Cats-tipated.

*****WARNING*****
This post concerns cat poo.
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Might not want to read if you're eating. Or don't care about cat poo.
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General has been walking around the house meowing all day, pitifully. He would scratch at the carpet, like a bull getting ready to charge. And he just seemed miserable and angry. I think I now know why. He kept going to the litterbox, then jumping out, getting in, jumping out. Finally he squatted on the rug that I keep under the box, which I would normally discourage, but didn't today, because I wanted to see what was going on with him. So I watched. He strained and strained and just looked really annoyed for what seemed like forever. When he got up, I went over to examine. One teeny little spot of poo about the size of a pea, if that. So I'm thinking he's constipated.

I did some reading online, and I've heard recommendations from cod liver oil (which cats supposedly like the taste of), to Vaseline on their paw to flax seed, to cooked boiled chicken (not sure what this would do?) If I use cod liver oil, where do I get it? I don't think I've ever noticed it in a store, although it's not like I've been looking for it.

Have any of you had a constipated kitty, and if so, what did you do about it? He seems so utterly miserable, and I want to help him. I'm wondering if things will just "break free" on their own, or do I need to help him out? Poor baby.

Mystery solved (maybe.)

I may have figured out what's going on with General, and it's something I inadvertantly did. I'd noticed he was moving a bit slower than usual lately, and seemed to have some stiffness in his hips. He is an old boy, at the grand age of 12, so it's to be expected. Still, I wanted to try and make him comfy. The last time I was stocking up on cat food, I noticed these treats: http://www.zukes.com/meow/hip-action.html
He's pretty finicky about treats, and normally prefers crap (like Whisker Lickins, etc.), instead of the good, healthy stuff. I'd gotten him some glucosamine/chondroiton capsules before and he HATED them. Absolutely would not even touch them. They were something like $12 and I wound up donating most of the bottle to the animal shelter. But these Zuke's Hip Action treats were only like three bucks, so I thought "if he doesn't like them, I won't be out much." Turns out, he LOVES these things. They stink to high heaven, so that's probably why. And they're just a small little moist pellet, so I could mix it right in with the regular cat food.

One thing I'm notorious for, is not reading labels or directions. My mother fusses about my dad and me for this very reason. We tend to dive into something head-on, and then realize we need to go back and see what we were supposed to have done.

I'd been wracking my brain today, trying to figure out if General had eaten anthing different or whatever, and I just happened to notice those treats on the counter. So I googled glucosamine/chondroiton. Turns out, large doses of it can cause stomach upset or...constipation. I went back and read the label on the cat treats. Up to 11 lbs, they're supposed to get one pellet per day. Over 12 pounds, two pellets per day.

Oh.

See, I'd been giving General like 5, 6, 7 per day. :-/ Oops. Yesterday, I had a few left in the bag, and was getting ready to start a new one, so I just dumped them into his bowl, probably 8 or 9, and of course, he devoured them like the were candy. So, he's been getting, like quadruple dosed in his hip meds. I feel so bad, that he's probably got a horribly upset tummy now, because of me. However, I will say, he's been walking and running with a spring in his step like I've not seen in a year, so those things DO work, for sure. And he absolutely loves them. I will give them to the girls (Oreo has an occasional interest in them), and even Trouble, if he wants one, just because they taste good. But Gen was the only one who seemed to be getting a bit arthritic. So, if you have a senior kitty who is moving a bit stiffly or slowly, I'd highly recommend these things. Just watch the dosage, because apparently too many will cause them to feel yucky and not be able to poo. The good thing is, now that I (hopefully) know what's causing his constipation, I'll just keep him off them for a couple of days, and keep on with the mineral oil til he gets regulated again. Then I'll actually follow the package directions and not OD him on this stuff.

Lesson learned.