My cat is suddenly lethargic after a food change. Should I see a vet?

It sounds as Lexy is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. it could also be due to ingestion of a foreign body material. i would recommend taking her to the vet urgently, she will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection she will need an anti vomiting injection, antibiotics and a special food for a few days in order to get better. if the vet thinks it is more serious she will need a blood test and possibly an ultrasound in order to find out what is wrong.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds that your cat had a thorough investigation at your vets. Some cats are lethargic and less playful when they have fever (I guess that was checked by your vet) or painful condition, for example muscle pain, joint pain, spinal pain and more. If his activity is not back to normal in 2-3 days I would suggest trying a short course of anti-inflammatory medications.

The Royal Canin SO food should not cause lethargy and should be safe to feed to a healthy cat. Lethargy is a somewhat vague sign - it’s possible that this is simply behavioral and not emergent but Otis could also have a fever, he may have ingested something, or it could be any number of other problems. Ultimately you know him best and you should go with your gut - if you’re worried his lethargy seems extreme or if he begins to show other signs like trouble breathing or vomiting I’d recommend making the drive to the vet.

Lethargy can be a sign of many different diseases. I am not sure of his age but he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. He could have an infection, musculoskeletal issue, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, thyroid issue, etc. Your vet can run some lab-work and take x-rays, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. He may need an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, or other medications, depending on the cause. Hope he feels better soon!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Mittens. Abnormal behavior in a cat is often the first sign of problems. If this continues, you should have him evaluated immediately. Your vet can take a history, perform an examination, and then advise a diagnostic/treatment plan. Possible causes include pain, infection, inflammation, stress/anxiety, bite/scratch wounds if he was outside, among other things. Good luck and I hope Mittens bounces back to normal soon.

While it can not be determined for sure, it would definitely seem that the food resulted in either an upset stomach, an allergic reaction, or a mixture of the two. The vomiting could have certainly irritated the lining of the throat and resulted in the some pain / discomfort. Another consequence of vomiting however that is far more serious is if an of the vomit was inhaled accidentally into the lungs. This can result in pneumonia and the various consequences of such a condition. Since his condition has persisted for a number of days now even after switching back to the old food, I would say that it is time to have him examined by a veterinarian to make sure there is nothing else going on that's requires addressing. They may want to obtain some blood work or imaging to ensure you that there are no serious problems. Hope this helps.

A sudden change in food can cause GI upset which may have led to pain or Pepper not feeling well. The stress of moving on top of that could certainly have caused the behavior you saw as well. Giving him some time to adjust to the new food (and switching it over gradually if you can) and new place may help him to relax, however if his symptoms continue or he shows signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, etc, then scheduling a vet visit is best.