New cat hiding. I'm concerned about constipation

Hi everyone,

I just brought my new 4 year old kitty home a week ago. As advised through various sites I left her alone in the area she chose to hide with food, water, and a litter box. I tried to coax her out on occasion but then just let her be as many have suggested that it's best to let her make the first move on coming out. Unfortunately I didn't think she would hide this long and the hiding area is behind a wall.

She has been urinating in the box daily but has had only one, hard bowel movement.  I'm concerned she may be constipated. 

I'm not sure what to do. On one hand I want to let her come out on her own time but I also am concerned about her health.

She eats dry food (previous owner said she doesn't like canned food). Is there a laxative I can leave for her or should I dig her out of the wall? Any suggestions? Thank you

Thanks for adopting this oldish cat.
Is she literally behind or IN a wall? If IN, she should be removed. There could be wires, not to mention lots of dust.
In so far as constipation: I wish she were eating wet food--much better for her and much easier to add a teaspoon of pumpkin to (plain, not 'pumpkin pie filling). I'd try withholding food for about 12 hours, and then put out some really smelly wet food (like tuna) with a tsp of pumpkin in it. See if she comes out and eats it.
And once she does come out and if she still does not poop, I'd take her to the vets. Do you know the history of this cat--why is she no longer with the previous owner?
Meawhile, in the room where she is hiding, I would put in some Feliway and play calming music 24x7. Also, you may already be doing this, but try to spend as much time as possible in the same room. Working on your computer, watching tv, reading, etc. So she can get use to your scent and presence.

Kitty came out from hiding yesterday about an hour after I posted. Today she followed me all over the house when I called her and loves attention. Right now is taking time to herself. I will go to the store today to find some natural laxatives and "hopefully" she'll be interested in it. I don't know for sure if she's constipated but should be able to tell within a day or two.  


Any suggestions of laxatives she may be interested in?

So glad she came out from hiding.
And OMG what an adorable cat. Perhaps I'm biased, Ritz is black and white, but THAT FACE!
I would first try the pumpkin, it's about as natural as you can get and, at this time of year, widely available. (Again, we're talking about plain pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling). If that doesn't work, I'd think about taking her to the vets incase something more serious is going on.

So after loving me this morning she made it into to the cellar and climbed down between two wall joists. I was able to get her out with a lot of verbal coaxing. I brought her to her original room (closed the closet this time so she couldn't get into that wall) and spent time with her in there. She's very friendly while I'm in there.

When I tried leaving she wanted get out. She was even pawing at the door. I'm afraid to let her out as my rooms are so open that she can get behind walls in most of the rooms. It's also hard to seal off majority of the rooms. 

When I'm with her she won't leave me but when I turn around she runs and hides. Not sure what to do. Should I seal her into one room or let her out and worry that she'll hide somewhere and not come out

Now I'm frustrated. Kitty pawed the closet door open and is hiding behind the wall again.

Kitty is out all the time now. I gave her some wet food with a bit of pumpkin mixed in which she did eat some. I also bought some air ball paste which has mineral oil in it and put it on her paw (she didn't like that) but she did get it into her by cleaning herself.

I hope to see a regular stool in a day or two otherwise I'll have to bring her to the vet.

Yes, that happened to my new cat too. Best to leave her alone till she settles down.

LazyLacey said:

Yes, that happened to my new cat too. Best to leave her alone till she settles down.

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Welcome to TCS LazyLacey!  I'm not sure if you noticed the date of the last post by the thread starter, but it was last updated last November.  Thanks!