How to Make a Kitten Poop

Co-authored by Natalie Punt, DVM

Last Updated: September 17, 2024 Fact Checked

Young kittens (from a day to around three weeks of age) require a lots of attention and nurturing. Kittens that have been abandoned by their mothers are quite helpless and cannot fend for themselves. They can't even excrete feces or urine without their mother's encouragement. If you rescue kittens that are under three weeks old, you will need to know how to encourage a baby kitten to poop. Kittens under three weeks old need stimulation after each feeding to help them poop. Keep reading to learn how to make a kitten poop.

Part 1

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Using Massage to Make a Kitten Poop

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After your kitten has been feed, hold the kitten so that your non-dominant hand is under its belly and its rear is facing you. Your grip needs to be gentle, but firm enough so that the kitten can't escape from your hand. Make sure that you stimulate the kitten in a warm room. Young kittens can become seriously ill or even die if they get chilled.
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Spread a warm wet wash-cloth over your dominant hand. You will be using this washcloth to stimulate the kitten’s abdomen and anal region so that the kitten can poop. Mother cats give their babies a thorough tongue bath after each feeding, but a warm moistened washcloth can stand in for the mother cat’s tongue. A light-colored cloth is preferable, so that you can also see whether the kitten has urinated or not.^{[1]
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- Use a washcloth that can be designated for pet purposes only. Do not use a washcloth that you use in the kitchen or for washing your face.
- You can also use warm water moistened cotton balls or gauze to help a kitten poop.^{[2]
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Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian

Expert Interview. 19 August 2021.} Using your thumb and fingers, gently massage the kitten's anal region through the cloth. Your thumb should be doing most of the work, acting like the mother cat's tongue when she licks her kittens' bottoms to make them go.^{[4]
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Check now and then to see if the kitten has pooped or peed. If not, keep massaging the anal area. When the kitten starts to urinate, you will feel some added warmth to the hand that is massaging the kitten's bottom. Keep massaging until the flow of urine stops, then check to see if the kitten is about to poop.^{[5]
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- This process should not take more than about 60 seconds. If your kitten is not pooping or peeing after feedings, then you should contact a veterinarian.
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Adjust the washcloth on your hand so that a clean spot is over your thumb. Continue massaging and readjust the cloth as needed.^{[6]
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Research source} Move the cloth now and then so that the feces does not get the kitten dirty. If you are using cotton balls or gauze, dispose of soiled materials and continue massaging with clean ones.
- Keep in mind that it is normal for a kitten’s feces to be soft as long as they are drinking formula. Completely solid feces will not form until the kitten switches to solid food.

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Cleaning Up

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After the kitten has finished defecating, give its bottom a good wipe to make sure it is clean. Then using a dry towel or another dry washcloth, dry the kitten's bottom as much as possible. Making sure that the kitten’s bottom is clean and dry will help prevent rash or infections.^{[7]
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Place the kitten back with his/her litter-mates in the box or cage where you are keeping them/him/her. Repeat the anal massage process with each kitten you are caring for. Make sure that you use a fresh cloth for each kitten.
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Clean up your materials. If you used cotton balls or gauze, simply throw them away. If you used washcloths, wash them thoroughly afterwards. Your best option is to wash them in a washing machine on hot with detergent and bleach.
- Do NOT keep the washcloths in their dirty state for the next time you need to make a kitten poop. Reusing dirty cloths may give your kitten an infection, which could pose a serious hazard to their health.
Even though you are placing a washcloth between your hand and your kitten’s anus, that does not mean that urine and feces won’t get on your hands. Make sure that you wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water after you finish making a kitten poop.^{[8]
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Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

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What is a natural laxative for a kitten?

Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.

Natalie Punt, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

A massage may help! Dip a washcloth or paper towel in warm water and gently rub around the kitten's anus—this could get it to poop.

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What food is best for a constipated cat?

Natalie Punt, DVM
Veterinarian
Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences.

Natalie Punt, DVM

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Give your kitty plenty of liquids and water, which can help loosen things up.

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My new kitten is about three weeks old and I've had her for three days. She pees after every feed but never poops. What should I do?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

If she is feeding well and seems playful, then there's probably nothing too much to worry about. If for any reason she had skipped meals before you got her, then her digestive system might be a bit empty, and it can take two to three days for her to need to go. Keep trying to get her to go, try a firm massage over her anus with a cloth. Of course if you become concerned, then it's essential she's sees a vet.

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Tips

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian within 24 hours of getting a new kitten. It is important to have a kitten checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible to make sure it is healthy and get any vaccines or medicines that your kitten needs to get healthy.^{[9]
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Research source} The veterinarian can also answer questions that you have about caring for your new kitten, including how to encourage your kitten to poop.

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Kittens that are about 4 weeks old can be introduced to the litter box. Place your kitten in the litter box after feedings to help them understand what they are supposed to do.^{[10]
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Perform the anal area massage on your kitten after every feeding, which will be once every 2 to 3 hours, 24/7 until your kitten is around 3 weeks of age. Some kittens may squawk and complain as you do this, but don't give in to their complaints because this needs to be done.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

When introducing a small kitten to a litter box, try to catch it right as it looks like it's starting to go. Scoop it up and place it in the box, and they'll most likely use the litter box and start to understand that's where they're supposed to go.
If you have another cat in the home, it's helpful to place the kitten by your other cat(s) when they happen to be doing whatever you're trying to teach your kitten to do.

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Warnings

Do not hold on too tightly, otherwise you will crush it, causing internal injuries and even death. Gentle but firm hands are a must when handling baby kittens!!

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Do not be rough or harsh with a kitten. After all, they are babies, and need to be handled with gentleness and kindness. Any harshness or too rough a massage can break bones or worse.

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Do not hold the kitten too lightly when you perform the massage either. If you drop the kitten, you may cause serious injuries to it. Your grip needs to be firm enough so that it cannot escape, no matter how crafty the kitten gets!

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