Okay, so let’s talk about this weird cat thing. My cat, Whiskers – yeah, creative name, I know – started doing this really strange thing a while back. Every single time after he used the litter box, specifically after pooping, he’d jump out and start yowling. Like, really loud, dramatic yowls. Not his usual meow for food, this was different.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. Cats are weird, right? That’s just part of their charm. Maybe he was just announcing his accomplishment to the world. I kinda laughed it off the first few times. But then it kept happening. Every. Single. Time. And sometimes he’d bolt out of the litter box like something spooked him.
Figuring out what was going on
So, I started paying closer attention. I watched him when he went into the box. He didn’t seem to be struggling or straining much, at least not obviously. The poop itself looked pretty normal, not too hard, not too soft. Sorry if that’s TMI, but you gotta check these things when you own a pet!
I thought maybe it was the litter box itself.
- Was it too dirty? I scooped it daily, sometimes twice, so probably not that.
- Did he suddenly hate the type of litter? I hadn’t changed it recently.
- Was the box in a bad spot? It hadn’t moved.
Nothing seemed obviously wrong with his environment. My next thought was, okay, maybe it hurts? Maybe he’s got some kind of constipation or discomfort that only hits him right after he’s done. That started to worry me a bit more. I poked around his belly gently, he didn’t seem bothered, but cats are masters at hiding pain, so that didn’t tell me much.
Trip to the Vet
After a couple of weeks of this yowling concert post-poop, I decided it was time for a professional opinion. Made an appointment with the vet. I felt a bit silly explaining it – “Yeah, doc, he screams after he poops.” But the vet took it seriously, which was a relief.
The vet did a check-up. Felt his tummy, checked his temperature, asked about his diet, water intake, energy levels – the usual stuff. Everything seemed pretty normal physically. The vet explained a few possibilities.
Possibility one: Mild discomfort. Even if the poop looks okay and he doesn’t seem to be straining hard, there could still be some internal discomfort, maybe mild constipation or inflammation, that makes him yowl right after the pressure is released. Kind of like an “Ouch, finally!” yowl.
Possibility two: Something called idiopathic cystitis, which is bladder inflammation. Sometimes the stress or discomfort from that can be associated with elimination, even pooping.
Possibility three: Behavioural stuff. Some cats, apparently, just feel… a surge of something after pooping. The vet mentioned some people call it “poo-phoria,” like a big feeling of relief or energy that makes them vocalize or run around. Yeah, sounds weird, but apparently it’s a thing.
Possibility four: More serious issues like anal gland problems or severe constipation, but the vet thought that was less likely given Whiskers seemed fine otherwise and his physical exam was okay.
What happened with Whiskers
In our case, the vet suggested we try adding a bit more fiber to his diet, just to rule out any mild constipation we couldn’t easily see. Recommended a specific supplement to sprinkle on his food. Also told me to make sure he was drinking plenty of water and to keep the litter box super clean, which I was already doing.
So, I went home, started the supplement. And you know what? After about a week or so, the yowling mostly stopped. It didn’t vanish completely overnight, but it became much less frequent and less intense. He still sometimes gets a bit zoomy after using the box, but the loud, concerning yowls are gone.
So for Whiskers, it seems it probably was some minor discomfort related to pooping. Nothing serious, thankfully, but enough to make him voice his displeasure or relief, or whatever that yowl was. It just goes to show, sometimes even weird little behaviours have a reason, and it’s always worth checking out if you’re worried. Better safe than sorry when it comes to your furry buddies.
