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My cat is constipated, vomiting, and lethargic. Is it an emergency?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years and 4 months old | 15 lbs

My cat has been constipated for about a week and a half now. He is eating very little, not drinking much water, and is lethargic. I've tried adding coconut oil and water to his food, but it isn't helping much. I know he's dehydrated because he only eats dry food. He goes back and forth to the litter box with no success; he vomited today and peed only once. I'm worried it's been too long already. Should I take him to the emergency clinic or wait until my vet appointment 4 days from now?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Ladd, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 9th, 2017

I would advise to bring him in to a veterinarian ASAP. I would highly advise against waiting 4 days. It does indeed sound like your cat is constipated, and there may be some underlying health issues that worsen the condition such as kidney disease. In severe cases of dehydration, cats can become fully obstructed. As you can imagine, this can be very dangerous. In mild cases of constipation, subcutaneous fluids and a laxative can aid in recovery. In more severe cases, IV fluids, and sedation with manual extraction are required. Due to the recent onset of vomiting, it appears your cat's constipation is progressing, and needs medical intervention.

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