Q&A for How to Make a Kitten Poop

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  • Question
    What is a natural laxative for a kitten?
    Natalie Punt, DVM
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    A massage may help! Dip a washcloth or paper towel in warm water and gently rub around the kitten's anus—this could get it to poop.
  • Question
    What food is best for a constipated cat?
    Natalie Punt, DVM
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Give your kitty plenty of liquids and water, which can help loosen things up.
  • Question
    My new kitten is about three weeks old and I've had her for three days. She pees after every feed but never poops. What should I do?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    If she is feeding well and seems playful, then there's probably nothing too much to worry about. If for any reason she had skipped meals before you got her, then her digestive system might be a bit empty, and it can take two to three days for her to need to go. Keep trying to get her to go, try a firm massage over her anus with a cloth. Of course if you become concerned, then it's essential she's sees a vet.
  • Question
    When do I start box training and how is it done?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Start right away! If you have the mother cat, then the kitten learns by watching her go into the tray, so make sure she has a tray where the kitten can see her. If you have homed a kitten, then keep her in one room with food, water, and a bed in one corner, and the litter tray in another. After she eats, pick her up and put her in the tray, since food in the stomach makes her likely to toilet. Also, find out from the previous owner what type of cat litter she was used to, since this helps her identify the tray as her toilet.
  • Question
    Can I use corn oil to make my kitten poop?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    It is unusual for a young kitten to be truly constipated, and giving corn oil runs the risk of giving her diarrhea, which could be dangerous. If she has dry food, try switching to canned food, which has a higher water content and tends to form a bulkier stool, therefore making her more likely to go.
  • Question
    My cat rejected her baby so I'm hand rearing it with formula. The kitten is 1 week old, how often should she poop?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    You should stimulate the kitten's anus with cotton wool or a wash cloth, after each feed. At one week old the kitten needs little and often, which means feeding every two to three hours. Milk in the stomach has the effect of stimulating the bowel, so each time she eats she more likely to 'go.'
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