Why Is My Kitten Suddenly Lethargic

Why Your Cat Wont Eat

Illness. Loss of appetite is one of the key indicators that something is wrong. So be sure to pay attention if your cat suddenly stops eating. A number of different conditions may be responsible, including infections, kidney failure, pancreatitis, intestinal problems, and cancer. But it isnt always serious something as simple as a toothache can make your cat stop eating.

Recent vaccination. Did you notice your cats loss of appetite shortly after you took it to the vet for routine vaccinations? If so, the reason your cat wont eat may be an adverse reaction to the shots. Although vaccines have been lifesavers for millions of animals, they do cause side effects in some. Loss of appetite is among the more common of these side effects, which are usually temporary and mild.

Travel and unfamiliar surroundings. Like many people, many cats are creatures of habit. So a change in routine can result in a loss of appetite. Additionally, some animals experience motion sickness when traveling by car or plane, which can lead to nausea and a refusal to eat.

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The Complete Guide To Raising A Kitten: Part 4 Whats Normal And What To Look Out For Health Wise

So youve dealt with your cheeky kittens behaviour, but something still doesnt seem quite right. Should you be worried that your cat is vomiting? Is it a red flag if they seem more tired than usual?

Never fear we can help you understand whats totally normal for kitten health and what might need further investigation.

Why Is My Cat Wobbly All Of A Sudden

Peripheral vestibular disease directly affects the nerves and brain and is usually caused by some sort of infection, drug reaction, or tissue growths within the ear canal itself. Most cases of sudden kitty imbalance are chalked up to idiopathic vestibular disease , for which no determined cause exists.

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Why Does My Cat Walk Like Drunk

The good news: most cases resolve quickly, with cats recovering from this disease without medication. There is no known prevention for idiopathic vestibular disease. Call your veterinarian immediately if your cat seems dizzy or drunkvestibular disease can happen quickly and can be scary, for both you and your pet!

Is It Normal For A Cat To Be Lethargic

Technically, lethargy in cats is never normal, but it is sometimes expected. For example, cats that have just been vaccinated are often lethargic. This happens because the immune response generated by a vaccine can make cats feel tired, achy, and generally unwell.

Many illnesses will also make a cat lethargic, so its quite likely that a sick or recently vaccinated cat will be lethargic.

In comparison, healthy kittens are never lethargic. They tend to be either fully onrunning around like maniacsor fully offresting up for another round. Contact your veterinarian if you have a lethargic kitten.

As cats age, they often spend more time quietly observing the world around them , but this isnt lethargy its growing up. Senior cats may slow down a bit more, but extreme or sudden changes are usually a sign of a health problem.

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What Changes Would I See In Overall Appearance

Cats that are not feeling well may just look a little off. The cat might sit in a hunched position, might not move as gracefully as before, might not lift its head properly, might have a head tilt, or might carry its tail in a different way than normal. Sometimes there is not any one thing that stands out, but instead a variety of subtle changes.

Dehydration is a common problem in cats that are not well. To see if your cat is dehydrated, gently grasp her skin near her shoulder blades, pull it up and away from her body, then let go. The skin should snap back into place right away skin that does not snap back into place, but stays tented up usually indicates dehydration, a condition that needs to be treated right away.

Cats that have some sort of chronic illness may develop slow and subtle weight loss that is only obvious when you actually run your hands along the ribs and spine. Cats that suddenly lose weight, particularly if they were previously overweight, are usually suffering from some sort of metabolic disease such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism.

Does He Have Diarrhea Or Constipation

Diarrhea can result from nervousness, a change in diet or water, food sensitivities, intestinal parasites, infections, poisoning or many illnesses. Watery diarrhea, diarrhea with blood, or diarrhea accompanied by vomiting or other signs of illness warrants a call to the veterinarian. Cats commonly become constipated. They may strain to defecate cry or meow in the litterbox pass only small, hard feces or pass small amounts of watery feces. Examine your cats litterbox to make sure hes defecating as he should be.

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Lethargic Dogs With Other Symptoms

If your dog is lethargic, they may also have other symptoms. Here are some common symptoms you might see alongside lethargy and what these combinations mean.

Lethargic and Shaking

If your dog is lethargic and shaking, it is most commonly a sign of pain. You may not know where the pain is, but its a sign that your dog is in distress and is not feeling well. Sometimes the dog isnt sure what is going on either and is trying to move as little as possible so they dont hurt as much.

It could be spinal pain caused by an inflamed disc or another neurologic issue. Soft tissue injury or gastrointestinal pain often cause lethargy and shaking as well. These symptoms can also be signs of a fever.

