Hannah Shaw, known as the Kitten Lady, is a kitten rescuer who shares foster kitten photos and videos. She says viewers often worry that round kitten bellies mean worms or another health problem, even when a kitten is healthy.
In a video tour of her foster kittens' tummies, Shaw says a soft, rounded belly can be normal in a healthy, well-fed kitten. Young kittens have less-developed abdominal muscles, she explains. She compares healthy bellies to avocados and eggplants. A belly that resembles an overfilled water balloon is something she would rather investigate.
Shaw points to Ranger Russet as an example of a healthy kitten. She says his tummy is soft and squishy rather than tight. His sister, shown with a similar avocado-shaped belly, has been fecal tested and does not have intestinal parasites, according to Shaw.
Other kittens in the video had firmer, more distended bellies. Shaw says Kookaburra had undergone fecal testing that revealed coccidia, an intestinal parasite, and that he was receiving treatment. Ostrich was dealing with the same parasite, she says. Miriam's abdomen feels somewhat softer than the others, but