I have a two and a half year old female Calico. she had been spayed. I notice that her belly was a bit firm but I can't really tell if anything is wrong. I touched and poked it and she didn't seem to be in pain. she is jumping around, eating food (maybe a bit more than usual but I thought maybe because it's cold outside) drinking water,etc.
Should I take her to a vet to get her stomach examined?
As a cat "owner", my usual approach is that if something concerns me enough to ask the question, then listen to my instincts and go see the vet. Because of how small their bodies are, problems can become very bad, very fast.
Hi Sachika,
I agree with Michael in that a veterinary exam can at least help to allay your concerns if no medical condition is present. I do think it's helpful to look at other things as well for signs of a problem (i.e. decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, etc.). It is easy for cats to get overweight and sometimes that contributes to a firm or distended appearing belly. But during an exam, a vet can tell if a cat is overweight or if there is abnormal abdominal distension, and they can also get a good feel of the abdomen to assess pain or abnormalities with how things feel internally. If it's hard to tell on an exam, x-rays and ultrasound are usually available to check for visible concerns in the abdomen.