Lethargic and Not Eating

This is also a nonspecific symptom, but not eating combined with lethargy means that the dog is bothered so much by their medical issue that they dont want to eat and dont have energy to be themselves. This should not be ignored for more than 24 hours.

Lethargic With Labored Breathing

Labored breathing is often a very serious symptom that needs to be recognized early. There is a difference between panting and labored breathing. With labored breathing, you will see your dog moving their belly muscles up and down rapidly and with force.

Labored breathing can be caused by several conditions that all need to be treated as soon as possible by a veterinarian:

• Heart failure

• Fluid in the lungs or abdomen

• Laryngeal paralysis

• Severe pain

• Airway blockages

More Home Care Tips For A Sick Kitten

Caring for a sick kitten can be a real challenge. They may need your attention and love for many things if the kitten is very young, they may or may not be able to regulate their temperature or even simulate their own bowel movements. Here are some tips for caring for a sick kitten depending on its age:

The Newborn Patient : Newborns are the most challenging patients to care for. Unable to fend for themselves, these kittens require feeding, bowel stimulation, and a controlled warm environment. If you are caring for a sick newborn kitten, be prepared with milk replacements, cotton balls, lots of towels, and a safe and reliable heat source. Kittens have a tendency to seek heat and will crawl towards or away from the heat source when necessary. Place a clean blanket or pad down on the floor for bedding. Many kittens of this age can be comfortable in a medium sized cardboard box with a towel on the bottom. A heating pad under part of their confined area is a reasonable option. After every feeding, very young kittens should be stimulated to encourage urination and defecation. You can do this by taking a warm, wet cotton ball and cleaning their genital area. This stimulation will often lead to urination and/or a bowel movement. If possible, ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the proper way to perform these actions during a visit.

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Why It’s A Problem If Your Cat Stops Eating

If your cat isn’t feeling well, it may stop eating because there’s something stuck in its stomach or intestines. Or, your cat might not like the food you’re offering. Your cat’s lack of eating can also be a symptom of a disease or problem that’s causing pain or discomfort. Regardless of the reason, it’s a major concern if your cat stops eating.

If you have an obese cat that’s stopped eating, it can quickly develop hepatic lipidosis by going without food for a few days. This disease is often referred to as fatty liver disease or fatty liver syndrome and it can be fatal if left untreated. This is the main reason why it’s so important to make sure your cat, especially if it’s overweight, keeps eating. With fatty liver disease, the liver is overwhelmed trying to convert fat to energy. The excess fat that’s stored around your cat’s liver exacerbates the situation. The liver is a critical organ and if it’s not working effectively, your cat can suffer without immediate treatment from your veterinarian.

Cat Sneezing With Other Symptoms

Cat sneezing in conjunction with other signs is common but doesnt always help us narrow down the cause.

Cat sneezing along with wheezing can suggest concurrent lower respiratory disease.

If a cat is coughing and sneezing, it typically means that its primarily an upper respiratory process with postnasal drip irritating the throat.

If you see nasal discharge, especially with blood or pus-colored mucus, make a note or take a picture before cleaning your cats face, as this can help narrow down the causes. Be sure to clean your cats face, as it causes discomfort for your cat.

Chronic nosebleeds raise the concern for cancer, especially in older cats, but this association is not definitive.

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Why Is My Cat Leaning And Falling Over

A loss of balance commonly occurs when a cat is suffering from vestibular disease. Your cat may experience issues with standing on all four legs, and you may even notice your cat leaning or falling over at times, which can be a frightening sight. A loss of balance commonly occurs when a cat is suffering from vestibular disease.

Can A Cat Be Temporarily Paralyzed

Paralysis in your cat, even if temporary or partial, is always an indication of an underlying condition or injury. You should seek immediate veterinary care if your cat displays symptoms of paralysis as this condition may lead to death or serious, permanent injury if not treated promptly by a professional.

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Keeping Up With Your Kitty Care

Once your cat is properly diagnosed and a treatment plan is developed, it is important to follow through with all recommendations. If your kitty is prescribed medication and seems better after a few doses, keep giving her the medicine until the course is complete, and keep your follow-up appointment with the vet.

If your cat had fleas, be sure to deep-clean your house and vacuum the carpets well. Flea eggs can live in dark corners of your home for months. Since cats clean themselves and can ingest flea eggs it’s important to discuss with your vet the best methods for flea control and prevention in your individual household. Homes with several pets or a lot of carpet may require different flea control methods.

If your cat is having frequent digestive issues, she may be allergic or sensitive to something in your home or her cat food. While you’re in sick kitten care mode, try to keep her on one kind of vet-approved food, and also make sure other people in your home aren’t sneaking your cat tasty treats.

