My 11-week kitten is sleepy and not playing. Is this normal?

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!

Lethargy is a non specific sign and can be related to a variety of health problems. Given his young age could be quite concerning but at the same time he is eating fine and the body temperature is normal. Sometimes they can feel under the weather for a little trauma, because they feel pain somewhere, for a gastrointestinal problem (check for any vomiting or diarrhea). I would monitor Bruno for the next few hours but if he is not improving or any other symptom appears, I would suggest to bring him to the vet for an health check. Good luck! Do not hesitate to post again on the forum or request a consultation if you would like to discuss it any further.

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.

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!

Usually kittens are rather playful at this age, but occasionally some are not very playful. It's good to check that she's not unhealthy though, because this can cause a decrease in activity. Check her gums - see if they are pink or white. If they are white, then he may have anemia. Check the belly - see if it's tucked in or is it round and distended. If it's round and distended, then he may have worms or other intestinal diseases. Most kittens get worms from their mothers, so if he has never had deworming medication, then it would be good to do this. Make sure he is eating and drinking well. Also make sure he doesn't have diarrhea or vomiting. These things can indicate that there is a disease causing him to be less active. The best thing you can do is have a veterinarian take a look at him. They will be able to tell if there is something wrong with him. I hope this helps.

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.

Sleeping more than normal for more than one day is not normal. Sometimes a cat may sleep more after a busy night out. However if this lasts through the weekend or if your cat stops eating or appears lethargic, you should take her to your vet on Monday for an exam and possibly a blood test.