What’s the first animal you think of when you hear the word cute? Chances are your mind was just flooded with images of puppies, pandas, and maybe even some chicks that just emerged from their shells. Of course, no list of the cutest animals would be complete without those adorable furballs we know as kittens.
A typical kitten has a head so large that it doesn’t seem to match the rest of their body. Even their eyes look too big and they seem to have a certain shine to them whenever a kitten stares at you with wonder.
Many of us simply cannot get enough of kittens and we want them around as much as possible. However, there may be something about your kitten that isn’t quite right and it can be easy to miss if you don’t know that it could be potentially problematic.
You may have a kitten with a fat belly and think that they just had a bit too much to eat last time. While that issue could have something to do with how you’re feeding your kitten, it could also be caused by a more serious problem.
Read on to learn more about why your kitten has a pot belly and what you can do to help them.
How To Help A Kitten Pot Belly After Deworming!
One of the possible explanations for your pot belly kitten is a parasite that has managed to enter their body.
Different forms of medication can be used to deworm a kitten and you can find out which one to use after consulting with a veterinarian. However, you cannot stop there if you want your kitten to fully recover from the deworming process.
The way you care for them after the parasite is removed will also be crucial to their long-term health.
The most important thing you must do after your kitten receives treatment for their parasite is to closely watch them.
Although it rarely happens, kittens can experience side effects from taking deworming medication and those include diarrhea, vomiting, and changes to their typical behavior. Get in touch with the veterinarian as soon as you possibly can if you notice those side effects because there’s a chance your kitten may still need additional treatment.
Aside from reporting any adverse side effects from the deworming treatment to the veterinarian, there are other things you can do for your pot belly kitten.
For now, you should keep them indoors and watch them closely so they do not come into contact with any potentially harmful substances. Collecting samples of your kitten’s poop can also be helpful because you can send them to the veterinarian for further examination.
How To Help A Pot Belly Kitten After Eating!
Monitoring your fat belly kitten will be critical to staying on top of their condition as they continue to undergo treatment for the parasite inside their body. Do note however that monitoring your kitten’s condition is important not just after they take their medication.
You should also watch your kitten after they eat and observe how they behave because they may still be exhibiting signs of discomfort. Looking at the quality of their poop can also tell you if they are still feeling the effects of the parasite infestation.
You must also pay close attention to what you feed your kitten because that could explain their pot belly. If you’re buying prepared food for your pot belly kitten, you should look for the options that are specially formulated for them, although those are harder to find.
Do not fret if your search for specially formulated kitten food turns out unproductive because you can pick up some canned wet food instead.
Buying food for your kitten is not your only because you can prepare that yourself if you have the time to spare.
Look for recipes online and you’ll quickly discover that there are more than a few options for you to choose from and some of them may only require ingredients you already have.
It’s also a good idea to have the veterinarian look over the recipe first so they can determine if it will be good for your fat belly kitten.
What Causes A Pot Belly In A Kitten?
Throughout this article, we’ve established that your kitten’s bloated belly could be a potential indicator that there is a parasite inside their body. That’s one potential explanation, but remember that your kitten’s pot belly could also be symptomatic of other issues.
A fat belly like that can also be the byproduct of feeding your kitten the wrong food on a regular basis. Some genetic disorders that affect kittens are also known to cause that big belly.
Certain foods do not sit well with a kitten’s body because of their nutritional profile. The specific types of food we’re discussing here are the ones loaded with carbohydrates because a typical kitten’s digestive system is simply not developed enough to process those properly.
While struggling with those carbohydrates, your kitten may start to get gassy, their stools may become looser, and their belly could also end up bloated.
Genetic disorders are generally harder to understand unless you also cared for the parent of your pot belly kitten. If you believe the bloated belly is a byproduct of a genetic issue, the best thing you can do is simply take your kitten to the veterinarian.
Let the veterinarian examine your kitten so they can identify the genetic disorder and prescribe the appropriate treatment for it.
Conclusion
Your fat belly kitten may look cute, but that physical characteristic could be a symptom of a health issue instead of just being the result of your pet indulging in too much food. Take your kitten to the veterinarian as soon as you notice that pot belly because they may be suffering from a parasitic infection, a genetic disorder, or they may be eating the wrong food. Also, make it a point to watch over your kitten as they undergo treatment so you can be certain that they are still in good shape.
