My kitten is lethargic, sleeping more, staring. Is it an emergency?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Cas. Yes, I do recommend seeking care for him this weekend if there is an emergency veterinarian nearby. Squinting typically means the eye is painful as does the lethargy. From your pictures, the underside of the eyelid appears swollen and his third eyelid is elevated. He could have an eye infection. It can happen alone or be part of an upper respiratory tract infection. He may start with other symptoms such as sneezing and a decreased appetite. Another possibility is a corneal ulcer or scratch across the surface of the eye. This is very painful. The doctor will examine him and may recommend a test to look for an ulcer. Based o these results, treatment will be started. I hope this information helps!

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.

This is not normal kitten behavior and i recommend an emergency vet check to distinguish the source of his weakness and to start appropriate treatment. The signs are too vague to guess without a full physical exam

Cats can sleep a lot when they are not feeling well. I'd keep an eye on Batman for now. If he's still this lethargic in the morning, isn't eating or drinking, or is vomiting, take him back into the vet right away. Best of luck.

If this has been going on for more than a few days it might be better to see an emergency veterinarian today, however if the symptoms are more recent you may be able to wait. If Greta's gums seem pale or she is having trouble breathing, or if she has a history of other medical problems it would also be better to have her seen today. Otherwise I think you can probably wait until tomorrow. Ultimately these symptoms are somewhat vague and can be a sign of a number of problems so you should go with your gut.

That’s hard to say what’s going on with Blaze since he can’t talk and tell you how he feels. The fact that he growled at you could be significant for pain, exposure to drugs or extreme stress or anxiety. It does seem odd that he is just laying there with his eyes open. When pets behave abnormal, I always recommend to have them seen by the veterinarian to make sure that they are not in pain. I recommend to have Blaze seen by the veterinarian tonight ideally. The doctor will check his back, hips and bladder for any signs of pain. The doctor will also check his neurological reflexes for any abnormalities that could be related to drug exposure. The doctor may also recommend bloodwork to check his internal organs and make sure his kidneys are fine. I hope that it’s nothing serious and that he gets back to his regular self quickly. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Alvin - it sounds like he is not doing well, especially if he is lethargic and moving very little. These signs are very nonspecific and can be caused by a number of things, from an injury to a serious infection. I recommend having him seen by a vet right away. It is likely best to have him seen in an emergency clinic, most towns/cities have at least one that is open 24 hours/day. I hope all is well!