Why is my 3-month-old kitten lethargic, not moving, but still purring?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lethargy can be caused by a lot of things including an infection, inflammation, among other possibilities. This could also be normal in a kitten as they are not always very active at that age. If you think she is sick it would be best to have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Have a good night!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mint! Yes, it is possible that Mint is sick. She could have a fever. Causes for lethargic kittens are: fever from viral infections which can be GI or upper respiratory. There are more serious viral infections like panleukopenia, feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis. She could be nauseous from eating something she shouldn't have or from worms or she ate something that is stuck. I recommend you have your Vet examine her if she doesn't start to perk up. I wouldn't wait more than 36-48 hours. I hope this helps and I wish Mint a speedy recovery!

Lethargy can be concerning and indicate a medical problem, but it's encouraging to know that he is eating and eliminating well. Sudden lethargy is not too concerning in a kitten unless you are noticing other signs of illness, heavy breathing, or pale gums. Kittens can normally appear very lethargic at certain times of the day. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. If it's less than two hours, then I wouldn't worry. If it's longer than four hours then I would be more concerned. If it's been all day, then this would be a strong indicator that something is wrong. I would have to examine butterscotch to tell if this is an emergency. I would definitely recommend an emergency visit he is breathing heavily, or has pale gums. Otherwise, he's likely OK to wait the night and go to the vet in the morning if he's still lethargic. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Butterscotch.

It sounds like he is getting sick. Without additional clinical signs it is hard to say exactly what is causing his lethargy and decreased appetite but he could be starting with a respiratory virus or a gastrointestinal virus. He could also have parasites that need to be treated. If it continues than he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. Your vet can run lab work to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. If he is unvaccinated, please discuss a vaccine plan with your vet once he has recovered from this illness.

Absolutely. If she is ordinarily playful, normal kitten behavior, her lethargy may be a sign of illness or injury. Your vet will do an exam, probably labwork, possibly x-rays if indicated, and based on these results will be better able tot ell you what is wrong and how best to treat it.

Sometimes cats will purr excessively when they are having trouble breathing. Purring can also occasionally be a sign of pain. If you feel Stubbs might be having difficulty breathing you should see a vet right away. Otherwise I think you could monitor him for another day or so but if he still seems lethargic and not himself you should have your vet examine him.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be normal as young kittens can sleep a lot. If he is otherwise doing well, he is likely fine and this is not anything important. However, if he develops any other symptoms such as lethargy, inappetence, vomiting or diarrhea, have him evaluated by a veterinarian. Best of luck!