My cat just had kittens, why isn't she going to the bathroom?

Your cat may be reluctant to leave her new kittens so you could try moving the litter box a little closer to her so she can use it, but still see her kittens. It may take her awhile to go since she has just gone through a major ordeal. If she hasn't used the litter box by tomorrow, or if she stops eating, I would recommend taking her (and her kittens) to the vet to be checked out. Good luck.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If she recently had kittens, her nipples may feel more plump than they typically would, since she may have residual milk in there that needs to resorb or they may still be swollen from being recently suckled on by her kittens. If she truly has not urinated in 24 hours, I would be concerned. I would check around your house for any spots, as she may have urinated outside of the litter box, since this is a new home for her. Stress can slow cat's GI tracts, so she may not defecate for a few days. As long as she is acting normally and has a good appetite and is drinking water, I would continue to monitor her at home. If she ever becomes excessively lethargic, or loses her appetite, or vomits or has diarrhea, I would have her evaluated by your veterinarian. You could try confining her to a smaller area for a day or so to make sure she is urinating. I hope this is helpful!

That is a very long time for a queen to be in labor, so she is likely very exhausted. keep her food and water near her and also her litter box. She should get up after a rest. She will also be very worried about her babies, and not want to leave them alone. Try not to handle the kittens as that may cause more stress to her. I would say by the evening she should get up for a little, to either drink or go to the litter box.

I am not sure how many days she has gone without having a bowel movement. But if she is attempting to poop and straining, then she should see a vet immediately for an enema to help her go and then treatment for long term care. However, if she is not straining and it has been less than 3-4 days since she has pooped, give her time to adjust to whatever new things may be going on around her. Offer her food (Canned food is best @ this age or kitten formula if she has not transitioned yet) like normal and monitor her the next few days to see if she finally goes. Cats are notorious for holding their bowels when they are recently adopted, move, or there's a new introduction to the home. And finally, if you are seeing any other symptoms such as vomiting, decreased appetite, or straining, then Olly should be seen by your vet right away. You can try stimulating her to go as well by using a warm wet cloth. I hope that your furry friend Olly is able to have a bowel movement soon! Best wishes and take care. : )

Giving birth can be very traumatic and pain and inflammation can lead to reluctance to go to the toilet or inability to do so. Furthermore damage can be done to nerves and sometimes infections can develop. The likelihood is that she is sore and will return to normal.but I would take her to the vet for a check up to rule out anything more serious.

What sweet little kittens! Those pictures are so adorable! I would not be too concerned about the mama cat just yet. She is probably exhausted from giving birth and nursing. You may want to move her to a location where you can keep a better eye on her so you can check on her regularly. Place a litter box within easy reach so she doesn’t have to travel far away from her kittens to use the bathroom. Try palpating her abdomen as well. It should be soft and doughy, not firm or hard or painful. If it feels abnormal you should probably take her in to the vet to make sure there are no kittens remaining inside of her. You can also try taking her temperature at home. If it is greater than 103 or less than 99, she needs to be seen by a vet. Finally, continue offering her fresh food and water. Keep in mind she will need a lot of extra calories since she is nursing 6 kittens. Feeding her a kitten food would be best. You can also try feeding her canned food or moistening her food with water to ensure she is getting enough. If your cat still refuses to move after 48-72 hours there may be something wrong and you should take her in to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Good luck with the kittens!

I recommend to have your kitten examined today by a veterinarian. Not pooping or peeing is concerning for illness and is not normal. Kittens should urinate at least 4 times a day if not more and have 1 or more bowel movements a day. The veterinarian can also give you an idea on the age of your kitten. Best to play it safe and have Bear examined today.