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My 9-week kitten hasn't pooped in 3 days but seems fine. Is it normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | British Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 5 days old

My 9 week old kitten hasn't pooped since I got him three days ago. He is drinking, eating, urinating and very lively. He seems to be fine and doesn't strain or try to go. Should I be worried?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on August 21st, 2017

That could be completely normal as he needs to get used to new environment and food. A differential may be parasite infestation that commonly cause a mild constipation. If the signs persist more than 48hours or if you notice any lethargy, inappetence and any sign of pain a check up would be required. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jeffrey Milner

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 10th, 2017

    Three days without defecation in such a young cat may require the use of a manual enema to loosen things up. It is possible that he could be somewhat dehydrated which is preventing the stool from passing through the GI tract appropriately as well. There are certainly stool softeners available commercially both through vets and over-the-counter which might be worth a try. However, I would not let this go for more than 12 hours more without resolving the issue. Enemas will require the passage of a tube up the rectum, followed by the flow of warm water / soap / lubricant. This is not typically something that can be done at home by an inexperienced person, and will require the assistance of a vet. Hope this helps.

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    Answered By Alysia Van Scoy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 23rd, 2017

    Congrats on your new kitten Snowball! If the mom is still taking care of him, then I think that he is most likely pooping just fine. Most of the time, the moms lick the kittens to stimulate them and then eat the poop. I know it seems gross, but it is normal feline behavior to keep the area clean. Watch her to see if this is happening. If you think that he is getting bloated, then I would take him to a veterinarian for an exam. They will be able to tell you if it is normal or abnormal. Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 18th, 2019

    Nugget is very cute. Young kittens can suffer from constipation, bacterial infections and parasites. If she does not have a bowel movement by this afternoon, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian. She may need a deworming and a stool softner. Often, increasing the amount of water in the formula temporarily may help to get more fluids in her which can help if the stool is too hard or she is constipated. You must be careful though because more water in the formula means less nutrients. You will also need to feed her more frequently. Here is a link about raising orphaned kittens: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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