cat with constipation I think

Question
I would like to know what the symtoms are for cats with constipation, and if there is any thing I can do for him without going to the vet.  I feed him and his sister a cat food with hairball control.  Please help, he's in alot of pain and can hardly walk.  Also vomited twiced.  Thank you in advance for any help you can give.  Jen

Answer
Hi there.  Since you have mentioned that this cat is a male, I would suggest getting him to your veterinarian asap.  From the symptoms you have told me, it sounds as though he has a urinary blockage and will need to be unblocked by your veterinarian promptly.  This is very common in male cats, as they have crystals that form in their urine which get stuck in the tip of the penis.  Your veterinarian will have to insert a urinary catheter to drain out any trapped urine and to coax the crystals out.  This will have devestating consequences if treatment is not received.  A blocked cat may urinate a bit, or not at all.  There is always trapped urine which causes a toxicity inside the cat.  You are already seeing signs of this, as in the vomiting.  A urinary blockage is also very painful and is almost always mistaken by owners for constipation because the cat's belly is tender and painful, and they may be straining in the litter box.
Please let me know how he does!
Hilary