Are my newborn kittens' black, hard, or hairy stools normal?

Newborn poop can look like this and can normally be different colors and consistency. They eventually have more normal appearing stools after 2-4 weeks. For appropriate care of an orphaned kitten, I recommend you read the article at the following link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-orphaned-kittens I hope that helps and all is well with the kitten.

Hello! If Bella hasn't been eating anything new, I am concerned that her black-colored feces could be a serious, potentially life-threatening situation. Black, tarry stools usually indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Potentially, she could have a retained fetus, which could be causing internal damage. I highly recommend that you get her to the vet as soon as possible, for her life and the life of her kittens. Good luck, and I hope Bella feels better soon!

Some variation in bowel movements can be normal especially in very young still maturing animals. However, I would monitor your kitten closely and ensure she is nursing frequently from her mother. The hard feces could be a sign of dehydration. They following could indicate a problem and a reason to visit a veterinarian or add kitten milk replacement to her diet: Struggle to pass feces Pain when passing feces Lethargic or drowsy Not nursing very frequently, multiple times a day and night Mother seems not interested in kittens Mother has enlarged, red, swollen, painful or discharge from her mammary glands Please feel free to post any further questions you may have. We are here to support you Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

They are all so cute! If the stool is firm and otherwise normal, the color could be a natural variation, but it can also indicate a bacterial infection. If the stool is loose (like diarrhea), then I would suspect there could be a bacterial infection. To be safe, I would take Angel and kittens into the vet now for a check up. Bring a stool sample for the vet to examine. Best of luck.

This could definitely be because of the change of food but the black color concerns me that there may be digested blood present. Since she is so young and tiny, I would consider this urgent so I would try to get her into the vet soon. I would that she may become dehydrated or sicker if it isn't addressed. Your vet will likely want to run a fecal on her to check for any intestinal parasites. They may also want to know the food you are feeding her. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better soon.

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!