Help Please! Cat Straining

IMPORTANT: If your cat is in any distress or discomfort, please consult your own vet as your first priority.
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hyurin
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Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by hyurin »

Hi, I have an adopted cat and this dilemma started when his body started aching (meows when

touched) and his right hind leg limps but not too much. I added more meat to his diet but it

had him constipated for almost 2 weeks. On those 2 weeks only small amount of poop goes out.

Then the day came when suddenly he started straining too much to defecate until he was

vomiting. That time poop successfully went out.


The next day I bought him to the vet because his body is still aching and he walks slow. Vet

told me that his stomach is hard so he was given enema. No poop went out. Vet gave him

lactulose that was good for 3 days and was given Tolfedine for 4 days. My cat then started to

be active and responsive during that time but still on those 3 days he still cant poop and

another complication came in when he began straining to urinate releasing only small drops of

urine and exhibits frequent trips to his litter box.


I went back to vet he was given antibiotics good for 7 days.But I decided to confine him so

that he can be observed. On those days he was confined he was given an enema twice.Vet said he

was able to poop but he still strains and his tummy is big. So vet advised to do xray, my cat

has scoliosis and has seen obstruction on his tummy. So she advised to do exploratory

laparatomy. But no solid obstruction was found, only fecal material and hairball. So she said

maybe my cat has neuro problems since he's scoliotic. It's been 4 days now after his surgery

and I can see he still straining to defecate and urinate.


How many days will the medicine take effect? Vet prescribed him with b complex supplements,

antibiotic and supplement for metabolism.


I am now worried if this case would actually have positive response since as of now I'm seeing

that he is still straining, no poop and pee after he went through surgery. Do you think there

would be more underlying problem with his straining? I cant afford to lose him. :(
Cussypat1974
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by Cussypat1974 »

Hello Hyurin,
I am afraid I have never come across scoliosis in cats at all, so cannot help you with any info or advice..... Someone else will hopefully be along with some experience of this though. It does sound serious and very distressing for you both, and I can only wish you the very best of luck with future treatment. X
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by Cussypat1974 »

Can I ask, you said it has been 4 days since the surgery and no urine or stool since? Are you sure? Is he eating and drinking? I honestly don't think a cats bladder coild hold 4 days of normal urine output without bursting to be honest..... He could be going somewhere without you knowing? I would call the vet immediately though...... If his bladder bursts he will die and it will be horrible. I don't mean to panic you, as I honestly think he must have urinated somewhere..... But please do call the vet. X
hyurin
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by hyurin »

Cussypat1974 wrote:Can I ask, you said it has been 4 days since the surgery and no urine or stool since? Are you sure? Is he eating and drinking? I honestly don't think a cats bladder coild hold 4 days of normal urine output without bursting to be honest..... He could be going somewhere without you knowing? I would call the vet immediately though...... If his bladder bursts he will die and it will be horrible. I don't mean to panic you, as I honestly think he must have urinated somewhere..... But please do call the vet. X
He was able to urinate the day after I posted this. At least it lessen my worries. Then there's one time he was straining to urinate then I discovered I should express him to help him empty his bladder. After that he's feeling fine then up to now, thank God he urinates normally. My only problem left is he still can't poop. Days after his surgery, I added psyllium to his food but I eventually stop it immediately since the effects is like making him have the urge to defecate every now and then until he vomits. But along with that, a small amount of hard poop when out, like 1.5 inch. That's the only poop he gave out for the 2 weeks after his surgery.

Are there side effects of psyllium? He really looks bad when he vomits. So I have second thoughts of giving him again. Then I'm still wondering why he has a hard poop when I think I'm giving him digestible food. For now he's on oatmeal mixed with canned food (royal canin recovery).
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Lilith
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by Lilith »

Hi there, very sorry to hear he's still struggling.

