Why is my kitten farting a lot?
A kitten farting occasionally is nothing to worry about — it happens to most kittens now and then, the same as it does to most animals. Frequent, smelly, or persistent flatulence is different, and is usually a sign that something about their diet, how quickly they eat, or their digestive system needs a closer look.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The most common causes
A recent food change is one of the most frequent culprits, since a kitten's digestive system can take a few days to adjust to a new diet, particularly if the switch happened suddenly rather than gradually. Eating too quickly is another common cause, since gulping food down means swallowing more air along with it, which has to come out somewhere.
Kittens with intestinal worms can also show excess wind alongside other signs such as a pot-bellied appearance, poor weight gain, or visible worms or eggs. Most kittens are wormed as part of routine care, but if yours has missed a dose or you are unsure of their worming history, that is worth raising with your vet.
What else is worth noticing
Look at whether the wind comes with anything else — loose stools, vomiting, a bloated or tender-looking tummy, reduced appetite, or a kitten who seems generally quieter than usual. Flatulence on its own, in a kitten who is otherwise bright, playful and eating well, is a much less concerning picture than the same symptom alongside any of those.
Diet is worth thinking about too. Table scraps, an overly rich treat, or milk given to a kitten — most cats are lactose intolerant to some degree — can all cause temporary wind and loose stools without being a sign of a bigger problem.
What can help
If your kitten bolts their food, a slow feeder designed for kittens can make a genuine difference by forcing them to eat more slowly, which reduces the amount of air swallowed along with the food. This is one of the more reliable practical changes to try before assuming something more serious is going on.
If you have recently changed your kitten's food, introducing any new diet gradually over a week or so, mixed increasingly with the old food, tends to cause far less digestive upset than switching overnight. Consistency in what and when they eat also helps a young digestive system settle.
When to see a vet
Book a vet appointment if the wind is frequent and does not settle after a week or two, comes with diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss, or a swollen tummy, or if your kitten seems generally unwell. Kittens can deteriorate faster than adult cats if something like worms or an infection goes unaddressed, so it is better to have it checked sooner rather than later.
A vet can check for worms, review your kitten's diet and feeding routine, and rule out other causes that are not always obvious from the outside. This page describes common causes in general terms; it cannot tell you what is going on with your own kitten.
Settling a kitten's diet for good
Once your vet has ruled out worms or anything else needing treatment, the most useful long-term step is usually settling on one good-quality complete kitten food and sticking with it, rather than switching brands or flavours often. A kitten's digestive system copes far better with consistency than with regular change, and a lot of ongoing wind and loose stools in an otherwise healthy kitten traces back to frequent diet switching.
Feeding set meals at regular times, rather than leaving food out to graze on all day, also makes it easier to notice a change in appetite or stools early, and gives a young digestive system a more predictable rhythm to work with.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
Tarhong Concentric Circle Slow Feeder Bowl for Dogs & Cats
A stylish slow-feeder bowl that encourages healthier, calmer mealtimes — available in blue, grey, or white.
£14.99
LickiMat Classics Food Enrichment Lick Mat for Cats & Dogs
Rubber lick mats that slow feeding, encourage calm, and keep cats and dogs happily entertained — freezer and microwave safe.
£10.99
Rolling Drum Food-Dispensing Cat Feeder
An interactive feeder topped with a clear rotating drum. Your cat bats the drum to tumble kibble out through the holes, turning mealtimes into a game that slows fast eaters and beats boredom.
£69.99
Common questions
- Is it normal for kittens to fart?
- Occasional wind is normal and happens to most kittens from time to time. Frequent, smelly or persistent flatulence is different and is usually a sign that diet, eating speed, or worms need a closer look rather than something to ignore.
- Can a change of food cause a kitten to fart more?
- Yes, a kitten's digestive system can take several days to adjust to a new food, particularly if the switch was sudden. Introducing any new diet gradually over a week or so, mixed increasingly with the previous food, usually causes far less wind and upset.
- Could worms be causing my kitten's wind?
- It is possible, especially if your kitten's worming history is unclear or they show other signs such as a pot-bellied appearance or poor weight gain. Speak to your vet about your kitten's worming schedule if you are unsure whether they are up to date.
- Does eating too fast cause wind in kittens?
- Yes, gulping food quickly means swallowing more air along with it, which commonly comes back out as wind. A slow feeder designed for kittens can help by making meals take longer and reducing how much air is swallowed.
- When should I take my kitten to the vet for wind?
- See a vet if the flatulence is frequent and persists beyond a week or two, or comes with diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss, or a kitten who seems generally unwell. Those signs together point to something a food change alone is unlikely to fix.
- Can milk cause wind in kittens?
- Yes, most cats are lactose intolerant to some degree, and cow's milk given to a kitten commonly causes wind, loose stools or an upset tummy. Water is all a weaned kitten needs to drink, and any milk-based treat should be one specifically formulated for cats rather than ordinary cow's milk.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.