Symptoms of Cat Intestinal Blockage

In caring for your cat, it's good to remember that any type of intestinal blockage can lead to death if left untreated. The most common causes of blockages are foreign objects, intussusception and intestinal neoplasia. Intussusception, which causes one part of the bowel to fall into into another part, and neoplasia, an uncontrolled growth of cancerous cells within the intestine, can damage the intestine and bowel.

  1. Painful and/or Swollen Abdomen

    • If your cat is showing obvious signs of a swollen or sensitive abdomen, it may have an intestinal blockage. A cat with abdomen pain will often lie with its chest pressed against the floor and its buttocks in the air. A painful or swollen abdomen is generally sensitive to touch. Most cats begin to experience other symptoms shortly after pain begins.

    Not Eating

    • Failure to eat, or anorexia, is a common symptom of many feline illnesses, but anorexia along with other issues such as constipation or abdominal pain may be a sign of an obstruction. As the blockage prevents food, water and fecal matter from properly moving through the bowel, cats will often stop eating to try to prevent discomfort.

    Constipation

    • The average cat has one or two bowel movements per day. Though irregular bowel movements may be a sign of illness or dehydration, a complete lack of stool may indicate an obstruction. Constipation in cats can make an intestinal blockage worse, as stuck fecal matter can create a fecal impaction and add to the problem.

    Watery Stool

    • Though an intestinal obstruction or fecal impaction can prevent hard stool from exiting the body, watery stool that forms higher in the digestive tract may be able to move past the mass. Unlike diarrhea, which is normally excreted in larger quantities, this watery stool will usually slowly leak out, indicating an internal issue.

    Lethargy

    • Cats suffering from an intestinal blockage tend to become inactive and lethargic. Lethargy can be recognized by delayed responses, sluggishness, weakness and excessive sleepiness.

    Vomiting

    • Vomiting can be another indicator of an intestinal obstruction. Cats that are vomiting feces or blood or doing projectile vomiting may have an intestinal blockage that is preventing the passage of food or liquid and possibly causing an upset stomach. It is important to recognize the difference between feline vomiting and feline regurgitation. Regurgitation, which can be common in cats, is simply the expulsion of food that has not been digested and occurs without forceful retching. Vomiting, on the other hand, entails forceful retching and spasms as the cat tries to expel the stomach irritant.