Constipation or just likes digging?

My cat Bowie has always been hyper right before going to the litterbox. I have three boxes around my bedroom, and right before he goes, he runs back and forth to each one and digs a lot in each one (and makes a mess!). Sometimes he'll meow loudly while running back and forth. It never occurred to me that it could be constipation until I came across a post describing this situation and it being constipation. I thought he was just excited about digging in the litterbox and burying his business. He does poop though, it's not like nothing comes out, but I'm now worrying that maybe there's pain involved? He's been doing this as far as I can remember... He's been to the vet in the past and has checked out okay, besides his feline herpes. He's due for a checkup in two weeks, should I wait until then to bring it up to the vet or does this seem like an emergency situation?

Are his stools normal looking, like little cigar shapes? From all you have described, it does not sound like constipation to me. Try and watch for any straining when he goes followed by nothing coming or if his stools look like pebbles and he cries WHEN he goes, not before hand.

My cats tend to either get excited just before using the box or immediately after. They tear through the house!

Mine also act like nuts over potty time. I agree with Katluver4life, are the stools hard pebbles, any diarrhea, etc?

One of mine did this when he was younger.  I told him he was trying to dig his way to China.  After a trip to the litter box he would also often have an episode of kitten crazies.  Now that he's 10 he doesn't do this too much anymore.  If he is going okay it's just a playful behavior thing.

This actually sounds like normal behavior.  Tumbles does this.  It's a clue the big stinky is coming!  LOL  If his stools are nice like tootsie rolls, I'd say everything is fine; he's just trying to find the perfect spot to do the deed.  If the stools are small, hard, or round like pebbles, then he's got something else going on.