My kitten stopped eating for 12 hours but is still playful. Why?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Lethargy and low energy level in such a young kitten is always a concern. This behaviour could be due to fever, pain, intestinal worms and more. Please de-worm your kittens if they have not been dewormed in the last few days. If it does not make any difference, please take him to your local vets for an appointment.

Unfortunately there are many things that could be making Misti not eat. Just like humans, pets can pick up viruses, infections in the intestines, or something they shouldn’t have. Parasites, toxin ingestion or even an obstruction are all possible. Any pet who does not eat for 24 hours needs to be examined by the veterinarian. A physical exam and thorough medical history are the only way to begin to figure out what is wrong. Have her examined by the veterinarian today. Best of luck.

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's very hard to know what is wrong based on these very general symptoms, I would expect a kitten this age to want to play all the time so you are right to be worried, my recommendation would be to have him checked by your vet ASAP

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to discomfort of some sort and that may be why he is not eating as well. I would recommend you consider going to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They can then check for these and other possibilities so that hopefully therapy can be used accordingly. Best of luck!

It sounds like Akira may be sick, and it is very serious when a cat won't eat. If they go long enough without eating (around 72 hours), they will develop a fatty liver. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so you want to avoid this. Have her seen by a vet first thing in the morning.