Cats-tipated.

[bluesilverkdg]

*****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.

Comments

[solfox.livejournal.com]

You can probably get cod liver oil on a vitamin/mineral aisle, at a pharmacy (Walgreen's, CVS, etc), or a vitamin store. Keep an eye on him, because if he doesn't pass anything, you may need to call the vet to determine if you should bring him in to help him express his bowels.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

Oh boy..I hope not. I'll be here all day, so I'll keep a watch on him. Hopefully the oil will do the trick. I've never known him to be constipated before, so hopefully this is just a fluke.

[theldara.livejournal.com]

That's what I was going to say too. If he's not passed anything by morning, you'd want to go and have him checked for impaction (might've eaten a pony tail holder, plant, etc).

I've got some catlax if you need, but Walgreens will have the cod liver oil or mineral oil. Cod liver oil is the main ingredient in catlax anyway.

[bluesilverkdg.livejournal.com]

I just ran to the Walgreens right down the street so I wouldn't be gone for very long. They had mineral oil as liquid, but the only cod liver oil they had were supplements, in a gelcap. He seemed to really enjoy the mineral oil and he took a good bit of it, so hopefully it's gotten into his tummy. I don't *think* he ate anything unusual. That's not his style, and I've yet to know him to eat anything out of the way. He likes carrying things like my jewelry in his mouth (he especially loves watches and such), but I don't think he could actually swallow any of the stuff he likes.

I thought of the Catlax, but hopefully this will do the trick. He's resting now, so I think that's a good sign.

[solfox.livejournal.com]

You can always use a needle or pin to pierce the gelcap and squeeze the oil out. Hope the General starts feeling better, soon.