My newborn kitten's anus looks red and closed. Is it a birth defect?

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.

It could be a diverticulum where there is the formation of a pouch or sac due to hernial protrusion of the mucous membranes through a defect in the muscular coat of the rectum. I'd have Ginger checked out by a vet for this.

There is nothing I would be worried about as the anus seems only mildly inflamed. Usually this is caused by softer feces/diarrhoea. I would recommend to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

It will go down one the stools become normal, i suspect at the moment he is suffering from diarrhea and this is why the anus looks like that, once the stools become normal again the anus will recover.

Because Sombra hasn't had wet food before, it could be this causing her red and swollen anus. But it could also be due to something else like intestinal worms. Based on the picture, I think having her seen by a vet before you leave is the best idea. You don't want it to get worse while you are gone, so having her seen before you leave will give you peace of mind on your trip. Call the vet today to make an appointment. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

Hi there. Smokey likely needs a fecal exam at your local veterinarian to test for intestinal parasites. This is very common in small kittens-but upon presenting with a prolapsed anus it becomes more serious. Best to be seen as soon as possible. Hope this helps!

I would recommend that you have Kiara checked out by the vet. Constipation can be a serious issue in kittens, and she may need an enema, which should only be administered by the vet to avoid tearing the delicate colon tissue. The vet may recommend an x-ray to check for any congenital issues that could lead to the constipation. You can try using a moist rag and squeezing very **gently** on the outside of the bulging anus to try to help remove some of the feces.