My new cat's belly is bloated. Could it be worms without signs?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Kittens often seem to have bloated bellies. Sometimes it is just their immature anatomy, sometimes it is internal parasites, especially roundworms. If she is eating a wet kitten food, she is probably getting a fair amount of liquid every day. You usually will not see such a young kitten drinking water consistently. It would be a good idea to take the kitten to your veterinarian for a fecal analysis & proper health check. They will determine what, if any worms the kitten has, & administer the proper medication. Take care.

Hello. Is this a recent development? Is he having any difficulties breathing? If so, he needs to see a veterinarian immediately. Otherwise, the most common reason for bloating in a young cat is intestinal parasites, especially roundworms. You can purchase a general kitten wormer & deworm Astro yourself, or have him evaluated by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to make sure he is receiving the proper treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congratulations on your new kitten and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm glad to hear that he is doing well at home. The enlarged belly can be due to parasites (or worms), which are not uncommon in kittens. He should definitely be evaluated by a veterinarian within the next few days, and it would be very helpful to bring a sample of feces with you in a ziploc bag or disposable container (it shouldn't matter if there is litter in the feces). This will help the vet determine if your kitten has parasites, and if so, which ones they are and the best medication to use to treat them. Unfortunately, some parasites are actually transmitted by fleas, so those will definitely need to be treated as well. While the enlarged belly is likely due to intestinal parasites, it is important to make sure that your kitten does not have a viral or bacterial infection or has ingested a foreign body. These scenarios are unlikely as long as he is active and eating well. The vet will also have recommendations on how to treat the fleas, do a general exam, and make sure that everything else is normal! Good luck with your new kitty!

Hello. Just about all kittens will have roundworms & this can definitely contribute to a pot-bellied appearance. You should be able to find a kitten wormer with pyrantel pamoate at any pet store. It is safe for kittens 2 weeks & older. Just follow the label directions for administration. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear about Pawny. There are other things besides worms that can cause a bloated stomach including liver or heart disease (something she would have been born with most likely), infection such as FIP (though she would likely be acting quite sick by this time), ileus or other gastrointestinal problem. I would say, if she is eating and passing stool normally, and it doesn't seem to bother her, I'm not too concerned. Other things you could try: A probiotic - I like Purina FortiFlora A prescription gastrointestinal diet from the vet x-rays to make sure there is no mechanical reason for buildup of gas Bloodwork to look for signs of infection or liver disease Other as recommended by your vet. Hope this helps and best of luck to you and Pawny!

Worms can cause abdominal distention. Some pets can also have a very slow metabolism and she may be taking in too many calories. I recommend to have her stool checked for worms and a physical exam. The doctor can calculate exactly how many calories she needs to achieve a healthy weight based upon her body structure of it’s not parasites. I hope this helps.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree that a heavy worm burden can cause what you’re describing. In fact, it is the most likely reason. You can try an over the counter cat dewormer from a pet store. Follow the directions exactly in terms of amount and number of treatments. Hopefully, that’s all it takes to get her feeling better. Unfortunately, there are other (much less common) things that can cause large belly, weight loss, and lethargy including: FIP, heart failure, liver failure, cancer, protein problems, etc. So, if the dewormer doesn’t help, you may have to decide if you’d want to take her to the vet for further testing or if you’d like her humanely euthanized, etc. Best wishes and thank you so much for taking care of this stray!