Constipated 20 plus year old cat

crystal dawn

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Xena is 25 and clearly constipated if not blocked today. She's trying to poop, but she can't, she's also vomited 4 times. She's stable at the moment, resting in one of her favorite places. I know this is serious, and I'm hoping someone has some ideas on what might help her poo or something. She's feisty even more so than usual since she's in pain so handling her much isn't really an option.

I also know that going to the vet would be the best thing and there's a plan to get here there asap, which sadly may not be until tomorrow. Not sure what to do in the meantime. I don't think she would be interested in eating or drinking anything due to the vomiting I'm not sure anything would stay down.
 

verna davies

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If it's just constipation then a pee size blob of vasaline put on her paw or nose for her to lick off might work as a quick fix but as she's vomiting as well then a vet's visit would make sense.
 

sylorna

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When my 20 year old cat got like that the only thing that helped was an enema. She had to have so many of them that the doc gave us a handful to do at home. Unfortunately I think she needs the doc at this stage, anything we might suggest would be preventative.
 
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crystal dawn

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When my 20 year old cat got like that the only thing that helped was an enema. She had to have so many of them that the doc gave us a handful to do at home. Unfortunately I think she needs the doc at this stage, anything we might suggest would be preventative.
I know, I wanted to post here to see if there were any ideas floating around to help her. I'm trying to talk my mom into doing an emergency vet appointment for her without being mean as she's stressed, but she doesn't want to because it's 200 plus any medications, exams ect. I'm not sure if it can wait til tomorrow, as she's having a little of diareah now and is pretty constantly in one litter box or another and keeps vomiting and isn't interested in eating or drinking. The vet doesn't open until 8am tomorrow. I can't wrap my head around leaving a pet to suffer like this for 24 hours plus.

I don't have a car or money or anything, so there's sadly nothing I can do besides assist my mom.
 
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crystal dawn

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It looks like Xena has pooped a bit. It was a super hard kind of gray looking poop and is now hiding under the bed. We're hoping the larger poop in the litter box was also her that one's a more normal poop color as if that one was also her that means things are moving, and she should be okay and will hopefully eat/drink soon. I'm concerned about her getting dehydrated as she hasn't eaten or got a drink all morning, and she's been vomiting a lot and having a bit of a liquid poop.

Taking deep breaths and trying to deal with one thing at a time.
 

sylorna

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It looks like Xena has pooped a bit. It was a super hard kind of gray looking poop and is now hiding under the bed. We're hoping the larger poop in the litter box was also her that one's a more normal poop color as if that one was also her that means things are moving, and she should be okay and will hopefully eat/drink soon. I'm concerned about her getting dehydrated as she hasn't eaten or got a drink all morning, and she's been vomiting a lot and having a bit of a liquid poop.

Taking deep breaths and trying to deal with one thing at a time.
Getting some out is a good thing! I don't blame her for hiding, pushing out really bad blockages really hurts. The diarrhea is a sign of a blockage unfortunately, but maybe that is moving out. There is probably a lot more in there if the second poo isn't hers. The gooey hairball meds help with stool softening longer term. I usually buy the one from the vet. Put a bowl of water near where she is hiding. If you pinch the back of her scruff and it stays up she's dehydrated. Hopefully the puking stops and you can get wet food mixed with water and water into her asap.
 
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crystal dawn

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Getting some out is a good thing! I don't blame her for hiding, pushing out really bad blockages really hurts. The diarrhea is a sign of a blockage unfortunately, but maybe that is moving out. There is probably a lot more in there if the second poo isn't hers. The gooey hairball meds help with stool softening longer term. I usually buy the one from the vet. Put a bowl of water near where she is hiding. If you pinch the back of her scruff and it stays up she's dehydrated. Hopefully the puking stops and you can get wet food mixed with water and water into her asap.
Agreed on the getting some out. True, she hasn't been feeling well. I know we're observing her closely and the decision has been made to call the vet and take her in asap tomorrow morning unless she gets worse then she'll be pooped to the vet today/tonight to keep her from suffering for too long.

Right now I'm focusing on the fact that she's stable and pooping a little.

She's very hard to handle, hates being picked up and messed with ect and that's been happening a lot this morning, so for the moment we're looking into her hiding place at her but otherwise letting her rest. When she comes out if I can, I'll check if she's dehydrated and try to get her to drink a bit of water or something. With her age, I don't want to add any stress if I can avoid doing so and have her be okay.
 
