My 16 week old kitten is limping, lethargic, won't eat, and has a fever. Help!!

My husband and I recently took in three kittens for a friend who has rescued them. One of them has already been rehomed, one is still looking for a home, and we decided to keep the calico kitten. All kittens have been playing and eating together, and using the same litterbox.
Recently our calico kitten, October, has become sick. She started limping, stopped eating, and has been sleeping all day. She doesn't have any sores, redness, swelling, runny eyes or nose and didn't injure her paw in any way. We are keeping her in a separate room, away from our other two adult cats (both fully vaccinated) and our dog and the other kitten.
The vet said she had a fever, gave us antibiotics for her and gave her IV fluids. Blood tests all came back negative so the vet wasn't able to tell us what's making her sick. The other kitten in our home seems healthy but my friend who adopted the male kitten (named Braveheart) started limping last night!
What could be wrong with little October and how can we help her?

None of the kittens have been vaccinated yet, we had just gotten them days ago and hadn't had a chance to take them to the vet. All kitties are indoor only.

This is our little October

This is puzzling. I am asking catwoman707 if she has any thoughts on this. I am unsure what the limping and fever have in common.

I think u should get the baby checked by a vet or at least call I was just advised this myself I have a pregnant cat that has probloms

There is a strain of Calicivirus that cause "limping kitten syndrome." I would be awfully suspicious of this, especially since the kittens are not vaccinated. There is a very specific test for Calicivirus and symptoms can vary.

Also, have the kittens been tested for FIV/Leukemia?

Hi there! We had taken little October to the emergency vet last night, and she tested negative for everything. They couldn't give us any answers, just antibiotics. I did read about the calicivirus and it's scary but that sounds like what she has.
Still no sores, no runny nose or eyes. No diarrhea or vomiting.
She did start eating some more though!! Still doesn't want to get up on her own. She can walk but I think she's in pain because she cries the whole time and won't go to the litter box unless I take her to it.

Vet has her on clavamox

She is adorable

You should call your vet and ask that your kitten be specifically tested and treated for calicivirus. She sounds very ill.

Thank you!! She's the sweetest little kitty, I just love her too death.
The vet mentioned calicivirus but I don't think he specifically tested her for it. She does seem to be feeling better, purring again but still lazy. I think her fever is gone, too.
I'll keep you all updated, thank you so much!

Glad she seems to be improving!

Thank you! I've been so worried about her..
Should I be worried about the two older cats and the other kitten? She's been around all of them but they're separated now.

If the older cats have been vaccinated properly they should be okay. The other kitten has most assuredly been exposed, as has the other kitten who has been rehomed and already shown symptoms.

I assume you have already conveyed to the new owner the seriousness of starting treatment.

I think you should call your vet and discuss treating the other kitten in your home as a precaution. Ask about your older cats too. The virus is rampant in shelters, and primarily affects kittens and unvaccinated cats. The outcome can be dreadful if not treated.

Yeah it's a friend of ours who took in the boy. They said that he's still acting normally and eating well, but that he's missing a nail so they think that's why he's limping. That's what I'm hoping anyways!! I did tell them to get him checked out just in case and to keep their eyes on him.

And yeah, our two older kitties have been vaccinated but I had read somewhere that they can still catch it even if they've been vaccinated?

It's possible. I strongly advise that you discuss it with your vet. The vet can determine if the other cats need precautionary treatment.

Yes, calicivirus, limping kitten.

I know all about that one, it is a 3 day virus which is the good news, it runs it's course and is gone in 3 days.

The simplest way to know that this is what it is would be to watch which limb is favored, and then a different one will be favored. Because in reality they are all sore so they will switch off.

That's day 1.

Then advances to limp and constant sleeping. The key to getting them through this, and you can be sure the other kitten will come down with it too, is to syringe feed them with pediolyte and canned pate kitten food or chicken or turkey only baby food.

As long as they stay well hydrated and getting some food/nutrition in them they will pull out of it on day 3.

Here is a kitten who had this strain of calici also.


I made her this little cubby where she could get away from her playful sibs, one by one though, they all went through it too.

The way that I understand it is, vaccinated cats can get this too, but as long as they have supportive care by syringing them, the virus will run it's course and be gone.

It doesn't mean they all will, but it is possible.