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My kitten has diarrhea, a bloated tummy, and won't drink water. What's wrong?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My 4-5 weeks old kitten's poo is no longer black but now she has diarrhea, half paste-like and half watery with dark brown color. I think I overfed her with her recently changed wet food. I tried to decrease the food and add more water to the kitten gruel to prevent dehydration because she still won't drink water on her own, is that the right thing to do? What should I do for now? She's still playful and has great appetite, but I think her tummy is still kinda bloated.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on February 1st, 2019

It can take a few days for the stool to get back to normal after having diarrhea. If you haven't yet, I would have your kitten examined by a vet for intestinal parasites, such as worms, Giardia, or coccidia, that can cause a persistently bloated appearance. If a kitten eats a lot, they will appear bloated, but it goes down over time until the next meal. If she is on wet food, and especially if you are adding water, then you may not see her drinking any water by itself. Wet food has a high water content, and she may be getting everything she needs from her food. If she is eating normally, then I would not be concerned about her water intake. Just make sure she has easy access to fresh, clean water.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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