Reasons Why Your Cat Is Not Eating

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It’s common for a cat to suddenly decide it doesn’t want to eat a certain food or treat anymore. But sometimes a cat stops eating for a more serious reason. You should be aware of the potential causes and concerns for a cat’s food aversion. There may be things you can do at home to help your cat regain its appetite, but sometimes veterinary intervention is necessary.

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Why Is My Cat So Lethargic All Of A Sudden

If the feline does suffer from a fever, it has become more lethargic, probably caused by an infection in the body. It can often take many days for an afflicted cat to regain health after being lethargic or sedated. A cat that is older might experience body changes because of old age, and arthritis and/or joint problems make aging an increasingly rare event.

What Is Considered Lethargic In Cats

An overweight or highly distracted person who is immobile and unresponsive is called a lethargyer. Pet owners tell us that lethargy is one of the most common complaints when their cat becomes ill. Alternatively, cats show signs of lethargy when: theyre less interested in playing, hiding or shying away from human contact, they have fewer food and the grooming theyre doing is inadequate.

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Is My Cat Sick Or Just Tired

As a rule of thumb, ill cats will usually show changes in their appearance, energy, sense of smell, behavior, or their disposition if they are ill as well as shedding, appetite, litterbox usage, coughing, or being flushed by a waste product. Cats can easily be startled by sudden changes, so call the vet as soon as possible.

Why Does My Cat Have A Lot Of Eye Discharge

Watery eyes or other eye discharge can be a sign that your cat has an eye infection. Respiratory infections and eye infections can cause a cat to be lethargic and not eating with eye discharge. Sometimes, these infections go away on their own, and sometimes, they need medical attention.

Watery eyes or other eye discharge can be a sign that your cat has an eye infection. Respiratory infections and eye infections can cause a cat to be lethargic and not eating with eye discharge. Sometimes, these infections go away on their own, and sometimes, they need medical attention.

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What Changes In Sociability Or Energy Level Would Indicate That My Cat Might Be Sick

Sick cats usually become withdrawn and may hide, although this does depend on the personality of the individual cat. Some cats become more clingy or demanding of attention, while others just become cranky.

As a general rule, cats that are sick will have lower energy levels. The only thing you may notice is that your cat sleeps more, does not play as much, or is restless. With some diseases, especially hyperthyroidism, your cats energy level may actually seem to increase to the point of hyperactivity. Cats with hyperthyroidism often are restless at night and may suddenly begin howling or waking family members up.

“As a general rule, cats that are sick will have lower energy levels.”

Cats with arthritis or other joint problems may have difficulty moving around and may no longer jump up on furniture or counters, or may change the way they jump onto higher surfaces. If your cat suddenly is unable to use its back legs, she should be seen by your veterinarian immediately.

What Does It Mean When A Cats Back Legs Are Weak

The most common cause of rear limb paralysis in cats is a blood clot that goes to the back leg, called a saddle thrombus or arterial thromboembolism . This clot blocks blood flow to the affected limb. A clot in the back leg suddenly causes the cat to be unable to put full weight on the affected leg.

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Why Is My Cat Suddenly Lethargic And Weak

If you have noticed your cat is acting lethargic all of a sudden and potentially shows some of the accompanying symptoms above, something likely is wrong with them. However, you must know precisely what is wrong with your cat so that you can help them get better.

Lethargy is a symptom of a huge range of medical conditions some are minor and need little to no help from you, whereas others are serious and potentially life-threatening.

As such, I have split this section into three: common minor problems common serious conditions and rarer serious conditions.

How Do You Fix A Lethargic Cat

Observe your cat closely for other signs of illness..Allow your cat to rest quietly without being disturbed by people or other pets..Offer your cat some extra tasty or strong smelling canned foods , to entice him/her to eat more.

Because cats naturally sleep a large percentage of their day, especially older cats, you may not be immediately aware of lethargy indicating that something may be medically wrong with your cat. Lethargy is an indication of your cat not feeling well and could relate to a relatively minor medical condition or could be a sign of a more serious illness. Careful investigation by your veterinarian will be required to narrow down the cause.

Symptoms of lethargy in cats are abnormal sleepiness, low energy, and lack of response to surroundings. Lethargy is not a condition or disease in itself, but can be a sign that something is wrong with your cat.

Plan ahead for routine pet care costs Weight gain Weight loss Diarrhea Fever Vomiting Thirst/increase in urination Jaundice Difficulty breathing Pain or discomfort Dull hair coat/loss of hair Behavioral changes, e.g. aggression Being overfed, leading to obesity Being under exercised, leading to boredom and apathy Parasitic infection Stress Depression/too little stimulation Medication side effects Arthritis in older cats Hairballs Obesity Infection with a minor common virus such as cat flu

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