Some cats just are on the 'solid' side but when I read a post on here (by Mark B) recommending the Royal Canin Fibre Response dry food, I bought some for one of my cats who was beginning to be chronically constipated - and it worked wonders! She's reverted to being more solid than she was at first, but she definitely goes, and goes regularly. It isn't cheap and you may have to order it online but it does seem like a good product and she likes it; it has that yeasty smell that the old 'Meowmix' (anyone remember that?) used to have.

She also has full strength milk from time to time to keep her regular - this suits her but I'm aware it doesn't suit every cat. I have a couple of tins of evaporated milk (NOT condensed) in the larder for emergencies but the last time I gave her this there was a bit of a disaster in the bathroom in the small hours, involving a huge puddle of diarrohea and my bare feet... :shock:

I'm just wondering about the oatmeal. In the past when I've had dogs with loose motions I've fed them porridge to bind them up. You'd think the fibre in oatmeal could encourage a looser motion, but maybe be an idea just to feed the wet food without the oatmeal (but I'm no expert here.) I wish I could think of more foodstuffs that encourage a sluggish gut to perform. Apparently chopped raw liver is good (if the cat will eat it of course!)

Hopefully other people on here will have better ideas - do wish you all the best with him :)
hyurin
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by hyurin »

Lilith wrote:Hi there, very sorry to hear he's still struggling.

Some cats just are on the 'solid' side but when I read a post on here (by Mark B) recommending the Royal Canin Fibre Response dry food, I bought some for one of my cats who was beginning to be chronically constipated - and it worked wonders! She's reverted to being more solid than she was at first, but she definitely goes, and goes regularly. It isn't cheap and you may have to order it online but it does seem like a good product and she likes it; it has that yeasty smell that the old 'Meowmix' (anyone remember that?) used to have.

She also has full strength milk from time to time to keep her regular - this suits her but I'm aware it doesn't suit every cat. I have a couple of tins of evaporated milk (NOT condensed) in the larder for emergencies but the last time I gave her this there was a bit of a disaster in the bathroom in the small hours, involving a huge puddle of diarrohea and my bare feet... :shock:

I'm just wondering about the oatmeal. In the past when I've had dogs with loose motions I've fed them porridge to bind them up. You'd think the fibre in oatmeal could encourage a looser motion, but maybe be an idea just to feed the wet food without the oatmeal (but I'm no expert here.) I wish I could think of more foodstuffs that encourage a sluggish gut to perform. Apparently chopped raw liver is good (if the cat will eat it of course!)

Hopefully other people on here will have better ideas - do wish you all the best with him :)
Thank you for your concern. :) I will try the things you have done, hoping it will work for my little buddy.

What such emergencies when you get to use the evaporated milk? And do you have any idea if infant suppository would help him pass feces?

Yes. Hopefully other people could share in some insights.
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Lilith
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by Lilith »

Hi, with the evaporated milk, I never fed it more than once a week (although you can dilute it with water) and just when she hadn't been regular...I rely on the royal canin now but she loves the milk as a treat and so do the others but it is rich and can have a rather drastic effect on the gut. Single cream might be similar and better than tinned stuff too.

I really wouldn't try suppositories without the guidance of your vet. Most cats are very sensitive about their backsides and human products aren't designed for cats; if your vet thinks this is a good idea, I'd let the vet administer the proper feline remedy - and let the cat blame the vet, not you lol!

All the best with him :)
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Lilith
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by Lilith »

Ah - how could I have forgotten?

Another home remedy for constipation - add a small amount of any cooking oil - olive, corn etc to a cat's meal. I'd start with half a teaspoonful and go up to a teaspoonful if there are no results. Some cats don't like oil, of course. And there is also tuna and other fish in oil if he'll eat these.

Good luck! :)
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Re: Help Please! Cat Straining

Post by Cussypat1974 »

Yep, oil of any kind helps. I give my gang some cod liver oil once a week in their food, for vitamins and just as a coat shiner, but I dose it very carefully in case it causes diarrhoea!
Typically, vets use liquid paraffin and I have used that on constipated kittens in the past with great results. A vet could give him an enema with liquid paraffin, but you can just add to his food or syringe it into his mouth.
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