Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

My new 5-month-old kitten isn't pooping. Could he be constipated?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 19 days old

How often should a 5 month old kitten poop? We just got him from the local shelter yesterday around 5pm, and he used the restroom around 2 times. He keeps moving his litter and squatting, turning around and doing it again. Most of the time, nothing happens though. Today, he hasn't pooped or peed at all, (that I've seen), I haven't noticed anything in the box, and he's eaten out of his dish 3 times today.

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

Veterinarian

Published on June 29th, 2018

Young kittens will normally toilet frequently, often up to 6 times a day but I would be very concerned by repeated trips to the tray without producing anything as this may indicate an obstruction or severe spasm and inflammation which is quite common in cats and can be triggered by stressful events such as moving house. I recommend an urgent vet check to determine if he is constipated or bladder pain and to prescribe the most appropriate treatment and ongoing management to prevent recurrence. In the meantime I would try to encourage fluids with flavoured water (freshly boiled chicken broth or a little cod liver oil on the water bowl) and provide wet food to maximise fluid intake which can help soften stool and flush the bladder

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 19th, 2017

    Change of food could be the cause, any change should be made very gradually. If your kitten is very distressed struggling to pass I would see the vet asap. If it seems comfortable you could wait and its gut may settle but if there's no poo by tomorrow see the vet.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 30th, 2019

    Not sure if he has been treated with any medications but you could try him on a veterinary prescription intestinal diet. Your vet could also try some symptomatic therapy including, Metronidazole and a Proviable-Forte Kit and see if he improves on medications.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 5th, 2016

    He may have a food indiscretion. Try feeding him a nother brand of food, preferably tinned food. You can also feed him some probiotics available from your vet, live yoghurt, and also try a bit of ground beef or boiled chicken. He should also be wormed.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 23rd, 2017

    He could have an intestinal parasite so you should take a stool sample to a vet for testing. Your vet can prescribe medications depending on the results. You could also add probiotic to his diet, like Fortiflora or Proviable.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We have just recently got our kitten she's 6 weeks old she's peeing but not pooping and it's nearly been 2 days
Sometimes stress can cause constipation. Make sure she is drinking plenty of water. Canned food is good to prevent constipation; you can also add a little water or chicken/tuna broth to the canned food to get her to drink more water. She is still young, so you may be able to stimulate her to have a bowel movement by rubbing her anus gently with a warm wet washcloth. If she does not have a bowel movement in 24 hours, I recommend that she see a vet before the stool gets too dry and hard.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How often should an 8 week old kitten be pooping, urinating and eating. I got the kitten yesterday and it eats, plays and urinates in the litter box but it wont poop. I feed it wet food and mix some water to hep get some water into its system because
Hi and thanks for using Boop by Petco! You should offer a small amount of food about 3-4 times daily and in really small kittens, every few hours might be needed. Eliminations and the frequency thereof, are dependent on many things depending on food intake, type of food, water intake etc. As long as she is not straining and trying to poop, it could be up to another 24-36 hours. She is getting accustomed to her new and that is probably slowing up the fecal elimination process. Again, no straining to have a bowel movement usually means that everything is ok, especially if the kitten is eating and drinking normally. Just keep monitoring for a bowel movement and monitor behavior, appetite, etc. If things change and you are unsure have your veterinarian evaluate the kitten. I hope everything works out ok.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 2 week old kitten is bloated and constipated I have tried massaging his belly, the triangle method and just simulating but he won’t poo. I am worried about feeding him more but if I don’t he will be hungry ! He is currently 224 g please help!
I would keep his feeding schedule the same so he doesn’t get dehydrated and weak from a low blood sugar. If you have a recital thermometer sometimes gently inserting this can help remove poop and stimulate them to go more. Your vet can also pass a fecal loop or prescribe a stimulant or softener to help the kitten go
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
hello, i have a 4 week old kitten and she hasnt pooped yet. should i be worried?
I am not sure how many days she has gone without having a bowel movement. But if she is attempting to poop and straining, then she should see a vet immediately for an enema to help her go and then treatment for long term care. However, if she is not straining and it has been less than 3-4 days since she has pooped, give her time to adjust to whatever new things may be going on around her. Offer her food (Canned food is best @ this age or kitten formula if she has not transitioned yet) like normal and monitor her the next few days to see if she finally goes. Cats are notorious for holding their bowels when they are recently adopted, move, or there's a new introduction to the home. And finally, if you are seeing any other symptoms such as vomiting, decreased appetite, or straining, then Olly should be seen by your vet right away. You can try stimulating her to go as well by using a warm wet cloth. I hope that your furry friend Olly is able to have a bowel movement soon! Best wish
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
I have two kittens that’s only a couple days old and I can get them to pee but not poop
A check up would be ideal as very commonly kittens (and puppies) are constipated for the presence of intestinal parasites. Please follow this link to have reliable source of informations about how to make them poo as well. https://www.catster.com/kittens/how-to-make-a-kitten-poop Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
My two months kitten didn't poop since 24 hours but eats normally and urinates regurally .She has a big belly btw
If she is straining and attempting produce stool but is unable, or if she is vomiting I think you should see a veterinarian. Constipation is rare in a kitten that age but is possible. Your vet can check for parasites and potentially give an enema to help her pass stool. If she is not straining or vomiting I think you could also monitor her for another couple of days but if she hasn’t pooped in three days you should see your vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Food & Nutrition
We got a 6 week old kitten on JUly 25th. It had only been fed cows milk and milk from it's mother. Now we have it at our house and i was feeding it KMR and yesterday for the 1st time she ate soft canned food at 12 noon yesterday.. She was also giv
A 6 week old kitten should be able to be on normal food without milk right now. I would wait another day to see if she poops. Constipation isn't super common in kittens, especially on wet food, but it is possible. If Luna doesn't have a bowel movement by tomorrow, she should get checked out by the vet.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
My kitten eats a lot but doesn't poop. Please tell me what to do... She is active throughout the day.
IF your cat isn't pooping, then she has to be constipated. She needs to see a vet right away to find out why. Also if she isn't pooping, then she would have signs of discomfort and vomiting, so if these signs are not present, then she is likely pooping somewhere in the house that you have not found yet, so it would be advised to look around thoroughly before rushing to your vet. I do hope that your furry friend Kitty is going to be ok moving forward. Take care.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
Hello .. my cat just gave birth and the kitten is 1 week old it was born 6th December 2019 ... And from the day it was born he is not pooping at all what do I do .. he is well hydrated ... The mother cat giving him milk as well but still I don't know
Hi,are you sure that he he is not passing feaces and that mummy cleans him straight away ? Normally they pass feaces once mummy stimulates them by gentle cleaning, so perhaps when he goes you are not seeing him. If he had been constipated for a week he would be very poorly by now. Hope thsi makes sense.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Just got a 6 week old kitten from a friend who found her as a stray. She ate about half a cup of moist kitten kibble last night, and now her belly feels very round and hard. I tried to stimulate her to poop several times in the last 24 hours but she
At that age they should not need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom. Have you tried placing her in a litter box to see what she does by herself? If there is nothing then I would have her checked, sometimes passing a fecal loop or a thermometer can remove some and help stimulate them more. if the stool is dry then thenvrt may want to add a stool softener. I would get her seen sooner since she is not eating well and not playing.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored