Bloating in a cat - causes, symptoms, treatment

Cats, like all domestic animals, can cause a lot of trouble for their owners. Naturally, an attentive and responsible owner is attentive to all changes, often visible to the naked eye, in his beloved cat. It is for this reason that if he noticed that the cat had a hard and swollen belly, he might be scared, and rightly so.

Before you contact your veterinarian, let's find out together what could be the causes of a hard belly in cats. Here's everything you need to know.

Organ enlargement

Various abdominal organs may increase in size, resulting in bloating.

Liver, spleen or kidneys

Enlargement of the liver, spleen or kidneys can occur as a result of a benign or malignant neoplasm. This can happen either as a result of tumors growing into the walls of organs, or as a result of solitary lesions, certain types of infections (especially fungal infections), accumulation of inflammatory cells, or a reaction to a disease in another part of the body.

Bladder

An enlarged bladder and difficulty urinating may be signs of a urinary tract blockage, a potentially life-threatening condition. It is more common in males, but can also occur in females.

Gastrointestinal tract

The gastrointestinal tract can be filled with gas, fluid, foreign material, and even food. This leads to bloating. The most dangerous of the above is blockage of the gastrointestinal tract by a foreign object.

Uterus

In unspayed cats, the uterus may become enlarged due to pregnancy or as a result of the accumulation of fluid or pus. The latter can be life-threatening.

After spay surgery, your cat may experience temporary bloating if she is overly active after surgery or if she has a reaction to the stitches. Therefore, it is important for your pet to rest while recovering from surgery. If the owner notices signs of inflammation, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Natural cause

A cat may have a tight belly for natural reasons. So, in late pregnancy, due to a serious enlargement of the uterus, tension in the peritoneal muscles occurs. This phenomenon is necessary to prevent injury to the kittens. In this case, the cat does not require treatment, since this condition is natural.

The abdominal wall becomes especially hard before lambing, since at this moment all the muscles begin to tense, preparing the body for the birth of kittens. After their birth, the abdomen may remain hard for several hours, thus causing muscle spasm, which is a consequence of severe overload.

Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity

A bloated abdomen in a cat or kitten can be caused by the accumulation of moderate or large amounts of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Typically, in this case, the veterinarian may observe fluctuations when touching the area.

The accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity can be a consequence of many diseases:

• Hemorrhage: Bleeding into the abdomen can be caused by bleeding tumors, trauma to internal organs, low platelet counts, or platelet dysfunction. Another cause is poisoning from rat poison, which is called anticoagulant rodenticide.
• Cancer: A buildup of fluid and possibly blood in the abdomen can be caused by cancer.
• Heart Failure: Right-sided heart failure can lead to an inability to pump blood out effectively, resulting in fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Any concern about heart failure should be considered an emergency and require immediate diagnosis.
• Protein deficiency: Decreased protein production usually occurs due to liver failure or kidney or intestinal disease. When protein levels are too low, blood vessels in the body can begin to “leaky,” causing fluid to accumulate in the abdomen and other parts of the body.
• Inflammation: Fluid accumulation and inflammation in the abdominal cavity can be caused by, among other things, pancreatitis.
• Viral diseases: Feline infectious peritonitis, a viral disease in cats, usually results in abdominal fluid and bloating.
• Rupture of a hollow organ: A rupture of the bladder, gallbladder, or gastrointestinal organ can result in fluid from the organ in question leaking into the abdominal cavity and requires immediate veterinary attention. This pathology can occur against the background of conditions such as bladder stones and obstruction of the gallbladder or intestinal tract.

Signs of pathology

A cat's enlarged belly should be the reason for an unscheduled visit to the veterinarian. Sometimes, if the outflow of urine is disrupted or the intestines are blocked, a timely operation can save the life of a pet.

Why do certain pathologies develop if, in the opinion of the owners, the animal is well cared for? The causes of the development of diseases accompanied by enlargement of the peritoneum are:

• poor nutrition, lack of animal access to water;
• non-compliance with the schedule of vaccination and anthelmintic measures;
• peritoneal injuries;
• development of chronic diseases of internal organs.

There are a number of symptoms, the occurrence of which requires urgent consultation with a veterinarian. These include:

• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• apathy;
• increase in body temperature (hot, dry nose and ears);
• lack of appetite;
• the presence of blood, parasites and their eggs in the stool or urine.

Intestinal parasites

Causes of bloating in cats may include gastrointestinal parasites, notes the Cornell Feline Health Center. This is more common in kittens, as they are more likely to become infected with worms. Your veterinarian can identify intestinal parasites by testing your cat's stool. Treatment usually involves taking oral antiparasitic medications.

What to do if your kitten has a big belly

What to do if your kitten’s tummy suddenly becomes bloated? First you should observe your pet: how is he feeling? You should be alert to symptoms such as:

Photo: ginger kitten sitting on a tray | Dreamstime.com

• Diarrhea or constipation. Unusual color and smell of feces;
• Pain when trying to go to the toilet;
• Vomit;
• Refusal to feed or excessive overeating, thirst;
• Increased body temperature.

