- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Kittens might have plump, round bellies, whereas adult cats can develop loose, swaying bellies known as primordial pouches. Though equally endearing, pet parents may wonder if their cat’s adorable stomach can bloat. They may also ask how to distinguish bloat from a full belly, a primordial pouch, or an overweight cat; we’ve enlisted veterinarians to figure it out.
When talking about cat bloat, we’re usually not referring to the same type of bloat in dogs, says Candy Akers, DVM, a holistic veterinarian at Journey’s Mobile Veterinary Services. “Gastric dilation volvulus (GDV) can happen in cats but is very rare,” she says. Instead, feline bloating is more like the bloat you and I might feel – abdominal discomfort and swelling that accompany medical conditions and overeating. Here’s how to recognize bloating in cats, provide relief, and prevent it from returning.
How Do I Know If My Cat Is Bloated?
You’ll know if a cat is bloated if they have other symptoms of illness. This is because bloating is a symptom of many medical conditions.
Pet parents likely notice discomfort and illness before bloating, says David Israel, DVM, Medical Director at Veterinary Emergency Group. Depending on what’s causing your cat’s build-up of fluid or gas in their abdomen, symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, and lethargy will likely grab your attention first. In fact, he says bloating in cats may not be noticeable without diagnostic testing.
Akers says signs your cat might be bloated include the following.
- Swollen, hard stomach or abdominal distension
- Sudden or inexplicable weight gain
- Abdominal discomfort or tenderness
- Vomiting or retching
- Altered posture, such as crouching or stretching abnormally to relieve discomfort
- Lethargy or decrease in typical activity
- Changes in appetite, like loss of interest in food or refusal to eat
- Restlessness or difficulty finding a comfortable position
- Changes in grooming habits
- Unusual vocalizations, like yowling or excessive meowing
- Hiding or avoiding socialization
Does gastric dilation volvulus cause cat bloating?
GDV is common in deep-chested dogs and dogs who are too active after eating. However, it rarely happens in cats. It occurs when a pet’s stomach becomes abnormally distended because it fills with air or fluid, called gastric dilatation. Without relief, the stomach can flip on itself, known as gastric dilatation volvulus or GDV. GDV is a life-threatening emergency and requires emergency surgery.
Rest assured, it’s usually not the culprit behind cat bloating. “I have never seen GDV in a cat in clinical practice,” Akers says. GDV is so rare in cats that the veterinarians at the Veterinary Emergency Group say they’ve never seen a feline case in practice either.
However, if it does happen, such as this rare occurrence of GDV in two Persian cats, Akers says cats may develop GDV due to respiratory disease that causes excessive panting and intake of air into their stomachs.
12 Reasons for Cat Bloating
Bloating is a symptom and not a standalone medical condition. However, according to our vet experts, bloating is a symptom of the following conditions.
- Feline inflammatory peritonitis (FIP) “wet form”. Akers explains that FIP is an often-fatal viral disease caused by a mutation of COVID-19. The “wet form” causes a cat’s abdomen to fill with fluid and become bloated and distended.
- Food allergies and sensitivities. Food allergies can cause irritation and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract (GI), which could lead to bloating.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This condition can develop after years of chronic GI tract inflammation.
- Urinary obstruction. Male cats are most commonly affected by this life-threatening condition, Israel says. It’s caused by inflammation or stones in the bladder. This can result in urethra blockage and symptoms such as straining to urinate, vocalizing, and a bloated appearance.
- Gastrointestinal obstructions. This occurs when cats eat non-food items that get stuck in the digestive tract. Things that may cause obstructions include rubber bands, hair ties, string, plastic, and hairballs.
- Kidney disease. Israel says any condition that causes dehydration, like kidney disease, could make a cat bloated.
- Cancer. Bloating can be a symptom of various cancers, particularly GI lymphoma.
- Constipation. When constipated, cats become bloated and often strain to poop with no results.
- Parasites. “Intestinal parasites can cause diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and gas and cause fluid to build up in the abdomen around the organs. Israel says the types of parasites vary depending on where the cat lives, but common parasites include roundworms, tapeworms, and coccidia.
Dietary reasons for cat bloating
- Overeating or eating too quickly. When cats eat too much or too fast, Akers says they gulp down air and feel gassy and bloated.
- Rapid diet changes. Changing a cat’s food frequently could cause gassiness, diarrhea, and bloating.
- Low-quality food. Akers explains that food packed with fillers and other low-quality ingredients can alter normal digestive processes and cause cat bloating.
Why do kittens bloat?
Israel says intestinal parasites are a leading cause of kitten bloating. In addition to the above conditions, a bloated tummy might indicate the following diseases in kittens, especially.
- Toxic milk syndrome. Akers explains that toxic milk syndrome is a condition among nursing kittens when their mom develops mastitis or an infected mammary gland. If the kittens continue to nurse, the milk can become toxic, causing severe abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, bloating, and even death. Therefore, it’s essential to treat the mother immediately with antibiotics, and the kittens may need to be bottle-fed while mastitis is treated.
- Feline panleukopenia (FPV). Israel says FPV can occur in cats of all ages but is especially common in kittens. While bloating can be a symptom, more apparent signs of FPV include fever, vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, and weight loss. “FPV is a life-threatening condition and almost always requires intensive supportive care,” Akers says.
How Do I Treat Bloating In Cats?
Israel stresses that emergency care is always needed if a cat’s abdomen suddenly appears bloated and they won’t eat or is lethargic. Additionally, if a cat’s breathing is abnormal or they’re straining to urinate, they should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.
Since bloating in cats and its associated symptoms can indicate various medical conditions, seeing a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment is essential. Diagnostic procedures can range from simple fecal tests and deworming to more complex procedures such as blood work, x-rays, emergency surgery, or medications. How long your cat will be bloated depends on the underlying cause and treatment.
How To Stop Cats From Overeating & Prevent Bloating
To help a bloated cat who is overeating or eating too quickly, Akers has some simple suggestions, including the following.
- Use a slow feeder to prevent your cat from gulping large mouthfuls of food.
- Feed your cat multiple small meals throughout the day to reduce the amount of food eaten in one sitting.
- Use a flat plate instead of a deep bowl to spread the food out, making it harder for your cat to scarf down large amounts at once.
- Serve wet food to provide hydration and slow down eating.
- Feed multiple cats separately to reduce competition and pressure to eat quickly.
- Choose animal protein-rich food since cats are obligate carnivores and have difficulty digesting low-quality cat foods.