Call a vet now
Cat straining in the litter box: is it an emergency?
Straining in the litter box is the cat emergency owners most often mistake for constipation. In male cats especially, a blocked bladder becomes life-threatening within hours, so this is one to act on rather than sleep on.
Signs that this is what you are seeing
- Repeated trips to the litter box producing little or no urine
- Crying out, or straining in a hunched position
- Licking the genitals constantly
- Hard, painful belly; vomiting; hiding or collapse
What to do now
- 1Call the nearest open clinic immediately and say the words “possible urinary blockage” — clinics triage this ahead of the queue.
- 2Take your cat in now, even if they seem to settle. Toxins build up within hours.
- 3Bring a photo of the litter box contents if there is blood or only a few drops.
Never do this
- Do not wait overnight to “see if it passes”.
- Do not press or massage the belly.
- Do not give any human painkiller.
Find a vet clinic near you
Open the Felper emergency toolkit to search for nearby clinics and check their opening-hours information before you travel.
Other cat emergencies
- Ate or licked something toxicLilies, antifreeze, paracetamol and flea products made for dogs are all lethal to cats.
- Trouble breathingCats almost never pant. Open-mouth breathing is an emergency until proven otherwise.
- Fall, road accident or crush injuryCats hide internal injuries well — a cat that walks away can still be bleeding internally.
- Heavy bleedingControl the bleed on the way to the clinic, not instead of it.