Let us immediately note that if a kitten has bloating due to ascites, peritonitis, pancreatitis, liver problems, hormonal disorders or oncology, then only a specialist can help. And even then, if you bring a sick baby to the clinic on time. In other cases, you can do this:

1. If the kitten has a hard belly and has not had stool for more than 2-3 days, then the problem is most likely constipation.
   At home, you can get rid of the problem using Vaseline oil (0.1 ml of oil per 100 g of kitten weight three times a day). The drug Duphalac gives a good effect (0.5 ml per 1 kg of body weight 1-2 times a day until bowel movements are established), but before use it is better to consult a specialist. Perhaps the veterinarian will also recommend using Microlax microenemas at home, and in some situations, cleansing enemas and droppers will need to be done in a hospital;
2. They fight worms with the help of anthelmintics
   (for example, Dirofen paste for kittens is administered in an amount of 1 ml per 1 kg of weight; drops from a 0.25 ml pipette of Stronghold are applied to the withers). Only when using anthelmintic drugs should you take into account that not all of them can be used for kittens under the age of 2-3 months;
3. The problem of overeating and proper diet is not difficult to solve.
   Dry or canned super-premium baby food is the best choice for kittens. The packaging of such products indicates the recommended serving and number of feedings per day. In addition, it is important to ensure that the kitten drinks enough and exercises actively so that there are no problems with excess weight and bowel movements.

Abdominal masses

Why does my cat have a bloated belly? Perhaps your pet has a tumor in one of the abdominal organs. Such pathologies are more common in adult cats. A neoplasm in the abdominal cavity can be benign or malignant. To make an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive examination is necessary.

Depending on the location and type of tumor, treatment may include surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, or observation and supportive care with medications.

Breed characteristics

Some breeds have a fold in the abdominal area their entire life. And, by the way, there is nothing reprehensible in this, since natural affiliation simply obliges you to “possess” a fat tail.

Do not be upset if the skin hangs on the belly of a cat of the following breeds: Canadian Sphynx, Pixie-Bob, Bengal, Scottish Straight, Scottish Shorthair. The reasons for the presence of loose skin in pets of these breeds are unknown. Probably, the fat layer should protect short-haired and hairless individuals from the cold, and for others, the fat tail should protect the abdominal organs from injury during fights.

Important! You should not try to reduce a saggy belly by starving your pet. With such a diet, the skin will not go anywhere, but, on the contrary, will become even more noticeable on a body that is too thin

In those cats that, by their breed vocation, are forced to “wear” a fat tail, the stomach decreases during the lactation period. As soon as the feeding of the kittens stops, the size of the saggy tummy returns to normal.

Feeding cheap foods

Veterinarians strongly recommend analyzing your pet’s diet. After all, unhealthy food from economy class (Whiskas, Felix, Kitekat) will sooner or later cause disruption of the digestive tract. Along with the indicated nutrition, the foods that people love to feast on are harmful. Sausages, dairy products, soups and main courses from the human table are not suitable for consumption by animals. Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract can easily lead to the death of a cat. High-quality industrial food that will not harm your pet - Akana, Hills, Perfect Fit, Purina Van and other branded products from the premium, superpremium segment. If the owner’s choice is made in favor of natural nutrition, then among the healthy foods for the mustachioed pet can be noted: cereals (rice and oatmeal), meat (beef, turkey, rabbit), stewed vegetables (carrots, cabbage, beets). It is necessary to remember the basic rule: mixing natural food and ready-made food is prohibited.

If your cat has sagging skin on its belly despite a well-thought-out diet, then you should slightly reconsider its diet.

It is important to reduce the calorie content of dishes by reducing the amount of meat component to 50-70%

Diagnosis of bloating in a cat

If your cat has a hard, distended abdomen, an examination and diagnostic testing should be performed to determine the cause. Typical types of diagnostic testing for bloating include a complete blood count, urinalysis, ultrasound and/or x-ray of the abdomen, chest x-ray, fluid testing, and biopsy (in the case of a mass). Sometimes more special diagnostics are required if an infectious disease is suspected or an assessment of the condition of specific organs. The examination recommended by your veterinarian will depend on the individual case.

