Why is my stray kitten's belly hard, anus gapping, and he's thin?

I would be more inclined to think that your kitty is obstipated (inability to defecate). As the pet gets backed up there is no where for the ingested food to go, so the cat vomits it back up. Also the stomach will be firm and distended with feces that collect in the colon. Cats that cannot poop for several days will also get full anal glands, this causes irritation of the bum and scooting. Your poor kitty needs to be take to the vet to likely have an enema placed to relieve the impacted feces right away. I would recommend taking kitty in to your local vet by tomorrow at the latest. I would caution against using over the counter enema's because most contain phosphate, and this component is toxic in cats. I would agree that intestinal parasites are still a possibility here, but obstipation would be my first concern. Your vet can easily distinguish which one is the cause of your cats current state by just feeling her belly and doing a rectal exam. I hope your kitty gets better soon!

I would recommend an immediate check up to determine the underlying cause of the swelling. Gastrointestinal parasites are common but other causes like feline peritonitis infection can be present as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

That doesn't look good. It looks like a hernia (possibly a section of intestines or the omentum) that has come out of the body and is now dried out. The other option is a dried umbilical stump. You really should try to get the kitten to a vet for an exam. It is difficult for me to say what you can do if I'm not sure what is going on. If you try some home treatment and that is a piece of intestines hanging out then you could certainly make it worse. I hope this helps. Best of luck.

Hi, I would not worry about constipation as it never causes a swollen abdomen but other symptoms such as pain, restlessness, squatting to pass feaces more frequently but unsuccessfully. I would rather check that Charlie is a male and not a girl, as she could be pregnant ! If a boy, he could have worms, or an infectious disease, or if elderly other medical conditions. It is difficult to tell without checking him over ! I guess if he/she is eating well and seems comfortable you don’t need to worry too much about him. If you are worried and you want to find out wether he could be a she and be pregnant, I wonder if you have any local charities that might be willing to help. They normally just require an offer to help them with their work. Hope Charlie is doing well and continues to do so !

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Fiorre Flamma! I recommend that she be seen by a Vet as soon as possible due to the heavy breathing. She looks pretty sick in your pictures. Possible causes of a bloated stomach in a kitten are: intestinal parasites, constipation, and feline infectious peritonitis. All of these things are treated differently and have different outcomes. The best thing for Fiorre is to see a Vet for an exam and testing. I hope this helps and I wish Fiorre a speedy recovery!

He may be constipated or have a partial rectal prolapse. Veterinary attention is recommended to diagnose the underlying cause prior to treatment. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites which are a common cause of the symptoms described, especially in kittens.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mr. Whiskers. He does seem to have an abnormality with his anus. He will need to see his veterinarian. He may be constipated and straining to defecate. He could also have intestinal parasites causing him to strain. If the condition is allowed to progress, he develop a prolapsed rectum. This becomes more serious. If his meow has changed, that could be a symptom of an upper respiratory infection. His veterinarian will be able to address both issues. I hope this information helps!