Cat constipation – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

This can have a serious cause – contact your vet today if any of the warning signs below apply, or if you are unsure. Constipation in cats can have several causes, from mild to severe, and is relatively common, especially as cats get older or have an underlying health problem.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Straining to poo for longer than usual without passing much
Trying to poo several times in a row
Passing very hard or small bits of poo
Passing a very small amount of liquid poo
Blood in poo or around the bottom
A painful abdomen
Lethargy or low energy
Vomiting
Eating less than usual

What you can do now

Contact your vet today.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

It can be linked to not drinking enough water, stress, or certain drugs such as diuretics.^[1] It can sometimes be related to something swallowed, a tumour, a rectal prolapse, or matted fur around the anus.^[1] It can occur alongside health problems such as chronic kidney disease or diabetes.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Meowing while pooing
Over-grooming the bottom and back end

Possible causes

Not drinking enough water
Stress
Something swallowed
A tumour
Matted fur around the anus
Rectal prolapse
Chronic kidney disease
Diabetes
Certain drugs such as diuretics

What the experts say

“Something swallowed ; A tumour ; A rectal prolapse (where the inside part of the anus comes outside) ; Matted fur around the anus (bottom) ; Not drinking enough water ; Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) ; Diabetes ; Certain drugs e.g. diuretics ; Stress”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

Can constipation in cats be serious?

There are several causes of constipation in cats, ranging from mild to severe.^[1]

What signs can come with constipation?

Signs can include meowing while pooing, straining, repeated attempts to poo, hard or small bits of poo, a small amount of liquid poo, blood, over-grooming, a painful abdomen, low energy, vomiting, and eating less than usual.

What might happen at the vet?

Your vet may ask questions and suggest an examination; in some circumstances, a rectal examination may need to be done under sedation.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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