Cat straining in litter box after booster shots? What should I do?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would definitely recommend having Tamtam evaluated by a veterinarian. At his age there could be a congenital abnormality (abnormal anatomy that he was born with) that could be hindering him from being able to urinate/defecate normally. Intestinal parasites can also cause straining to defecate which could be presenting as straining to urinate as well, so it would also be beneficial to perform a fecal float on a sample to look for common parasites. I hope Tamtam feels better soon.

Oh no, that's not good. This can be a sign of a blockage in the urethra from bladder stones. A urethral blockage is fatal without treatment, and since I can't see Mittens in person to rule one out, I think it's best to take him into a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

I would recommend having Paws examined by a vet. Sometimes cats will start to feel sluggish and uncomfortable in the litter box if they have a UTI, bladder stones, some inflammatory conditions, or constipation. Since you aren't seeing much in the box, it is hard to determine which is the case, but a vet should be able to figure it out on physical exam.

I'm sorry to hear that Gizmo is having some trouble! Before worrying about his pooping, first make sure that he is urinating normally. Male cats can develop urethral obstructions (blockages) that can prevent them from peeing. This is a life-threatening emergency that needs immediate treatment. Many cats with these blockages strain in the litter box and it can make it look like they're having trouble pooping. If Gizmo is urinating normally, it's possible that he's constipated. Be sure that he is drinking plenty of water. Adding water to canned food is a great way to get him to drink more. Also adding some canned pumpkin to his diet can increase his fiber intake, which can help him to poop. If he's gone 3 or more days without a bowel movement, Gizmo needs to go to the vet for further evaluation, as medications or an enema may be needed. I hope this helps and that all goes well!

Adding water to the food, or a spoonful of canned pumpkin with each meal, can often help with mild constipation issues in cats. I'm not sure what Jack is doing, specifically, that is making you concerned about constipation - but I would caution you that straining in the litter box is more likely to be due to a urinary obstruction than constipation. This would be a medical emergency, so unless you are positive that he is constipated and not straining to urinate, it would be best to take him to a vet today for an exam to help determine exactly what's going on.

I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian. He could have something mild like a urinary tract infection but he can also have stones or crystals in his urine that is causing discomfort. They can check a urine to see if it is an infection or if there are crystals and he may need an X-ray if they are suspecting stones. I hope Simba feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Oh no, poor Bella! It is concerning that she is appear to have trouble pooping and/or peeing. I would try mixing in a teaspoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) with her food, and feeding her canned food to get more moisture in her. If she is constipated, dehydration is the most common cause of it in cats. Continue to monitor here and if she is still having trouble pooping, have her seen by a vet tomorrow. If she has trouble urinating, strains to urinate, nothing is coming out when she tries to pee, or she cries when trying to urinate, you will need to take her into a vet immediately because these signs are a medical emergency.