When a saggy belly is normal

So, it was already mentioned above that some cats have a pouch hanging in their lower abdomen for completely harmless reasons:

1. Multiple births or large births
   - if the mother cat has a lot of babies (some mustachioed pets give birth to 8-12 kittens) or if they are very large, then the uterus is greatly distended, and with it the peritoneal walls. By the way, after childbirth, the belly often hangs in miniature females who had only a few medium-sized kittens in the litter;
2. Old age
   - whatever one may say, but by old age in almost all pets the skin becomes flabby and the abdominal tissues become weak. Does an elderly cat or cat have a hanging belly, although this has not been observed before? Perhaps it’s all to do with the pet’s advanced years;
3. Breed predisposition
   - if a Canadian Sphynx, Pixie Bob, Bengal or British cat has a hanging belly, then there should be no cause for concern. For such breeds, a fat fold on the belly is considered normal;
4. Constipation
   - the inability to have normal bowel movements can hardly be called normal, but quite healthy cats often suffer from problems with bowel movements, for example, due to improper feeding of the pet, low fluid intake, or after taking certain medications. With constipation, the cat's belly is swollen and enlarged, and it seems as if it is sagging.

Bloating in a cat: treatment

Treatment for bloating in a cat or kitten depends on the underlying pathology and may include, but is not limited to, removing abdominal fluid, medication, and/or surgery. In any case, it is important to monitor the pet’s condition and consult a veterinarian. Any physical or behavioral changes must be monitored. If an owner is concerned that their cat's belly looks bloated, the easiest thing to do is call a veterinarian and get their expert opinion on what to do next.

Treatment

Treatment can be conservative or surgical. This will depend on the cause of the hard belly syndrome. For example, in case of helminthic infestation, it will be necessary to carry out specific antiparasitic therapy; in case of constipation, a special diet and mild laxatives will be required. Antispasmodics are often recommended as symptomatic therapy. These remedies help relax the muscles of the abdominal wall, but can neutralize many symptoms and complicate diagnosis. Therefore, it is better for the veterinarian to show the animal before trying to help it. The most competent method of first aid would be to provide the animal with rest and deliver it to a veterinary hospital.

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Determining the cause of bloating

If an animal eats only roughage, it may well develop a large and hard belly. Not all kitten owners take into account that food designed for adult animals is strictly contraindicated for babies. From such adult food, the kitten may develop colic and general health will worsen. The thing is that your little friend's digestive tract does not work as fully as that of an adult cat. Therefore, he is not able to digest food that is too dry or too rough.

That is, in case of improper nutrition, the kitten will experience flatulence, or, as it is simply called, bloating. In order to relieve the animal from unpleasant sensations, it is enough just to establish an age-appropriate diet.

Please note that in addition to an improper diet, the cause of flatulence may be a helminthic infestation. In this case, you should definitely contact your veterinarian so that he can prescribe the appropriate treatment for parasites. You will deworm your kitten and relieve him of flatulence.

Please note that worms, in addition to bloating, can lead to more sad and dangerous consequences:

• Everyone in the household can become infected with worms.
• A worm in the body can cause numerous dysfunctions in a kitten.
• Advanced helminthiasis can lead to the death of a small pet

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Considering the above, it is very important to deworm the animal in a timely manner with drugs prescribed by a veterinarian. Dead helminths can be found in the kitten's feces. This finding directly indicates a massive infection of the body with parasites. The particular danger of worms is that they poison the body with waste products from their vital activity.

A kitten's large and swollen tummy also appears due to constipation. To determine whether this is so, you should monitor the baby and check whether he goes to the toilet. If a kitten eats heavily, but does not empty itself, this is the cause of a bloated abdomen.

In order to determine whether gases are the reason why small kittens have a sore tummy and why it is swollen, you can lightly flick it with your fingertips. If the sound resembles tapping on a balloon, then the kitten most likely has gas.

In order to help your baby cope with flatulence, you can try giving him activated charcoal. The body of each animal, just like that of a person, is purely individual. Therefore, if your pet is prone to constipation, it is recommended to give him fermented milk products, for example, yogurt or kefir, more often. If this does not make him feel better, a visit to the veterinarian is a must.

A kitten suffering from flatulence is characterized by restless behavior; it rushes about, runs around the apartment and cannot find a place for itself..

Overeating is rightfully considered another common cause of bloating in a kitten. The baby is not yet able to control his appetite and therefore strives to eat more, especially if the bowl smells of something tasty.

If you don't control your kitten's nutritional intake, he will overeat constantly. This risks the fact that systematic overeating will invariably lead to the formation of a lump in the baby’s tummy. If you do nothing and don’t put him on a diet in time, he will begin to move more and more slowly, and will simply sleep most of the day. Such excessively reduced physical activity will inevitably lead to constipation.

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The most dangerous disease that is accompanied by bloating is peritonitis. Owners who notice that the belly is growing larger and larger should definitely show their pet to a specialist. A delay of even one day, in this case, is equal to a death sentence for the animal. This disease is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity of the kitten.

The disease, especially its viral and infectious forms, is transmitted by airborne droplets, through feces, and also through the placenta from cats to kittens. It is extremely difficult to cure, so at the slightest suspicion you should immediately consult a doctor.

Particular attention should be paid to why a kitten’s swollen belly should be emphasized in cases where the animal was picked up on the street. The disease most often affects kittens, those with weakened immune systems, and stressed out children. Oddly enough, the risk group also includes kittens bred in nurseries and living in groups.