Why is my new kitten's belly thin, not eating, but still playful?

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.

It could be that Tubby is suffering from intestinal worms, causing him to be slim but have a big belly. Because it's so large that you are concerned, I do think a vet visit is a good idea. As long as he is eating and drinking, and going to the bathroom normally, you do not need to rush him into vet. I would call the vet today to make an appointment for him to be seen this week however. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

If you feel she is not spayed then I would plan on getting her fixed soon. That will help prevent her from getting pregnant in the future and also it will eliminate her risk of developing a condition called pyometra (spontaneous infected uterus). Her belly fat is probably normal, so unless she is considered to be overweight then continue with her normal diet (Hill's Science Diet, Iams, Evo (Innova), adult cat food). Here is a website link to help you determine if she is ideal weight or not https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf OR you can have her examined by your local veterinarian. As long as she is eating, drinking, urinating and defecating normal, then she is likely fine. Just check with your local vet to make sure she is fully vaccinated to protect her from preventable diseases. Best wishes with your newly adopted pet.

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!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your new kitten. I recommend that you seek veterinary care. The kitten appears quite thin. If he is not eating and drinking properly, this can be a sign of illness. It is worrisome that he is inactive as well. Kittens should be very playful. Infections (respiratory or gastrointestinal intestinal) are common causes of illness in kittens. Once the cause of his problems can be identified, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!

The most common cause is usually intestinal parasite infection. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Amaru should be dewormed. This will likely need to be repeated in 2, 4 and 6 weeks. An exam can be done to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any pre-existing conditions. Consider having him tested for FeLV and FIV. This is done with a quick in-clinic blood test. Feed a food quality canned kitten food. If he checks out healthy, discuss an appropriate vaccination plan with your veterinarian.

It sounds like she is just playing when she does this. Kittens tend to be very hyper and sometimes will do odd things. The fact that she is really thin is a little concerning. If you haven't already, I would have your vet do a wellness exam on her and make sure she doesn't have any intestinal parasites. Your vet will be able to tell you if she is a normal "lanky" kitten or if she is too thin, I hope this helps!