Why is my 5-day-old kitten's poop hard, yellow, and infrequent?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You should offer a small amount of food about 3-4 times daily and in really small kittens, every few hours might be needed. Eliminations and the frequency thereof, are dependent on many things depending on food intake, type of food, water intake etc. As long as she is not straining and trying to poop, it could be up to another 24-36 hours. She is getting accustomed to her new and that is probably slowing up the fecal elimination process. Again, no straining to have a bowel movement usually means that everything is ok, especially if the kitten is eating and drinking normally. Just keep monitoring for a bowel movement and monitor behavior, appetite, etc. If things change and you are unsure have your veterinarian evaluate the kitten. I hope everything works out ok.

This is fairly normal stool for a neonatal kitten, although it does look a bit watery. The stool should start to become more firm and brown as the kitten gets older. If it seems very watery or you are seeing blood or mucous there would be some concern. It might be a good idea to have this very young kitten examined by a vet regardless to make sure it seems to be healthy and to discuss proper bottle feeding and other care.

Hello. At 4 months of age, a kitten might defecate 2-3 times a day, but once a day would not be alarming as long as the kitten seems comfortable & is eating well. The consistency should be well formed, perhaps a little soft. Thanks for using 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

If your kitten doesn't have a mother to feed her, you need to feed a formula made for kitten (KMR). You need to feed by a bottle every 2-4 hours and then wipe her bottom after wth a wet cloth to stimulate her to poop and pee. Make sure she stays warm because she cannot regulate her temperature. In another week you can start giving a dewormer for round worms and hook worms (follow the instructions on the bottle). At 8 weeks, she needs to see a vet to start vaccines. Good luck and congrats on you new baby!

In many cats, a light brown or yellowish color can be normal to the stool. If it becomes more of a pale yellow/white yellow, or becomes loose or has mucus or blood in the stool, these would be reasons for concern and a visit to the vet should take place.

It looks like the one kitten may have a little diarrhea, which isn’t too concerning as long as the kittens are nursing well, gaining weight, and the stools form up a bit in a day or two. The black hard stool can be normal for the first stool passed, but I would keep a close eye on momma to make sure she is cleaning the kittens well. One of the best ways to make sure all kittens are thriving is to weigh them daily using a gram scale - they should gain every day.