Fred has stopped playing and eating as much - should I worry?

[elsie_gilmour]

Our new kitten arrived 5 days ago. He is 17 weeks old and a little underweight. He seemed to settle in really well and quickly, playing all the time, eating & drinking lots. However, yesterday he seemed to sleep most of the day and all of last night. He is much less interested in play now and is eating a lot less.

Has he just worn himself out with all the excitement of the new home? Or should we take him to the vet? I don't want to stress him out with an unnecessary trip to the vets, but I am worried.

Please help!

Luisa xx

[terrijane]

I would get him checked over at the vets, especially as he's not eating properly. At least if there's nothing wrong you will know for sure. Good luck.

[Musicalife]

Nothing to be lost by going to the vets, except a few £££. Its better to catch problems early, but he may just have overtired himself. Hope he is okay.

[candes]

This situation is a rough call. Your kitten may have been running around more, thus eating more at first. But all kittens should be checked out within 3 days of purchse anyways. So what does it hurt?

[elsie_gilmour]

Thank you for all your replies!

We took Fred to the vets and he had a temperature, so the vet gave him a couple of injections (anti-inflammatory & long-lasting antibiotic). Since then he's been full of beans and wolfing down his food! So, fingers crossed all is well, but we're keeping a really close eye on him to make sure that it's not just the steroid making him feel better temporarily.

Many thanks again for all your help!

Luisa xx

[Antonia]

I am keeping my fingers crossed for poor Fred and hope the improvement will be permanent.

It is so heart breaking to see a little one suddenly go poorly. Same happened with El Monto when we had him for about a week… lethargic, off his food, feverish. The weekend vet gave him a shot for the fever which worked initially. But the following morning the symptoms had returned and he had also developed a limp. Our regular vet gave him another shot and kept him in for observation for a few hours. After he’d perked up we took him home with a course of antibiotics.

The vet never knew what was wrong with him, but I suspect it was an adverse reaction to the vaccinations he’d received shortly before we got him. Particularly because of the limp, which often accompanies such an adverse reaction.

Good luck with Fred!

[candes]

Well, glad it all worked out. I find that if you don't take a newcomer in within 3 days, they end up there anyways. LOL... A new home, even if all goes well, is still stressful. I am surprised he was given a streoid though. They can actually be harmful in some instances. So what was the diagnosis?

[elsie_gilmour]

Six weeks on from that minor hiccup and Fred has never looked back. We never did work out exactly what it was, but since that injection Fred has 100% well. But, WOW, is he trouble! I've had ragdolls up until now and didn't properly prepare myself for the difference in the breed - Fred is into EVERYTHING. He even climbs the shower curtain, so it's no longer as watertight as it once was! LOL

Thank you all for your support and advice, it was all much appreciated during a worrying time!

Luisa xx

[joy-1]

So pleased to hear that Fred has made a full recovery!

I've also got a new kitten (and about to get a second) and had forgotten what rascals they are! Laugh, have fun & enjoy your little bundle of mischief! xx

[elsie_gilmour]

Absolutely! I can't get annoyed even for a second, because he is the sweetest little boy ever and I love him to pieces!