Withdrawn kitten

Question
Hi, we got 2 kittens from our local pet shelter just a week ago.  They appeared to settle in without any problems - eating, playing, litter tray use all seemed ok.  
Then 4 days ago the male stopped playing with us or his female companion.  Now he just wants to sit in boxes or next to us.  The vet found he had a temperature which might account for not wanting to eat as much, but I'm worried that he doesn't appear to be eating at all though he does drink.

We've tried some chicken wings (he loved them before this started) and some wet food (normally they eat dry kitten food), moving the food around, leaving him to eat by himself without his companion, and sitting by him whilst he eats but nothing is working.

Please do you have any tips for getting him to eat / come out of his shell?  We both work full time which has not helped I imagine. The female has not changed her behaviour at all.
Thanks so much, Naomi

Answer
Naomi,

I really do not think that this is entirely a behavioral issue. Your withdrawn kitten sounds ill to me and I do think that if your vet is not offering further explanation or treatment it may be prudent to seek a second opinion. A kitten that is not eating or drinking properly can lose condition rapidly. Further tests such as urine and blood tests may help to shed light on what is happening. If your kitten has not already been treated for intestinal parasites you may want to consider having him dewormed. I would also recommend that you ask your vet to test for FeLV (feline leukemia virus) and FIV (Feline Immmunodeficiency Virus or kitty AIDS). If your kitty has FeLV or FIV you will want to make sure that the other kitten is tested and if she is negative you will want to take steps to ensure that she is protected. Kitties who are positive for FIV or FeLV can live long and relatively healthy lives with proper care and treatment. You should see your vet for further explanation in terms of what these illnesses mean for your pets. Hopefully this information helps. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.