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My senior cat is constipated, vomiting, and in pain. Is it cancer?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 13 years and 3 months old

Constipation even with stool softeners; cries with pain---frequency increasing; trying to hide; vomits after feeding; decreased appetite; thin, ribbon-like stool; had full anal sac near to rupture; 13 + years old; feral until approx. 6 years old; behavior seen for past month, getting worse. Vet examined three times; x-ray of bowel done--full of stool when anal gland enlarged; some arthritis of knees, hips and spine; hx of pancreatitis; on Hill's CD vegetable and chicken stew wet food. Cancer?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 23rd, 2017

I'm sorry Nikita is struggling so much with constipation! Typically constipation is a chronic problem that must be managed for the entire life of the patient, but it is possible that she has cancer. It might be a good idea to talk to your vet about getting a biopsy sample of her intestines to check for cancer. This much be very hard for you to deal with, and even if she did have cancer, the prognosis is poor. I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but I would recommend looking at her quality of life. It sounds like you have done a lot for her with little to no improvement, and it may be time to consider letting her go peacefully. Letting her pass without any further pain and illness would be a kindness to her, and I would serious think about this. I'm sorry, this probably isn't something you want to read, but it may be best for her. I work for a home euthanasia service, and I face this problem with my clients all the time. If you'd like to consult with me further on this, I'd be happy to talk with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Otherwise, speak to your vet about the possibility of an intestinal biopsy or potentially letting her go peacefully.
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on February 7th, 2018

    Oh dear! I'm sorry to hear that Shadow is so sick. If she's laying in one place, urinating and defecating on herself, and not eating or drinking, I'm afraid this is very serious. There is really nothing you can do at home for a problem like this, so I would recommend getting her to a veterinarian as soon as possible. These symptoms could be caused by almost any kind of serious illness, so it's really impossible to say what's wrong without being able to examine her and do some testing.

    Depending on the underlying problem, it's possible that treatment may help her recover; or, if the diagnosis is not something treatable, it may be kindest to consider putting her to sleep. Your veterinarian should be able to explain things and tell you what your options are based on her exam and lab results.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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