Is my kitten sick? What are the signs of illness I should look for?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! What clinical signs was she exhibiting that indicated she was ill: vomiting, coughing, sneezing, inappetance, etc? It is not uncommon for kittens to acquire respiratory infections if they were obtained from a shelter/rescue setting and this can certainly make them feel ill. If Luna appears back to her normal self and is eating/drinking normally, no vomiting/diarrhea, or other signs are noted then I would suspect she is okay at this point. If she is still exhibiting any abnormalities of any kind I would certainly have her evaluated by her veterinarian. Based on her physical examination with the doctor, a minimum database (complete blood count, serum chemistry, +/- urinalysis, +/- FeLV/FIV test), fecal diagnostics, or radiographs may be recommended.

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.

I can understand your concerns here, especially when you feel you don’t have adequate care for your pets available in your area. Here are some symptoms to watch out for in cats, since they are known to hide disease and some extra tips for caring for Muezza. - coughing - decreased appetite - excessive vomiting (more than once a week) - increased urination or drinking - hiding more than normal - lethargy - pale gums - limping Also it is a good idea to get baseline bloodwork ran on Muezza once a year and a physical exam done twice a year to help keep her healthy. Also feeding her a high quality cat food such as Royal Canin, Hill’s Science diet, Evo or Eukanuba are some good ones to consider. Having a water fountain is also a good idea since most cats aren’t big water drinkers and this will help with their bladder and kidney health. Best wishes with your pet Muezza and I hope she lives a long healthy life. You seem like a caring pet parent and I am confident you will give Muezza the best life she can have. Take care.

Monitor Cash very closely for any other signs of illness such as vomiting, loose stool, sleeping more or not playing as much. If you see anything else that looks like an illness, have him examined. If you notice that his appetite is continuing to decline, have him examined as well. Sometimes you can see the appetite have some minor variation. When in doubt, have him examined. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

Hello, sorry to hear about Mitzi. It certainly sounds like he may be having early signs of becoming sick. In kittens we would be concerned with respiratory infections, GI infections with parasites, or viral infections. You could certainly watch him for a couple of days to see how he progresses, being that he may bounce back on his own. However, if you note any vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or sneezing then you should have Mitzi evaluated. Hope this helps and best of luck.

These symptoms indicate she may have an underlying disease process possibly gastrointestinal disease. You should have her evaluated by your veterinarian and discuss diagnostics such as bloodwork and possibly x-rays.