Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My male cat has a bloated stomach. Is it worms or something serious?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 5 months and 11 days old

My male cat has bloated sides, what is wrong with him?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on October 24th, 2019

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 12th, 2018
Without knowing if there is truly an illness here or what that is, it is difficult to say what treatment he needs. He could just have intestinal parasites causing his bloating. The vet can do a fecal exam to determine if this is the case and then treat him with the appropriate dewormer.

Also unless you are seeing him trying to go potty and straining or unable to go, then there is no concern that he hasn't gone to the litterbox yet today. However, if you do see these things, then a vet visit is the next best step to have him evaluated and treated.

I am not sure how old your kitten is, but as they reach 6-8 months, they typically eat less foo, are not as active and may not go potty as regularly.

I hope that your kitty Choco turns out well! Best wishes and take care.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Food & Nutrition

My new 8-week-old kitten has a bloated tummy. Is it worms or normal?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

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

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Rusty. Congrats on your new cat! Yes certainly his bloated belly could be due to worms, and even though you don't see any in his poop, he could have them. Oftentimes the only signs of worms in pets is eggs in the poop, which are microscopic. It won't hurt him to deworm him even if he doesn't have them. I would get a deworming treatment to give him now, then another in two weeks to kill all the worms. He should then be dewormed every three months. If this doesn't help with his bloated belly, then he should be checked out by a vet. I would find one closest to you to see him. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

Why is my kitten's belly bloated and firm despite worm treatment?

A bloated belly in a kitten is usually suspicious of a high worm problem, but there are other possibilities. If she has a thin layer of muscle in her belly, then this can cause it to appear bloated. It can also happen with liver, spleen and other organ enlargement; and also if their is excessive fluid in the abdominal cavity. Considering there are many possibilities, it's best to have Astrid evaluated by a veterinarian. They may suggest an x-ray, or ultrasound to find the cause of this. I hope that helps and all is well with Astrid.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why is my kitten's belly big? Is it worms or something serious?

Hi and thanks for your posting. Kittens are frequently born with roundworms they get through their mother's during pregnancy and through nursing. A pot belly appearance can indicate an intestinal worm infection. The good news is deworming Meena is not complicated and requires just a few rounds of deworming solution you can obtain from your veterinarian. A fecal test is run before and after treatment to confirm Meena has cleared the infection. During the course of deworming treatment, you may see worms passed in the stool. I would schedule an appointment with your veterinarian soon so she can get dewormed. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

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

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Food & Nutrition

My old cat has a swollen, hard belly. Is it worms or serious?

Given Patxi's diet and the fact that he is not dewormed, it's entirely possibly that his swollen belly is due to worms. Given that he is a senior cat, it could also be something more serious such as a tumor. I would have Paxti to seen by a vet today or tomorrow for this, and bring along a sample of his feces for the vet the to examine for worms. The vet may also due x-rays in addition to a physical exam, blood test, and a urinalysis to diagnose what is causing his swollen belly and can discuss treatment options with you.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my male cat have a big belly? Is it normal or a health issue?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. He will need to see a veterinarian to determine if he is overweight or if he is experiencing a medical problem such as parasites or fluid pooling in his abdomen. His veterinarian will examine him and feel his belly. Depending on his exam findings, x-rays may be recommended. I hope this information helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share