My 5 Week Old Kittens Seems Constipated

[carolina griego]

I have three 5 week old kittens they started peeing about 5 days ago but I have not seen them poop. I have seen them sit in the litter for a while like they are trying. Their tummies look round. I read online to wipe their butts and tummies with a warm cloth. Should I keep doing this or just take them to the vet?

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Kittens of that age should have round tummies, but do you think they look distended and are they seeming to be uncomfortable? Usually, until the kittens are eating solid foods and starting to use the litterbox mama cat cleans up after them, so it is possible that is why you are not seeing poops?

 

[carolina griego]

They don't look distended but their tummies feel a bit hard. Five days ago I started giving them raw grounded chicken and some wet food.

 

[admin]

It could be that the mom is still cleaning them, unless there is no mom?

 

[Patti]

Have you seen them use the litterbox at all? If they've used it in the past, and they're not going now they may very well be constipated. If you've never seen them use the litterbox, it may be that mom is still cleaning them. However, if their bellies feel harder than normal I would probably take them to the vet just to make sure...

 

[Alicia]

Just my 2 cents, but you can't go wrong with a vet visit, and it also can't hurt to stimulate them just in case!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

I think you could do harm by manual stimulating them all the time if mama cat is already doing the job efficiently. Too much rubbing is going to cause inflammation so you don't want to be rubbing baby kitten's butts unless there is a good reason to be messing with them, imho!

 

[Alicia]

Wait is there a mama cat?? I think Patti asked that and I don't see an answer.... If there is a mama cat that would make a big difference....

 

[carolina griego]

Yes they do have their mom, I have never seen them go poop in the litter box but I have seen them pee in it. I also seen them just sitting their like they are trying.

 

[Patti]

Is momma still cleaning their bottoms routinely?