Swollen tummy in cats

By
✔ MRCVS
LMV
MSc
Updated October 16, 2025
4 min read

What to do

Causes

When to worry

Prevention

Diagnosis

Home treatment

Vet treatment

Risk

Other causes of swollen tummy in cats

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Swollen tummy in cats

By
✔ MRCVS
LMV
MSc
Updated October 16, 2025
4 min read

Cats can have a swollen tummy due to many different illnesses. Free fluid accumulation is the most common reason for the swelling.

Cats can have different types of fluid inside their tummy, or abdomen. The type of fluid depends on the cause and determines treatment. Feline infectious peritonitis is a common illness in outdoor, multi-cat households. It causes fluid build-up in the tummy and can be fatal if untreated.

What to do if your cat has a swollen tummy

Common causes of a swollen tummy in cats

When to worry about a swollen tummy in cats

Tips to prevent your cat from having a swollen tummy

How a vet will know what’s causing your cat’s swollen tummy

Home treatment for swollen tummy in cats

How the vet will treat your cat with a swollen tummy

Are some cats more at risk of a swollen tummy than others?

Other causes of swollen tummy in cats

  • Eating something they shouldn’t.

  • Heart disease

  • Obstructions caused by foreign bodies

  • Megacolon

  • Pyometra

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