My new kitten isn't eating or peeing and is lethargic. Should I worry?

Congrats on your new kitten, but I'm sorry Eloise isn't doing well. Yes, I would be very concerned that she isn't eating. When cats do not eat going on 72 hours, they develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so anorexia in cats is considered serious. While bringing home a new cat is stressful for the existing cat, it typically does not cause severe lethargy and anorexia. I would be concerned that Eloise is sick, and I would take her into a vet today for a health check. I hope this helps!

No, this is not normal. Not eating is very abnormal in young kittens. Most common reasons for the behavior you described is viral disease and internal parasites. Other options are trauma (like he fell and hurt himself) and intestinal obstruction. Milo really needs to be assessed by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Kittens can sleep a lot, but if she is very listless I would be worried that she is ill and should be seen by a veterinarian right away. Starvation and dehydration can very quickly cause a kitten to go downhill which could be why she is so lethargic and requires medical care. She may also be younger than you suspect and still need additional care. Your vet can also help determine her age, and you can use this guide if she is young for rearing orphaned kittens: https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/

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.

If she isn't eating and is lethargic then yes I would recommend to take her earlier. Also make sure she is urinating everyday so that you know she isn't blocked and unable to urinate. I hope she starts to feel better soon!

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.

It may take your new kitten time to get used to her new surroundings. Try keeping her in a smaller area, like a bathroom, with her littler box and food/water. Being in closer proximity to them may encourage her to eat and use the box. You may also want to try offering her canned kitten food, as opposed to kibble. This may encourage her to eat more. When she does eventually defecate, if it is outside of the box, place the stool inside the box to help her learn where to go. If these tips are not working and your kitten is still refusing to eat or drink, you may want to consider taking her in to the vet to be checked out. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.