My cat ate fabric weeks ago, now she's constipated. What to do?

It is very common for a cat to not have any bowel movement for a couple of days after having diarrhea because it takes time for stool to build up again in the colon after an episode of diarrhea. I would be concerned if she is straining to defecate without producing any stool, vomiting or not eating. If everything seems normal other than the lack of stool production, then I would just give it a little more time. My guess is that she will pass some stool tonight or tomorrow. If she has not passed stool by tomorrow night, I would have her examined on Friday before going into the weekend. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Butter. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian now. The longer she goes without defecating, the more serious it can become. She may need fluids under her skin to provide her with more hydration. If the problem is severe enough, then an enema will be necessary. I hope this information helps!

Straining but failing to pass anything can indicate severe inflammation, swelling or obstruction and should be checked by your vet, a rectal exam and possibly xrays of the pelvis would be required to investigate fully. It is a good sign her appetite is returning but I recommend a check up to be sure

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.

Its very difficult to say for sure based on the picture if that is the cotton from a q-tip. My guess would be probably not. A small amount of cotton like that would probably look indistinguishable by the time it exits the body. Constipation in cats, particularly for long periods like you have described, can be painful and have some serious consequence on their well-being and health. Often the cause the constipation goes undetermined, particularly in younger cats. Sometimes dietary change is all that is required, adding something fibrous into the mix. Other times, there is a motility problem in the GI tract that requires intervention with drugs. Either way, if there is truly bad constipation, Bomi probably requires an enema (multiple, more than likely). An x-ray will be able to reveal the extent of constipation as well as the size of the colon. Sometimes cats with severe constipation require hospitalization to rehydrate them. Once the body is better hydrated, somethings the dry fecal material will loosen and pass more easily. Overall, I wouldn't say this is necessarily an emergency, but I would get her in somewhere by tomorrow. Hope his helps.

I usually say if there's straining in the litterbox with little to no stool produced in 24 hours, or if there are 3 days with no stool (but no straining is seen) it's time to head to the vet. The fact that he is eating normally is a good thing since appetite tends to decrease with constipation. At any time if he seems painful it is best to go to the vet. You may want to check in with your vet and see what their criteria would be for when to head in - they know more about Bug's particular case and might make different recommendations.

Baby Yoda needs to be examined by the veterinarian. Any pet not pooping for 2 days needs to be examined as they may need fluids, enema, stool softners....etc. Constipation can get worse quickly so it is much better to take care of it earlier. Have her examined today. I hope this helps.