What this means
A cat that struggles to pass stool squats in the litter box for a long time, strains, sometimes cries out, and passes small, hard, dry stools or nothing at all. It may go less and less often and sometimes vomit. A change in the litter box is a medical sign, not mischief or stubbornness, so do not put it down to character until a vet has said so.
The most important thing to know is that an owner often cannot tell whether a cat is straining over stool or over urine. A cat that strains in the litter box and passes nothing may have a blocked urinary tract, which can be life-threatening within hours, especially in male cats, although females can be affected too. So always regard repeated straining with nothing to show for it as an emergency.
Constipation can come from too little fluid in the body, a widened large bowel, swallowed hair or non-food items, or problems of the pelvis or spine. Some kittens are born with an inherited spine or nerve problem, especially those born without a tail or with a very short one, and they pass stool with difficulty. A vet should assess such a kitten. Do not try to give anything at home, do not press on the belly and do not wait for it to pass on its own.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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Too little fluid in the body, or another illness
When a cat drinks too little or has another illness, stools turn dry and hard. A vet should find the reason.
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A widened large bowel
When the muscles of the large bowel weaken, stools linger and dry out further. The cat goes less and less, and the stools are small and hard.
About the condition: Megacolon -
Swallowed hair or non-food items
Swallowed hair, thread or other objects can cause trouble in the gut and make passing stool harder. Vomiting may follow.
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Problems of the pelvis or spine
After a pelvic injury the passage for stool can narrow, and spine or nerve problems weaken the push. Movement of the back legs may also be affected.
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An inherited spine problem in kittens
In kittens born without a tail or with a very short one, the spine and nerves may have formed abnormally. Stools then pass with difficulty and sometimes cannot be controlled.
About the condition: Manx syndrome -
Pain when taking the squatting position
If the joints, the back or the anus hurt, a cat avoids squatting and holds its stool back. Cats hide pain, so the first sign may be only a changed habit.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How many times a day your cat visits the litter box and whether anything comes out
- What the stools look like: small, hard, dry or with blood
- How long it stays in the box and whether it cries out
- Whether it is also vomiting, eating less or drinking less
- Whether its energy has changed or it is hiding
- Whether it could have swallowed thread, ribbon or other objects
When to book a routine visit
Book an examination if your cat passes stools less and less, the stools are small and hard, or it has not gone for several days, even if it otherwise looks bright. If it strains and nothing comes out, go to a clinic immediately.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Gastrointestinal conditions Digestion and liver A general name for upsets of the stomach and intestines: a cat vomits, has diarrhoea or constipation, or loses its appetite. Some pass quickly while others point to a more serious illness, so it matters how long they last.
- Hairballs Digestion and liver Clumps of swallowed hair that form in the stomach when a cat takes in more hair while grooming than its gut can pass on. A single hairball brought up is not necessarily serious, but hairballs that keep coming, or that come with a loss of appetite, show that something is wrong.
- Manx syndrome Nerves and muscles An inherited condition of the spine and nerves that can affect cats born with a very short or absent tail. The lower spine and spinal cord form abnormally, which can disturb the movement of the back legs, urination and bowel movements.
- Megacolon Digestion and liver A condition in which the large bowel widens and can no longer push stools onward. The stools build up inside it and harden, so the cat cannot pass them for a long time.
- Pica General health A cat chews and swallows things that are not food: wool and other fabrics, plastic, paper, cables or thread. It is more than an odd habit, because a swallowed object can block the gut.
Body systems: Digestion and liver Nerves and muscles General health