When to call the vet about your cat

Call a vet at once for breathing trouble, a male cat straining to urinate, collapse, seizures, poisoning, serious injury or no food for a day or more. Book a visit within a day or two for lasting changes such as diarrhea, weight loss, limping or drinking more. When in doubt, phone the clinic and describe what you see. A short call costs little, and the staff can tell you how soon your cat needs to be seen.

How to use this guide

This guide sorts problems into three groups: go now, go today, and book soon. It describes warning signs. It does not diagnose, and it cannot cover every case. If you are worried about your cat, call your vet even if the sign is not listed.

Cats hide illness well. A cat that looks only a little off may be quite sick. If your gut says something is wrong, act on it.

Go now: emergency signs

Go to a vet or an emergency clinic at once. If you can, phone first, so they can prepare.

Urinary

• A cat, especially a male, straining in the litter box, crying, licking its genitals, or passing no urine or only drops. This can mean a blockage, which can be fatal within a day or two. See urinary blockage.

Breathing

• Open-mouth breathing, panting at rest, wheezing or gasping.
• Fast, effortful breathing with a heaving belly.
• Blue, gray or very pale gums.

Nervous system

• A seizure, especially if it lasts more than a few minutes or repeats. See seizures.
• Collapse, inability to stand, or sudden loss of use of the back legs, often with crying.
• Staggering, circling, or a head tilt with falling over.
• Sudden blindness or confusion.

Poison and swallowed objects

• Known or suspected eating of lilies, antifreeze, human medicine, rat poison, chocolate, toxic plants or cleaning products. Even small contact with a lily can be dangerous. See lily toxicity. Call before signs appear.
• A swallowed string, thread, needle, hair tie or toy, or repeated vomiting after playing with such items.
• Contact a poison hotline for your region if you cannot reach a vet.

Injury

• A fall, car accident or fight with heavy bleeding, a deep wound, a broken limb or an exposed organ.
• Burns, electric shock or smoke inhalation.
• An eye injury or a swollen, closed eye.

Other emergencies

• Not eating for a day or more. Cats that go without food, especially overweight cats, can develop a serious liver problem called hepatic lipidosis.
• Repeated vomiting, or vomiting blood, or blood in stool.
• A swollen, hard or painful belly.
• Yellow gums, eyes or skin.
• Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, weakness in hot weather.
• Hypothermia: a cold, limp, slow cat.
• A female cat in labor who has strained for a long time without a kitten, or who has a green or bloody discharge before the first kitten.
• A kitten that is cold, limp, weak, or will not nurse. See neonatal kitten.
• A kitten with diarrhea, vomiting or no appetite. Kittens decline fast.

Go today: see a vet within hours

Phone the clinic and ask for a same-day visit if your cat has:

• Vomiting more than twice in a day or on more than one day.
• Diarrhea for more than a day, or with blood or lethargy.
• Eating much less for two days.
• Drinking or urinating far more than normal.
• A wound, bite or abscess, which may show as a hot, painful swelling.
• A painful limp, or a cat that will not put weight on a leg.
• Eye discharge, squinting or cloudiness.
• A sore, swollen or bleeding mouth.
• A sudden change in behavior, such as hiding all day, aggression or confusion.
• Straining to pass stool with no result.
• A fever, or a cat that feels very hot or very cold.
• Sneezing and eye discharge in a kitten, senior or a cat that has stopped eating.

Book soon: within a day or two

• Weight loss or gain.
• A lump or bump.
• Mild sneezing or a runny nose in an otherwise bright cat.
• Dandruff, scabs, itching, hair loss.
• Fleas, ticks, worms or ear dirt.
• Bad breath or drooling.
• Stiffness, slower jumping or changes in litter box use.
• More sleep or less play over weeks.
• Matted fur.
• Increased vocalizing, especially in an older cat.

What to do before you go

1. Phone ahead. Give a short, clear report: age, main sign, how long, whether the cat is eating and passing urine.
2. Stay calm and move gently. Use a carrier. Put a towel in it. If the cat may have a back or leg injury, slide a flat board or towel under it.
3. Keep the cat warm and quiet. Do not feed or give water unless the clinic says so.
4. Do not give medicine. Never give human pain relievers or old prescriptions.
5. Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to.
6. Bring information. Bring the product container if the cat may have eaten something harmful, a sample of vomit or stool if you can, and a list of medicines and food.
7. Know where the emergency clinic is. Save the number of your regular vet and the nearest 24-hour clinic before you need them.

Costs and planning

Emergency care can be costly. Ask your vet about pet insurance or a savings plan when your cat is well. Ask about payment options if you are worried. Do not delay a visit for a cat that is in danger. Many clinics will discuss options.

Common mistakes

• Waiting overnight to see if a cat improves when it has trouble urinating or breathing.
• Believing that a cat that is "still eating a little" is fine.
• Giving human medicine.
• Using home remedies from the internet.
• Assuming vomiting is always hairballs.
• Skipping the vet because the cat is old.
• Not asking for help because the sign seems small.

Summary

• Go now for breathing trouble, straining to urinate, collapse, seizures, poisoning, serious injury, no food for a day, and a limp kitten.
• Go today for repeated vomiting, long diarrhea, wounds, eye problems and sudden behavior change.
• Book soon for slower changes such as weight loss, lumps and stiffness.
• Phone ahead, use a carrier, and never give human medicine.
• Annual check-ups (wellness exam) catch problems early.