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Why is my cat straining in litter box, nothing coming out, and rubbing bum?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | 9 years and 11 months old

Last night my cat kept repeatedly going to toilet nothing comes out. She then rubs her bum on carpet and licks for 10 mins then going back to litter tray. She repeatedly did this for 3 hours last night.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on February 14th, 2018

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Martha! I am not sure if you are referring to trouble urinating or defecating. If she is squatting to poop and nothing is coming out then she is likely constipated. Constipation in cats is not a primary condition but a symptom of something else (intestinal disease, kidney disease, etc). She should go to the Vet for an exam, a belly X-ray and have her anal glands checked. If she is severely constipated an enema may be needed. Also at age 9, I recommend blood work be done to check her thyroid and kidney values. Constipation in cats can be managed with diet and stool softeners. If she is straining to urinate then she could have a UTI, crystals in her urine or bladder stones. This also requires a vet exam. Try to prevent her from using the litter box for several hours before her appointment so the Vet can collect urine to test. Crystals and a UTI are diagnosed from a urine sample and bladder stones are diagnosed from an X-ray. Crystals are treated with diet and a UTI with antibiotics. Bladder stones are usually surgically removed but sometimes can be dissolved with diet. I recommend that Martha be seen today. I hope this helps and I wish Martha the very best!

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