Help! Limping 4-month old kitten

Hi all,

Like most of you, I love my kittens as if they were my own children. My four-month-old ragdoll kitten, Snowpea, has always been super energetic. On Saturday he got neutered, and was doing okay until yesterday, when I noticed that he wasn't as energetic as usual. He still cuddled with me at night and purred when petted, but didn't run around like his usual silly self. Today after getting home from work, I noticed that he was limping and having trouble putting weight on his left front paw. I didn't notice any trauma (swelling or blood) and I don't know if he jumped off something and sprained his paw. He's not quite lethargic -- he'll walk around and eat and meow -- but he's still not running around like usual. I called the vet to make an appt, but they don't have anything until tomorrow and even then it's only a drop-off and pick-up. Do you think this is an emergency (i.e. should I take Snowpea to the emergency clinic) or can it wait until tomorrow? Should I be freaked out?

Sorry for the long post, but my two other cats (adult tabbies) haven't had anything like this before.

[QUOTE
Like most of you, I love my kittens as if they were my own children. My four-month-old ragdoll kitten, Snowpea, has always been super energetic. On Saturday he got neutered, and was doing okay until yesterday, when I noticed that he wasn't as energetic as usual. QUOTE

Im not sure that this is anything to worry about. I know that a lot of cats whether male or female lose some of there playfulness when they get there, shall we call it, "youth" taken away. They dont have as many hormones and things like that running through them. Also it may be possible that he is still in some pain.

QUOTE:
Today after getting home from work, I noticed that he was limping and having trouble putting weight on his left front paw. I didn't notice any trauma (swelling or blood) and I don't know if he jumped off something and sprained his paw. He's not quite lethargic -- he'll walk around and eat and meow -- but he's still not running around like usual. QUOTE

Is it possible for you to touch the paw and stretch it out without him screaching out in pain? If so it might possible just be a sprain. All kittens around that age get them.

QUOTE:
I called the vet to make an appt, but they don't have anything until tomorrow and even then it's only a drop-off and pick-up. QUOTE

Again i dont think that it is an emergency. If he were my kitten (which i do have one that exact age), i wouldnt take him to the er vet. You did make a good choice on making an appointment.

i hope everything goes well.....sending good vibes.....

Update ---

Last night, Snowpea continued to have lethargy -- he barely moved from my bed at all. I brought him into the vet this morning and turns out, he had a fever of 105. The limping was gone. The vet thinks a combination of stress and probably exposure to other cats caused a respiratory infection that is causing his high fever. He's currently being hospitalized for dehydration and antibiotics.

Anybody have an issue like this with their babies before? I'm worried sick and am hoping that this infection will pass over soon. Can anyone share their stories with feline URIs?