What's the deal with a big cat belly?

A big cat belly can be due to either physiological or pathological reasons. physiological reasons include obesity, pregnancy, and overeating, while pathological reasons include ascites, pyometra, gastrointestinal obstruction, and parasite infections. So, don't easily assume that a big cat belly is caused by overeating. It's essential to determine whether the cat is genuinely overweight or sick!

I. Physiological causes

Obesity

If a cat is obese, it will accumulate more fat in its abdomen, making the belly appear larger. Obese cats need to pay attention to weight control. It's recommended to help the cat lose weight to prevent sickness.

Pregnancy

If a non-spayed female cat becomes pregnant, its belly will significantly increase in size. It's advised to take the cat to a pet hospital for confirmation and prepare a delivery room.

Overeating

If a cat eats too much at once, it might temporarily have a larger belly. It's suggested to feed the cat appropriate probiotics to promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and feed the cat on a regular schedule.

II. Pathological causes

Ascites

A cat with ascites will have a significantly enlarged abdomen, along with symptoms like depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, and increased body temperature. In this case, owners should take the cat to a pet hospital for an abdominal palpation examination, which will have a significant wave-like sensation. An abdominal ultrasound examination can also be conducted, and the cat can be treated with diuretic drugs.

Pyometra

Pyometra can also cause an enlarged abdomen in cats, accompanied by symptoms like depression, anorexia, and some cats may experience polydipsia, polyuria, and vomiting. Especially in closed pyometra, which has less obvious clinical symptoms than open pyometra, it's easy to be overlooked by owners. If symptoms of pyometra are found in a cat, consult a professional pet doctor in time. In some cases, an abdominal ultrasound examination at a pet hospital is necessary for diagnosis.

Gastrointestinal obstruction

If a cat accidentally eats an object that causes gastrointestinal obstruction, it will also have a large belly, such as hair, stones, plastics, etc. Clinical symptoms mainly include vomiting, diarrhea, and poor appetite. If a cat shows these symptoms, it's recommended to take the cat to a pet hospital for X-ray examination to determine the nature of the object. If necessary, surgery may be required to remove the object.

Parasite infection

If a cat is infected with internal parasites like roundworms, it will also have a swollen belly, accompanied by increased appetite, weight loss, and stools with parasites. In this case, consult a pet doctor as soon as possible and choose a safe deworming drug for the cat.