Why Is My Senior Cat’s Belly Swollen and Hard?

Why Does My Cat’s Belly Look Bloated?

“I got my sweet Kitty from my nephew about 6 years ago..He was a very bad pet parent and didn’t take care of her—never even had her spayed. She is 13 years old but healthy for her age. She eats and drinks, sleeps well with me, and is at her normal level of activity during the day. Litter box usage is fine.

She really has no symptoms other than a hard, distended belly. No vaginal discharge. No pain, not even when picked up. I really can’t tell you any other symptoms other than the hard, swollen belly, and she is NOT pregnant. I have volunteered in pet rescue, so I know a bit, but this puzzles me.

I know she needs to see her vet, I know. And as soon as I have the money, she will go, but I just would like to see what you think as she is very much loved. Thanks for your time! Kitty thanks you too.”—Kara

Causes of Abdominal Swelling in Cats

There are several things that can cause a swollen abdomen in a cat but since your new kitty is a senior we need to think of these things first:

• Ascites: This is fluid on the abdomen. It most commonly happens with organ failure and heart disease, but other causes, like an infection, can also cause fluids in the abdomen. Even though it is fluid, it is not soft like fat. If the hard swollen abdomen is from heart disease, it can be difficult to treat, but since you mentioned what she went through before, it may be just related to her diet, as taurine-deficient cats also develop heart disease and ascites but will recover. (1) Chronic kidney disease is not going to be cured but there are lots of things you can do to make sure your cat lives a long and relatively normal life.
• Megacolon: The next thing I would be worried about with a senior cat with a hard, swollen belly is chronic constipation and megacolon. This is often seen in kidney disease because of chronic dehydration but can also be caused by an intestinal disease, a pelvis fracture that did not heal up properly, or a growth that blocks the intestine. Your veterinarian will be able to tell that this is the problem during the exam but may need to do x-rays of her abdomen to determine how bad this is before deciding on the most appropriate treatment.
• Cancer: This is another possibility in a cat her age but I would be concerned about her kidneys first. If your veterinarian finds fluid during the exam (ascites) they may want to look at it under the microscope to see if it contains cancer cells.

There is no way I can rule out Feline Infectious Peritonitis, just being fat, or even pregnancy based on the photo alone. Since you have experience working with cats and your cat is a senior, however, I would suspect one of the three things I listed above.

I am glad to hear that she is still eating, but I would want to check her kidney function and do a blood panel to check her other internal organs since she looks so thin in that photo.

Please get her checked out as soon as possible. A swollen abdomen is not usually an emergency (a ruptured bladder after being hit by a car is an exception) but is a sign that a cat is suffering and it needs to be taken care of soon.

Sources

1. Kittleson MD, Côté E. The Feline Cardiomyopathies: 3. Cardiomyopathies other than HCM. J Feline Med Surg. 2021 Nov;23(11):1053-1067. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8723175/

This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2024 Mark dos Anjos, DVM