My 2-month-old kitten is sleeping all day and not playing. Is he sick?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Thor. No, unfortunately this is not normal kitten behavior. Kittens should be very playful. It is worth having him examined to ensure that he is healthy. If so, his vaccines can be updated. If he is sick, then appropriate treatment will be started. Monitor him closely for sneezing or any vomiting and/or diarrhea. I hope this information helps!

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!

I am worried that Cube might be sick. Kittens normally are quite playful, so a kitten who just eats and sleeps without periods of high energy play and curiosity is not normal. Please take him to the vet for an exam. The vet will probably recommend some blood tests, and may also recommend a stool sample. It could be that he was born with some sort of internal defect such as a heart malformation that makes him not able to have periods of sustained play. Please have him seen by a vet ASAP. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If Ludo was active all day, and is eating and drinking, then likely he's sleeping because he's simply tired from the full day. I would not worry about the temperature or wetness of his nose; it is not used as a sign if illness in pets because it can change to warm and dry simply by the animal sitting in the sun or near a heat source. I would monitor him for now, let him rest from his busy day, and if he continues to be lethargic for another 24-48 hours, then I would bring him into the vet for a health check.

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.

For sure - this is definitely not normal behavior; as you have said before Cutie is normally playful and active. Unfortunately lethargy is a very general sign of many diseases, and it's unlikely that we will determine the cause of her signs or what to do about this here. I would definitely say that you should be worried, as this has been going on for a few days. Cutie needs to be seen by your vet for an examination and likely some testing, including blood work and possibly x-rays, depending on what other symptoms there are (fever, pain, for example) and the results of the physical exam.

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.