My 4-week-old kitten is lethargic after eating gruel. Is this normal?

Question

4 week old kitten is suddenly lethargic. Eating, peeing, pooping totally fine. Temperature is good and they don't seem to be dehydrated. The only thing that's changed is we've started them on gruel last night. We've put them on a heating pad and they're sleeping now. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 10 days old | 0.6 lbs

Kevin Sanada, DVM · Accepted Answer

Lethargy can be concerning and indicate a medical problem, but it's encouraging to know that he is eating and eliminating well. Sudden lethargy is not too concerning in a kitten unless you are noticing other signs of illness, heavy breathing, or pale gums. Kittens can normally appear very lethargic at certain times of the day. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. If it's less than two hours, then I wouldn't worry. If it's longer than four hours then I would be more concerned. If it's been all day, then this would be a strong indicator that something is wrong. I would have to examine butterscotch to tell if this is an emergency. I would definitely recommend an emergency visit he is breathing heavily, or has pale gums. Otherwise, he's likely OK to wait the night and go to the vet in the morning if he's still lethargic. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Butterscotch.

My 4-week-old kitten is lethargic after eating gruel. Is this normal?

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