How to help an 8-week-old constipated kitten go to the bathroom?

Hi and thank you for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the kitten is less than 8 weeks old, it should be fed milk replacer and not cat food. Kittens digestive systems are not yet mature enough to handle regular food and giving them this may cause stomach upset. If the kitten cannot go to the bathroom or is having trouble doing this, you can stimulate her to go by rubbing her underside with a warm washcloth. There is also a congenital abnormality where kittens are born without a anus and therefore cannot defecate called atresia ani. It is rare but can occur. If you have tried to get her to defecate and she is still not going, you may need to take her into her veterinarian for further examination. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Roxzy is adorable! What are you feeding him? At 5 weeks I would be sure he is eating canned kitten food (or dry if he can) and that you aren't still giving him kitten formula. Formula can be very constipating. If you are feeding him kitten food then he may need another day or 2 to get comfortable in his new environment to have a bowel movement. Get him on canned kitten food otherwise. If he still hasn't pooped by Monday night he should be seen by a vet Tuesday. Sooner if he becomes lethargic and stops eating. Constipation can be serious in young animals. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Acil, she is super cute! It sounds as though Acil may be constipated. If she is a bottle fed kitten that is sometimes a side effect of the Kitten Milk Replacer. I usually recommend starting bottle fed kittens on kitten food as early as 3 weeks to help prevent constipation. The safest and best thing for her is for you to bring her to a Vet today. She is very young and constipation can be very uncomfortable. There are no safe human medications to give her. Cats do not handle human medications due to their metabolism. I hope this helps and good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Kachie! Constipation is serious in pediatric puppies and kittens. Since it has been a week I urge you to take Katchie to the Vet and see if an enema is needed. Kitten milk replacer/formula commonly causes GI problems, either diarrhea or constipation. After every bottle feeding the kitten needs to be stimulated with a warm wet soft washcloth over the anus and genitals. I always recommend bottle fed kittens be weaned sooner, around 3 weeks. So I would start offering canned kitten food mixed with formula and decrease bottle feeding. By 5 weeks she should be off formula and eating kitten food 100%. I wish Kachie the best!

Hello. You do not indicate their ages, but if they are approaching 3 weeks, you can begin offering some soft food in addition to their bottles. I would add 1/4 teaspoon Miralax to the bottle, but only 3 times a day. Once the stool starts to soften & become more regular, decrease to 1/8 teaspoon of Miralax 3 times a day. As you transition to the soft diet, you can also add the Miralax, if needed, but stop once the stools become a little runny. Make sure you are worming the kittens with pyrantel pamoate every 2 weeks. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Young kittens will normally toilet frequently, often up to 6 times a day but I would be very concerned by repeated trips to the tray without producing anything as this may indicate an obstruction or severe spasm and inflammation which is quite common in cats and can be triggered by stressful events such as moving house. I recommend an urgent vet check to determine if he is constipated or bladder pain and to prescribe the most appropriate treatment and ongoing management to prevent recurrence. In the meantime I would try to encourage fluids with flavoured water (freshly boiled chicken broth or a little cod liver oil on the water bowl) and provide wet food to maximise fluid intake which can help soften stool and flush the bladder

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that bottle fed kittens start to be weaned at 3 weeks due to constipation issues with formula. If it has been a week since she has pooped I recommend a vet exam for an enema if needed. Constipation can be deadly for neonates. I would start canned kitten food. You can try a 1/4 tsp or less of plain canned pumpkin but extra fiber can go either way (more constipated or loosens the stool). I wish Kachie the best!