My 1-week-old kitten is hot and shaky. Is this normal behavior?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Animals will often feel warm on certain parts of their body but that does not indicate there is a fever. If she was so warm to have a fever she would be acting sick (lethargic, not eating, not playing, etc). I personally would not be worried about this at all. Don't give her a cold bath. At this age kittens cannot thermoregulate well and you will give her a chill which will be the opposite problem (and worse in my opinion). My best recommendation is to monitor her for any signs of illness - if you notice any then take her to the vet for a check-up. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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.

That is not normal behavior from a young kitten. Yes it sounds like she has a fever and stomach upset. Since she’s so small and sick she should have veterinary treatment soon so she doesn’t get worse. Healthy kittens are very playful and don’t vomit or sleep that much. Please take her in for treatment. They will give medication to resolve the vomiting and reduce her fever if she has one. She may need fluids to prevent dehydration and she may need to be dewormed also. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your kitten.

Twitching in his sleep is normal. Kittens dream a lot. The shaking though when he is eating is unusual. It could be an intention tremor. I recommend to record the behavior and then have him examined by the veterinarian. Make sure to show the vet the video of Spirit eating. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I am sorry to hear that about Cheese. Seizures in a kitten can be very serious, and there are several prescription medications that can be used in kittens to help prevent or decrease the severity of the seizures. The ears, paws, nose, and tails (think of extremities) will normally be cooler than the rest of the body (the core). If you take a rectal temperature, it should be between 100-102.5*F. If it is less than 100*F, than it could mean that Cheese is sick, since cats are prone to developing hypothermia with a variety of illnesses, and he should be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Drinking milk from the mom or a kitten milk replacer/formula is excellent. Once Cheese is 6 weeks old, he should start eating kitten food instead of milk to ensure that he is receiving appropriate nutrition.

If you can wake her up and the shaking stops it is not a seizure and is more likely movement associated with REM sleep. If you try to wake her up but she continues to have muscle tremors it could be a seizure or neurologic disorder and you should see your veterinarian. If you do decide to see your veterinarian a video can help them determine what might be going on.

If the fever persists longer than 12hours, she becomes weak or refuses water for longer than 4hours you should return to your vet. Do not give any human or other medications to such a young kitten but keep her in a cool, well ventilated area with easy access to fresh water and soft food. Most cases resolve uneventfully without additional treatment