Meowing before pooing

Landoras
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Hi everyone,

I'm starting a new thread about something that's really worrying me.

My 2-year-old cat, who I adopted 15 months ago, meows a lot before she poos. She's always done this since we got her. We've mentioned this issue to our vet several times, but she investigated the urinary tract (urine tests, blood work... everything was fine), changed our worming treatment, tried expressing the anal glands (which were completely empty, so no problems there), and sold us a laxative paste to give her because she only goes once a day (sometimes twice, like today, but that's rare) and always at roughly the same time.

Her stools are well-formed—not dry, not too big, and no diarrhoea. No visible worms or blood either. She drinks plenty of water. We worm her every three months.

The laxative paste and boiled courgettes haven't changed anything; she still only poos once a day. Mind you, all these tests are costing me a small fortune, and I find it odd that they're looking for a urinary disorder when my cat only meows when she's about to defecate... Maybe I should get a second opinion from another vet?

Her bottom looks a bit irritated and swollen sometimes. Are there any creams to soothe her after she's been, or to apply beforehand to help with the pain? To be honest, I'm not even sure if it is pain; I've heard that some cats just have this ritual of meowing before or after they go...

Translated from French
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    • Blue_Cat
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    Hi again, Why on earth are you using a lubricant??? Forgive me if I've missed something in another thread, but based on this one, the stools you're describing and the frequency are PERFECT! Leave his little bum alone; lubricants and other laxatives can actually end up causing irritation to the anus. On the other hand, if he had very hard stools and was clearly struggling to pass them, a bit of liquid paraffin in his wet food is enough to help things 'slide' along. There are no side effects. But only one teaspoon in a single meal, not for several days running! In your case though, I really don't see the point at all right now. Just so you know, I had a cat who only did a poo once every 48 hours. He was perfectly healthy and lived to be 17 and a half. That was just his own rhythm; every adult cat has their own (just like us humans...).
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    T
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    From what you’ve written, your cat has always done this, so what is it that’s making you worried? Is she eating, drinking, playing and sleeping as usual, or has there been a change in her behaviour? Why did the vet suggest a urinary issue and want to run tests when you were talking about her poo? Did she explain why? Don’t be too generous with the Vaseline, as she’ll only end up licking it off.
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    Landoras
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    Brilliant, you’ve really put my mind at ease!! My vet kept going on about it: a cat that only does one poo a day is constipated, and they should be doing 2 or 3... 🤪 Since none of my previous cats ever went that much, I honestly thought I was being a bad owner!

    Without wanting to shock anyone, would lubricant like the stuff you find in the condom aisle be okay? Or could it be really harmful?

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    Blue_Cat
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    Hi,

    Lots of cats meow before having a poo, and sometimes even before a wee. Sometimes they get the "zoomies" or have a bit of a mad moment just before or after doing their business. Out of my three cats, two of them do it. They have absolutely no issues, neither cystitis nor constipation.

    Doing one poo a day is completely normal, especially if it’s at the same time, which just goes to show their digestive system is like clockwork. To be honest, I don’t really see what the problem is. Why a laxative???

    Nothing you’ve mentioned is abnormal. Mind you, if you head to the vet looking really worried, they’re bound to ‘sell’ you some tests...

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    ?
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    If I were you, I’d get a second opinion from another vet, because if her bum is sore, it shouldn’t be when she’s having a wee, and vice versa. Plus, if it’s irritated, it means she’s in pain; maybe try a bit of Vaseline to help her pass things, and it’ll soothe her at the same time. The fact she only goes once a day doesn’t worry me at all, as that’s normal for mine—they rarely go twice, and they’ve certainly got a healthy appetite!
    Translated from French

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