My kitten has a fever after her shots. Is this normal? What to do?

It can be normal for kittens to be somewhat tired and sore after vaccination, just like human children. Some may run a low-grade fever and not eat well for the first day or so after their shots. What is NOT normal would be any of the following symptoms: repeated vomiting, pale gums, difficulty breathing, or collapse/extreme weakness - these are signs of a serious allergic reaction. This is very rare following vaccination, but if it occurs it can be life-threatening - so if you observe any of these signs, make sure to get your kitten to the vet right away. If she is just tired and sore, it should be fine to monitor her at home - she should be feeling better within the next 24-48 hours.

You can try warming the food or mixing in a teaspoon of baby food into it. This could stimulate her appetite. You can also take her temperature to check for fever. Use a rectal thermometer and sterile lube. Normal temp is between 37 C and 39 C (100 F- 102.5 F). Anything above that is considered a fever and should be addressed by your veterinarian.

I am concerned as well. While a kitten can have some lethargy after receiving vaccines and deworming treatments, it's not normal for that to last more than a day or two. If she is eating and drinking normally, then you can wait until the morning to have her seen by a vet by a health check. Should she not be eating or drinking normally, then I would have her seen by an ER vet tonight.

I typically don't recommend treating the fever specifically as fevers are a normal reaction to fight infection in the body. Like a cold in people, upper respiratory infections in cats can take several days to resolve. As long as she's eating and drinking normally, that is a good sign. If she stops eating and drinking or gets very congested and is breathing through her mouth, I would recommend taking her back to the vet. Occasionally upper respiratory infections get so severe that cats need to be hospitalized for IV fluids and syringe feeding until the symptoms improve.

That is a nirnak temperature for cats! It can go up to 102 without being considered a fever. If he is eating and drinking well then I would monitor him for any changes. He may have over done it and just need a rest. If he is not back to normal after 24 hours then I would get him checked.

Hi, apart from keeping him in a cooler area and making sure that he has plenty of water available, he should be checked over by your vet as he might need antibiotics if he has an infection. Hope Blackie gets better soon !

It is unlikely she caught something from the kitten since the kitten is asymptomatic. If Lola's normal temperature isn't usually this high, then it may be best to have her bloodwork analyzed to see if there are any clues as to why she has a fever of unknown origin. Although infectious diseases do commonly cause fevers. I hope she feels better soon.