My cat keeps pooping outside of his litter box but urinating in it

[mrpepper]

It has been about 48 hours since Pepper pooped on the couch after getting home from the vet. I'm worried he is still a little constipated or even worse is using his will power to hold it in until I go to sleep or go to work in the morning. I've given him 4 doses of the lactulose over 2 days but it hasn't seemed to kick in yet.

He seems to be aware that if I catch him in the act he won't be able to do his duty as every time hes done it ive been at work or asleep. Such a smart kitty.

 

[mrpepper]

It has been about 48 hours

Sorry I meant 32 hours. 8 am tomorrow it will have been 48 hours.

 

[Furballsmom]

As I mentioned above, he had to literally replace all the digested material in his system, because the enema and then his vomiting emptied him out. You should see something fairly soon.

 

[mrpepper]

As I mentioned above, he had to literally replace all the digested material in his system, because the enema and then his vomiting emptied him out. You should see something fairly soon.

I just got home from work at Pepper still hasn't pooped - not in his box nor the saran wrapped couch. At this point it has been 60 hours since he has done his business and it is really starting to worry me. I don't understand how he was going to the bathroom fine before the vet visit (albeit in the wrong spot) and now he seems to be even more constipated. The constipation diagnosis confuses me to begin with but I trusted the vets judgement and now I'm starting to think its something else.

Do I spend another $300 going to the vet again? This time it would be a different doctor - since the one that saw him Tuesday night is out for a week.

 

[iPappy]

Are you absolutely positive he hasn't gone somewhere else?
It's been a long time since my cat had that problem (he's since passed away from other problems), but it seems like it was a good 72 hours after his enema until he finally went. It made me nervous, but the vet really did their job and his digestion was very sluggish.

 

[mrpepper]

Are you absolutely positive he hasn't gone somewhere else?
It's been a long time since my cat had that problem (he's since passed away from other problems), but it seems like it was a good 72 hours after his enema until he finally went. It made me nervous, but the vet really did their job and his digestion was very sluggish.

My apartment is very small so if he did then it is incredibly well hidden. I locked my bedroom door before I went to work so that eliminates the bedroom. I feel like I would smell it if it was anywhere else. I even looked behind the washer and dryer and found nothing.

I called an emergency room for animals and they said its a 10-12 hours wait tonight. I called a few vets today and they all said if its been 60 hours that it was an emergency - especially since I was giving him lactulose which should have aided his bowel movement.

 

[iPappy]

My apartment is very small so if he did then it is incredibly well hidden. I locked my bedroom door before I went to work so that eliminates the bedroom. I feel like I would smell it if it was anywhere else. I even looked behind the washer and dryer and found nothing.

I called an emergency room for animals and they said its a 10-12 hours wait tonight. I called a few vets today and they all said if its been 60 hours that it was an emergency - especially since I was giving him lactulose which should have aided his bowel movement.

If it's a 10-12 hour wait, can they take an appointment and see him in the morning?
Edit: I was giving miralax, not lactulose during this time so I'm sure there's a difference.

 

[mrpepper]

If it's a 10-12 hour wait, can they take an appointment and see him in the morning?
Edit: I was giving miralax, not lactulose during this time so I'm sure there's a difference.

I've got an appointment with the vet he saw on tuesday at 10:15 am tomorrow but its not going to be the doctor that saw him earlier. I'm hesitant to shell out more money if all its going to do is "experiment" on him and make it worse. At this point I'd feel better if he just did it on the floor just so I know hes not worse off than before.

 

[iPappy]

I've got an appointment with the vet he saw on tuesday at 10:15 am tomorrow but its not going to be the doctor that saw him earlier. I'm hesitant to shell out more money if all its going to do is "experiment" on him and make it worse. At this point I'd feel better if he just did it on the floor just so I know hes not worse off than before.

If the vet he's going to see is at the same clinic, he'll have the records to review and know his history. Make sure he knows when Peppers last lactulose dose was at the time of your appointment, as well as how much he's been eating and drinking too.
I hope he goes overnight. I know how worrying this is for you.

