Why is my kitten constipated and struggling to poop in the litter box?

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!

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 and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You can trying giving the paste hairball treatment to the kitten to see if it helps. But if she is straining a lot or vomiting or acting sick at all she needs to be seen by the vet again. Kittens can become obstructed by worms or foreign bodies (string, toys, etc) which could be a serious emergency. But if she is otherwise eating and drinking well then try the laxatone or similar hair ball product. Feeding canned kitten food instead of dry may also help.

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!

Poor baby! I am worried that she is having diarrhea and an increased urgency to go or severe constipation. Since she is so uncomfortable and so tiny and young, I would strongly recommend to have her seen by your vet as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to determine the cause and get her started on the proper meds to help her feel better. They will also be able to give her fluids if needed. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better really soon!

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!

Constipation can be a very serious condition, it can be caused by a physical blockage (foreign body like a bone) or a functional peristalsis deficiency of the intestines. In order to treat simple constipation, you should increase the fibers in the food (e.g. canned pumpkin) and can add a little mineral oil to the diet. I strongly advise taking Acil to the vet in order to check if there is a serious condition causing the constipation first.