My 4-month kitten poops less and sleeps more. Is this normal?

Hello. At 4 months of age, a kitten might defecate 2-3 times a day, but once a day would not be alarming as long as the kitten seems comfortable & is eating well. The consistency should be well formed, perhaps a little soft. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! 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.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Beau only seemed disinterested in one meal this morning, but has since had a good appetite. He is also urinating and defecating normally, which is good. As long as Beau continues to eat, isn't having any vomiting or diarrhea or acting excessively lethargic, and is otherwise healthy, I would not be worried. I would keep a close eye on him for the next day or so to make sure he is doing well. I hope this is helpful!

Simba may be going in the other cat's litter tray, and I would try to see if you can follow him around to see if you can catch him pooping in the other tray. Kittens do not necessarily poop right after a meal, and it could be he is pooping at night in the other tray while you are sleeping. Given that he is acting normal, I wouldn't be to concerned. If he wasn't pooping at all, you would see other signs lack of appetite, potentially vomiting, straining to poop, and lethargy. Should you see any of those signs, then I would be concerned and have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Kittens are naturally very active animals, and this activity should not affect his bowel movements. Typically cats and kittens pass a bowel movement once or twice a day, so I would not worry about the fact that he only went once last night. Sometimes overly frequent stools can be related to parasites, infection, or food allergies. Have Oliver's bowel movements been solid and well formed? If not, I would recommend taking him to the vet to be dewormed and to check a stool sample for parasites. I hope this helps, and that Oliver is otherwise happy and healthy!

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

It is normal for kittens to play really hard and then sleep really hard. At this age I expect them to sleep more than play. This changes as they get a little older. If she is eating at least 1/2 cup of food a day, she may be just getting full and realizes she doesn't have to eat it all at once and this is also okay. Sometimes kittens will graze on grass and plants out of curiosity. Just make sure you don't have an toxic plants in your house/yard. BUT if you think she is eating less than this and doesn't play much at all and you think she is getting weak then I would see your vet for an exam. She may have something else going on like an infection or parasites that needs to be addressed. Your vet will be able to do a fecal and possibly bloodwork if needed. I hope this helps!