loss of appetite, tired kitten

hi all,
I need help. Me and my boyfriend have a kitten she's only 6 months old. We recently went away for a week and left her at my cousins so he could look after her while we're away. My cousin has got a 3 month old kitten and the cats never used to get on well with each other but started to accept each other when we were away and in the end liked each other. I picked my kitten up yesterday morning and ever since she's not herself. She always used to be very playful, and loved eating. Now she doesn't really want to eat and only drinks a tiny bit of water, not as much as she used to. She doesn't want to play with us either, only comes to me when she wants to be stroked. And what worries me the most she's really tired and wants to sleep all the time.. She's slept all day yesterday with an hour break, all night, woke up to go to her litter tray in the morning and then slept through the most of the day. My boyfriends sister came round to visit us and my kitten would play with her but she runs away from us now..
It is really strange, I don't know what the matter could be . She has remembered home and she knows where her bed , litter trays and bowls are so she doesn't seem to feel lost.
Any advice please?

bobowskapaulina said:

hi all,
I need help. Me and my boyfriend have a kitten she's only 6 months old. We recently went away for a week and left her at my cousins so he could look after her while we're away. My cousin has got a 3 month old kitten and the cats never used to get on well with each other but started to accept each other when we were away and in the end liked each other. I picked my kitten up yesterday morning and ever since she's not herself. She always used to be very playful, and loved eating. Now she doesn't really want to eat and only drinks a tiny bit of water, not as much as she used to. She doesn't want to play with us either, only comes to me when she wants to be stroked. And what worries me the most she's really tired and wants to sleep all the time.. She's slept all day yesterday with an hour break, all night, woke up to go to her litter tray in the morning and then slept through the most of the day. My boyfriends sister came round to visit us and my kitten would play with her but she runs away from us now..
It is really strange, I don't know what the matter could be . She has remembered home and she knows where her bed , litter trays and bowls are so she doesn't seem to feel lost.
Any advice please?

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She sounds ill and possibly has caught something from the other cat.  She may have a fever.  I would take her to the vet on monday.

StephenQ said:

She sounds ill and possibly has caught something from the other cat.  She may have a fever.  I would take her to the vet on monday.

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Thank you for the reply. I thought she could have fever but her ears don't seem hot to me.. Her nose is dry though. Tried to put her on tiles to see if the cool floor gives her relief but she wouldn't stay on it . Haven't got thermometer to check it. I'm getting really worried!

She may have caught something, but I'm also wondering if she's just plain exhausted as well.

Has the friends kitten been seen by a vet yet?

misterwhiskers said:

She may have caught something, but I'm also wondering if she's just plain exhausted as well.

Has the friends kitten been seen by a vet yet?

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He has had some vaccines And was wormed from what I was told.. I'll watch her till the morning and if she's not getting better will make an appointment at vets . Thanks for your help

bobowskapaulina said:

Thank you for the reply. I thought she could have fever but her ears don't seem hot to me.. Her nose is dry though. Tried to put her on tiles to see if the cool floor gives her relief but she wouldn't stay on it . Haven't got thermometer to check it. I'm getting really worried!

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You can't accurately gauge a fever in a cat by touching them.....

StephenQ said:

You can't accurately gauge a fever in a cat by touching them.....

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Ohh I was always told to feel inside of their ear because, apparently, that's the first place the heat gets released from when they're unwell..

I use an in the ear thermometer on my kitties.  I picked it up at Walgreens many years ago.  It's not as accurate as the rectal thermometers they use at the vet's office, but it's close.  Very easy and quick reading as well. 

Most likely, the stress of the different environment with new people, new sounds, new cats, new routine, just new/different everything brought on a little upper respiratory infection.  Keep her hydrated and make sure she eats.  If she doesn't want to eat, try plain meat baby food diluted with a little bit of plain clear baby pedialyte.  Make an appointment for her first thing Monday to see the vet.

Just wanted to thank you for your help. My kitten was dehydrated. I had to make her eat and drink and she got back to her normal behaviour within a couple of days . She refused to eat and drink as she was depressed. She's very active again and looks very happy. Thank you all for your advice x