Kitten sore and withdrawn after vaccine and dewormer. Is it normal?

It can be normal for kittens to be somewhat tired and sore after vaccination, just like human children. Some may run a low-grade fever and not eat well for the first day or so after their shots. What is NOT normal would be any of the following symptoms: repeated vomiting, pale gums, difficulty breathing, or collapse/extreme weakness - these are signs of a serious allergic reaction. This is very rare following vaccination, but if it occurs it can be life-threatening - so if you observe any of these signs, make sure to get your kitten to the vet right away. If she is just tired and sore, it should be fine to monitor her at home - she should be feeling better within the next 24-48 hours.

I am concerned as well. While a kitten can have some lethargy after receiving vaccines and deworming treatments, it's not normal for that to last more than a day or two. If she is eating and drinking normally, then you can wait until the morning to have her seen by a vet by a health check. Should she not be eating or drinking normally, then I would have her seen by an ER vet tonight.

This can be normal! You can see some vomiting after getting vaccines and given that Faelan only vomited once, I would not be too worried. Plus he sounds like he is otherwise acting normally. I would keep an eye on him and if you see protracted vomiting, diarrhea, signs of an allergic reaction (facial swelling, difficulty breathing, then I would be worried and rush him into an ER vet immediately. I hope this helps!

He needs to be seen by a veterinarian for a wellness exam. He may not be able to poop and may be constipated, or he had so many worms that all the dead worms are making him ill. Keep him warm, entice him to drink water, and should he deteriorate he needs to be seen at a petER tonight.

I'm so sorry that Noushmc isn't feeling well. Pain at the injection site and mild lethargy are very common with vaccinations and considered normal since the vaccination is stimulating the immune system. It usually lasts 1-2 days and will resolve on its own. If Nouschmc is not eating, is vomiting or it lasts more than 2 days, I would contact your veterinarian. Good luck! I hope she feels better soon and that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is possible that the worms were the reason why he wasn't eating, and the deworming treatment itself can make him feel nauseous and unwell. It's the result of the dead worms moving through his GI system. I would recommend offering him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts to try to tempt him to eat. You can also soak his dry food in tuna juice, or offer him gently warmed really smelly wet food, such as sardine or fish based. If he still isn't eating in the morning, I would have him seen by the vet again. It will take at least two deworming treatments to kill all the worms.

Your cat is most likely reacting to the "trauma" of going to the veterinarian, rather than the vaccinations. This is not an uncommon reaction for some cats. She may be shy or skittish around you for a day or two post-vet trip but should start to calm down if you leave her alone and give her space to recover on her own. (Some cats do take a little longer.) As long as she is still eating, drinking, and using the litter box appropriately (both urine and feces), then she should be fine in time. However, if she stops eating or drinking or using the litter box, you need to contact your veterinarian.