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crystal dawn

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I checked xena for signs of dehydration as well as I could which was just testing the fur at the back of her neck near the top of her head, and it dropped back into place pretty quick, so I think we're okay there for now.

She's back under my mom's bed. I fussed over her a bit too much, and she wasn't amused.
 

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I would get an emergency vet involved if necessary - it sounds like a serious problem (if it's anything like the same one in humans) and I wouldn't wait if it was my cat.
 
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crystal dawn

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I would get an emergency vet involved if necessary - it sounds like a serious problem (if it's anything like the same one in humans) and I wouldn't wait if it was my cat.
I've been trying to talk my mom into just that but she says she can't afford it and stuff. I'm aggravated with the whole thing but there's nothing I can do the vet costs ways more than the 50cents I have in my account.

Xena seems stable, she's not vomiting any more so far and as far as I can tell she's not dehydrated.
 

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Talk to the vet and explain the problem (physical and financial), I don't know a vet who'd turn away a problem that serious - it really is that. Call the ASPCA - they have vets too. But I'm quite concerned about your cat and have worked in hospitals all my life.
 
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crystal dawn

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Talk to the vet and explain the problem (physical and financial), I don't know a vet who'd turn away a problem that serious - it really is that. Call the ASPCA - they have vets too. But I'm quite concerned about your cat and have worked in hospitals all my life.
The vet we usually got to has and will turn away the pet of an owner who can't pay, the only places I know that might not are the emergency 24-hour hospitals that are at least a 2-hour drive that we can't make. The ASPCA out here also likely won't be any help. I'm not even sure they're close enough to me to help. Xena doesn't do well in the car she gets super stressed and at her advanced age we're worried about her stress.

As I said, she seems stable right this moment. I know that can change in a second. I'm in tears because our hands are tied up in greed and nonsense and I honestly don't know what to do except for keep food and water near her/where she can find it. Watch her and wait til the vet opens tomorrow and try to get her in. I feel awful she has to go through this. But unless someone can give me 200 at least there's nothing that can be done. Besides watch, wait and hope she doesn't suffer to much and makes it.

I'm very sad and pissed off at this whole messed up thing.
 

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Have you told the vet you think the cat has a bowel obstruction? Have you actually called the ASPCA?
 
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crystal dawn

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Have you told the vet you think the cat has a bowel obstruction? Have you actually called the ASPCA?
I can't find a number for the ASPCA so no I haven't called. I haven't called the vet just yet either because 1. It's not really my cat it's my mom's, and she's resistant to doing any of it, and she's the one with the most info. 2. I can't find a number for the ASPCA even if I wanted to call, and also it's a Sunday, so they may not even answer.

I apologize if I'm coming off as harsh. My stress level is hitting beyond my ability to cope at this moment.
 

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If you can type here, google the SPCAs number. And call the vet anyway - if the cat dies, who's cat it was won't matter.
 
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crystal dawn

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Update. We've confirmed that Xena did poop some and is doing better. She's still under close observation.
 

sylorna

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Update. We've confirmed that Xena did poop some and is doing better. She's still under close observation.
Still get her in to see the vet tomorrow, or at least talk to them about it. If she seems uncomfortable again take her to emerge.
Glad she pooped some more :) make sure wet food and water are easily accessible for her near the bed.
 
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crystal dawn

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Still get her in to see the vet tomorrow, or at least talk to them about it. If she seems uncomfortable again take her to emerge.
Glad she pooped some more :) make sure wet food and water are easily accessible for her near the bed.
Right now, the plan is to let her rest as long as she seems to be doing okay and go from there. Will be calling the vet tomorrow for sure, not sure what the outcome of that will be considering her advanced age and health issues. There's wet food and some water in a few places she knows well. Including in the room that she's taken up hiding in. She has vision issues, so I don't want to move things around too much if I can help it. She really doesn't want to be bothered right now, which is understandable.

I just wish she was in a more accessible place rather than under a bed on top of a plastic bin. Not sure how to encourage her to move without stressing her so leaving her there and checking in on her with a light every so often.
 

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Maybe just let her be for now and see how things go. Don't try to get her to eat or anything, though see if you can tell if she's drinking, but you can't force that either. Hopefully she'll do it.
 
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crystal dawn

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Maybe just let her be for now and see how things go. Don't try to get her to eat or anything, though see if you can tell if she's drinking, but you can't force that either. Hopefully she'll do it.
Yes, I'm not forcing anything at the moment as she seems to be okay at the moment. I'm checking on her regularly but not messing with her and hoping at some point she'll feel like she can safely come out and get a drink or eat some moistened food or something.
 
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