When to Take Your Cat to an Emergency Vet: 6 Signs It’s Urgent (Vet Answer)
Cats have an innate ability to hide when they are sick and/or injured until the situation has become severe. In addition, because many cats are often not as social as dogs, and owners may not see them as much, minor abnormalities and/or personality changes may not be easily noticeable. Oftentimes you can make an appointment with your regular veterinarian if you notice your cat seems off or isn’t themselves. But there are a few instances where waiting is never recommended. In this article, we will discuss the 6 reasons why you should take your cat to the nearest emergency vet, and signs that what is going on is urgent.
The 6 Signs You Should Take Your Cat to an Emergency Vet
1. Inability to Urinate
This refers to both female and male cats but is much more common in male cats. It’s important to regularly clean and monitor all litter boxes in the house so that you can notice more easily when something seems different.
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your pet, seek veterinary advice for the best course of action.
- Signs
When It’s Urgent
2. Panting / Open-mouth Breathing / Difficulty Breathing
It is never normal for a cat to breathe with their mouth open and/or pant. While this is a normal behavior in dogs, especially after playing or when it is warm out, cats never breathe like this unless they are in distress.
- Signs
When It’s Urgent
3. Seizures
Seizures can vary in appearance from a typical grand mal seizure (your cat is on their side, paddling, shaking, often losing control of their bladder and bowels) to partial seizures (fly-biting, facial twitching, etc.).
- Signs
When It’s Urgent
4. Contact With a Lily
Lilies are extremely toxic to cats – every part of the lily plant. If you have a lily in your house and your cat may have come into contact with the plant – even just brushing against it and getting pollen on their fur – you need to take them to a veterinarian.
- Signs
When It’s Urgent
5. Trauma
Cats are known for being curious daredevils. Young cats, and cats that spend time outdoors, are often jumping from tall heights, scaling objects and tempting others to play. But with that comes the potential for trauma.
- Signs
When It’s Urgent
6. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea for 12 Hours or More
All animals get into things they shouldn’t sometimes. Cats may have a hairball or two that bothers them, or just have one or two episodes of soft stool. Other times GI upset is caused by issues with the kidneys, liver, or gallbladder.
- Signs
When It’s Urgent
Conclusion
Cats are masters of disguise. They may have silent and otherwise unknown illnesses and injuries that go unnoticed. However, there are times when cats are trying to tell you that they need help now. If your cat is unable to urinate, is having difficulty breathing, has had a seizure, has come into contact with a lily, has suffered trauma, and/or is having consistent diarrhea and/or vomiting, you should seek emergency medical care for your cat. Some of these conditions can be fatal if left untreated, and/or become much more severe if ignored.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Gorodenkoff, Shutterstock
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Dr. Kim Podlecki DVM (Veterinarian)
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Podlecki has more than 12 years of experience working with small animals in the United States. Dr. Podlecki worked almost exclusively in emergency and specialty medicine for more than 10 years before transitioning to relief in both general practice and ER. Dr. Podlecki also owns her own consulting company (renewvetconsulting.com) with the focus of helping veterinary hospitals prioritize their staff to promote a healthier internal culture.
