Kitty constipation? But no signs?

[Michelle & Dusty]

I've got a newly diagnosed kitty who has been receiving insulin for a whopping three days now. Problem is, I haven't seen any sign of poo for about three days, either. I know that dehydration can lead to constipation. But can other aspects of diabetes also cause it? I ask because Dusty doesn't show signs of being dehydrated (her tongue and mouth are wet, her skin falls down immediately upon being let go). She also doesn't show signs of constipation - she is still eating and drinking, she isn't straining and/or howling at the litter box. Indeed, if it weren't for the lack of poo I wouldn't think anything were wrong.

FWIW: I have two other cats. But the other two cats typically use a different litter box and Dusty has, for all intents and purposes, her own box. This has been full of all sorts of pee, so I know she's using it. Just not for pooing. I've done a quick glance around the house and don't see any 'presents', so I don't think that she's just going some place else. I just think she's not going.

Does anyone have advice for how to get her to go? (I have given her a bit of miralax, but started that this afternoon and don't expect immediate results from it.) Suggestions?

I think she's headed to the vet tomorrow if she doesn't leave me a nice surprise sometime between now and her treatment tomorrow morning.

 

[Blue]

I've got a newly diagnosed kitty who has been receiving insulin for a whopping three days now. Problem is, I haven't seen any sign of poo for about three days, either. I know that dehydration can lead to constipation. But can other aspects of diabetes also cause it? I ask because Dusty doesn't show signs of being dehydrated (her tongue and mouth are wet, her skin falls down immediately upon being let go). She also doesn't show signs of constipation - she is still eating and drinking, she isn't straining and/or howling at the litter box. Indeed, if it weren't for the lack of poo I wouldn't think anything were wrong.

FWIW: I have two other cats. But the other two cats typically use a different litter box and Dusty has, for all intents and purposes, her own box. This has been full of all sorts of pee, so I know she's using it. Just not for pooing. I've done a quick glance around the house and don't see any 'presents', so I don't think that she's just going some place else. I just think she's not going.

Does anyone have advice for how to get her to go? (I have given her a bit of miralax, but started that this afternoon and don't expect immediate results from it.) Suggestions?

I think she's headed to the vet tomorrow if she doesn't leave me a nice surprise sometime between now and her treatment tomorrow morning.

I have a cat with megacolon and you want to get the poop moving, regularly.

OK the miralax is great to put into foods; many put 1/4 tsp in meals... I put in the am and pm meals.
Keep in mind how it works though; it draws moisture from the cat's body and into the stool to soften it for passing.... making your cat less hydrated.

It's a very good idea, with or without miralax, to be adding water to your cat's wet food, and if you add miralax, you should add even more water. You can start with a smallish amount of water, maybe 1 part water and 3 parts food, then work your way up to half and half.

Watch the cat; stalk her when she is heading to the box. If she is constipated, you may see her go into the box, act as if she is moving stool, then she will leave the box but having passed no stool at all. She feels urges to go but nothing comes out.

If you are already going to the vet tomorrow, ask what you can do because 3 days is a wee bit too long for no bowel movement. I can tell you that my cat did NOT like enemas so let's hope the miralax and extra water kicks in and gets things moving.

 

[Michelle & Dusty]

Thanks for the reply, Blue. I've been regularly watering down Dusty's food in basically a 1:1 ratio for a while now. She likes gravy and I figured she could do with as much water as she could handle.

I've been stalking her all day today and I haven't seen her approach the box except to pee. But she's lying here with me tonight and is clearly quite uncomfortable. I wish we had an emergency vet in my small town. :sad:

 

[BJM]

Will she allow you to pick her up and massage her abdomen? If ti is full, you may feel it. If it is painful, she may protest.

A thought - if you've been removing dry food and increasing wet food, there may be less bulk to move due to the lack of fiber in the canned food, so the bowel has to adjust to that. Extra water and Miralax may help that kind of transition.

 

[Michelle & Dusty]

Thanks, BJM! I did some tummy massages last night and it felt very full. Fortunately she had a BM this morning (soft because of the miralax, but clearly not blocked by anything either). I was wondering whether it could be a lack of fiber in her diet that would do it. Miralax to the rescue!

 

[Blue]

I think it may be an idea if you continue the miralax am and pm, as well as the water.... you want to keeps things 'moving'.

Also, use your ss to put a comment when you do see stool and note condition and color.... you can track how regular your cat is and also the state of the stool.