 

[mrpepper]

If the vet he's going to see is at the same clinic, he'll have the records to review and know his history. Make sure he knows when Peppers last lactulose dose was at the time of your appointment, as well as how much he's been eating and drinking too.
I hope he goes overnight. I know how worrying this is for you.

The only thing I can think of is to remove the saran wrap from the couch and put blankets back on it to entice him to poop overnight.

 

[iPappy]

The only thing I can think of is to remove the saran wrap from the couch and put blankets back on it to entice him to poop overnight.

If you're worried, maybe you could remove the wrap and see what happens. How does he act? Is he acting normal, is he still eating, etc.?

 

[mrpepper]

If you're worried, maybe you could remove the wrap and see what happens. How does he act? Is he acting normal, is he still eating, etc.?

He was just play fighting with his brother. Running around after his tail, licking his face and grabbing it with both paws, softly biting him. He seems very normal and playful. He is eating and drinking about the same as he always does.

 

[iPappy]

He was just play fighting with his brother. Running around after his tail, licking his face and grabbing it with both paws, softly biting him. He seems very normal and playful. He is eating and drinking about the same as he always does.

This is good. My cat would hide away and not want to eat from the pain in his abdomen and it sounds like Pepper is not experiencing that.
If he doesn't go over night, make sure the vet knows he's acting completely normal. Does he and his brother share a litter box? Is it possible he's gone in the box?

 

[mrpepper]

This is good. My cat would hide away and not want to eat from the pain in his abdomen and it sounds like Pepper is not experiencing that.
If he doesn't go over night, make sure the vet knows he's acting completely normal. Does he and his brother share a litter box? Is it possible he's gone in the box?

I didn't find any poop in the box from either cat so no he has not gone in the box. His brother just pee'd but there is no poop at all. They share a box but they have done that all their lives with no problems. In fact before my mother sold the house she said she had multiple boxes upstairs and downstairs and both cats would still go in one box.

 

[mrpepper]

Just got back from the vet. They did another x ray on him just to see if he did in fact poop in the house somewhere. The x ray showed him intestines were full but not blocked. She said the Lactulose is working because the x rays show his stools are softer than the previous x ray.

She then did a rectal exam and found nothing wrong with his glands so thats good. She found no reason to give him another enema as he was no longer constipated and was probably just holding it in on sheer will power.

She said any day now he will poop but if he doesn't in 2-3 days call them back. Not the greatest news because it doesn't really offer any solutions other than keep giving him the lactulose and be patient. At least I know hes not blocked but how he was able to hold it for this long is beyond me.

 

[Furballsmom]

was probably just holding it in on sheer will power.

I'm sorry to doubt something a vet has said but I honestly wish she hadn't said this. Besides that, it doesn't even make sense that he'd hold it. His digestive system required time enough to literally create digested material in his intestines.

In any case, it all won't matter after he does poop.

How is the other kitty while all this is going on?

 

[mrpepper]

How is the other kitty while all this is going on?

He is fine now that his brother is back home.

 

[Furballsmom]

He is fine now that his brother is back home.

Oh, I'm so glad to hear this

 

[iPappy]

I don't think he's holding out of "will power" or anything. Constipated cats that manage to pass stool on their own probably experience pain in doing so. I think he's probably holding it because he expects it to be painful.
My cat went 72 hours before he went after an enema, so I'm hopeful he'll produce something within the next few hours.

 

[mrpepper]

I don't think he's holding out of "will power" or anything. Constipated cats that manage to pass stool on their own probably experience pain in doing so. I think he's probably holding it because he expects it to be painful.
My cat went 72 hours before he went after an enema, so I'm hopeful he'll produce something within the next few hours.

Yeah I think thats basically what she meant. That his will is to avoid the pain.

He did just poop literally one stool but it was just outside the box. I placed it in his box to make sure he knows thats where it goes. I suppose just outside the box is better than nothing. Progress is kind of being made.