Why is my slim 4-week-old kitten's belly big and he's not playing?

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.

Wizzy is so cute! He may have intestinal worms causing the swollen belly, those are common in kittens. Give him a deworming treatment. He doesn't need nutritional supplements, his kitten food will provide all the nutrients he needs. To help him wean and to get used to dry food, I would soak a high quality kitten formulated dry food in warm water until soft. Then mix that with kitten formula such as KMR to make a mush the consistency of oatmeal. Over the next two weeks, gradually increase the amount of dry kitten food and decrease the amount of water and KMR you use until he is eating the dry kitten food only. Best of luck.

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.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As your kitty grows, his belly will naturally look a little bigger each day. Cats often have a fat pad around their belly, which when palpated fells like fat that isn't actually in their belly, but on the outside skin area. If Storm's belly is actually big, then intestinal parasites are often the cause at this age; however you will almost always see loose or soft stool associated with this. A fecal exam and appropriate dewormer is the answer to this issue if the case. Based on your photo however, everything seems to look normal for Storm, so its best to palpate his belly or have your vet feel his belly to determine if additional testing and treatment are needed. Best wishes with your fur baby Storm moving forward! Take care.

If Acil came from the shelter, then she probably got treated for worms; which tends to make the abdomen (belly) much less fat looking. That plump little kitten belly is often a sign that they are full of worms. Also, kittens do tend to stretch out and look skinnier as they transition from the cute little fur-ball stage to an adolescent. If she is eating well now and acting like a playful kitten, then there's little reason to worry. If she has a decrease in appetite and other noticeable problems (i.e. sneezing or diarrhea), then I would be concerned and would recommend taking her to the vet. I hope that helps and Acil stays healthy.

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!

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!