My cat has a firm, round belly but acts normal. Should I worry?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to say what the cause of the rounded abdomen may be without examining Binx first. If she is not spayed and has interacted with a male cat, she may be pregnant. Other options include a parasitic infection, mass or tumor, or abdominal fluid due to Feline Infectious Peritonitis or another cause. A good exam with Binx's veterinarian is needed soon in order to determine the cause of the rounded abdomen. It is good to hear she appears normal otherwise, but I would take her in to see her vet to have her evaluated.

Many cats will develop a fat pad in their abdominal area, but Bean is a bit young for this. If the area is not hard, swollen or painful, then I would not be too concerned. Just have it looked at by your veterinarian at your earliest convenience. Take care & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Cats can get overweight from eating too much and get a fat belly, but I wouldn't say it's normal. I would say it's unhealthy to have a fat belly. Being overweight can predispose cats to many health issues including joint problems, diabetes, and cardiac disease. I would have Ernie seen by a vet on Monday for a health check. The vet can confirm that he is overweight and can discuss a diet plan for him.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to know what you are referring to by swelling up. If you mean that her belly gets distended then that could be normal to some extent after eating. If this appears to be severe or marked, then she should be evaluated by a veterinarian as other possibilities would have to be considered. However, of this happens just after eating then I would be suspicious that this is due to that and not anything serious. Good luck and have a great day!

That could be caused by an accumulation of fluids in the abdominal cavity caused by FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). A check up and single radiograph (or sometimes only clinical examination) could confirm this clinical suspicion and give you treatment options. Unfortunately the prognosis for this disease is poor. Differential diagnosis could be represented by parasite infestation. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

If she has been swollen around her bladder, then this could just be an actually problem like a hernia or something benign like a fat pad. Since she is vomiting and then swelling has been there for awhile now, I would have her checked out at least once to ensure it looks okay. Your vet will be able to tell you whether it is anything to worry with or just to continue to watch. The vomiting could be a complication of a hernia or a different problem like hairballs, eating food too fast, an infection, etc. I hope this helps!

If you feel she is not spayed then I would plan on getting her fixed soon. That will help prevent her from getting pregnant in the future and also it will eliminate her risk of developing a condition called pyometra (spontaneous infected uterus). Her belly fat is probably normal, so unless she is considered to be overweight then continue with her normal diet (Hill's Science Diet, Iams, Evo (Innova), adult cat food). Here is a website link to help you determine if she is ideal weight or not https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf OR you can have her examined by your local veterinarian. As long as she is eating, drinking, urinating and defecating normal, then she is likely fine. Just check with your local vet to make sure she is fully vaccinated to protect her from preventable diseases. Best wishes with your newly adopted pet.