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My cat's stomach is bloated and vets don't know why. What's next?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 11 months and 28 days old | 8 lbs

We have tried feeding her Nulo and Kiwi Kitchens (ie super low ingredient wet food) but she always has a super bloated stomach. It gets bigger/smaller randomly throughout the day. She has been dewormed and after multiple exams the vets have no idea what is causing this.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Makenzie Kurth, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 29th, 2018

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!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM
Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident
Published on November 25th, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Black stools usually are due to gastrointestinal bleeding. That coupled with the vomiting make this very concerning. I would encourage you to consider taking her to an emergency clinic on the road. They would be able to look into this and recommend therapy accordingly to make sure she is ok and comfortable. Best of luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA
Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer
Published on April 29th, 2017
Oh dear! I'm afraid this sounds quite serious. Black, runny stool is often a sign of bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which is a life-threatening problem. A hard, bloated stomach could be caused by peritonitis (especially if Bruni has an ulcer that has perforated and is leaking into her abdomen), internal bleeding, cancer, liver failure, or heart disease. These symptoms warrant an emergency vet visit right away, so I would recommend taking her to your nearest veterinarian immediately. He/she can do some diagnostic testing if needed to help determine the problem and see what can be done to help her.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Silvia De Cecco, DVM, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on January 1st, 2018
Vomiting, diarrhoea and inappetence are signs referring to a gastrointestinal problem. It could be due to parasitic infestation, bacterial diseases or viral diseases especially if Jenny is not vaccinated (i.e.: parvovirus). I can also see some black spots on the faeces; that is a worrying sign because it might be digested blood coming from stomach or the first part of the gut. I would suggest to have her checked by your veterinarian as soon as possible. She would probably need further testing (blood test, fecal analysis) and she might need to be hospitalized if she is dehydrated or she continue not to take any food. Good luck and post again on the forum if you need further advices.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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