make sure that Eddie is urinating normal volumes in the litter box without straining. Urinary obstructions in male cats can easily be mistaken for constipation because these cats will strain in the litter box, go in and out of the litter box, vomit, and sometimes vocalize. It is extremely important to assure that he is urinating normally without straining because urinary obstructions are a life-threatening situation that require emergency veterinary attention. If Eddie is urinating appropriately and does not have a bowel movement at home tonight, you should take him to the vet in the morning. The vet will be able to examine him and may need to take abdominal x-rays to determine the degree of constipation or stool impaction. Based upon those results, the vet may need to perform an enema or provide Eddie with prescription-based stool softeners. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my old cat vomiting, peeing, and pooping outside the box?

Poor kitty! In a 13 year old cat, I strongly suspect that she has a medical problem causing these issues. Some common possible causes would include hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to - he/she can do blood work and a urinalysis to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 13-year-old cat has chronic diarrhea and vomiting. What's wrong?

Chronic diarrhea in an older cat with vomiting can be a sign of an inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal cancer. The only way to differentiate between the two disease is a surgery to take biopsies of the intestines and have them analyzed. Based on the diagnosis, the diet may be changed or vitamin supplements or steroids may be added to manage her symptoms. They will check for parasite and check her labs for any renal or endocrine disease

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share