Emergency Situations in Cats

Not all symptoms with your cat require an emergency trip to the veterinarian. There are some which can be monitored for a day or two, in order to see if and how they progress (see “How to Tell When Your Cat Needs a Vet”). However, the situations described here are not in that category, and require an immediate trip to the veterinarian – they cannot wait for even a few hours. At the first sign of any of these instances, do one of the following:

Call your veterinarian immediately
Take your cat to your veterinarian immediately
Take your cat to the emergency veterinarian (in an after-normal-business-hours case)

See a Vet Immediately if Your Cat Exhibits the Following Difficulties:

Breathing problems
Urination issues
Trauma
Walking problems (suddenly becoming lame or unable to walk, including hind-end failure, or onset of a wobbly gait)
Seizuring
Vomiting several times in one day
Bleeding from any opening
Sudden blindness
Abdominal problems
Ingestion of a poison

Breathing Problems

Labored breathing is seen in cats who can have any of the following ailments – whether they have already been diagnosed with the ailment or not. These include cardiac disease/heart failure, infections, trauma, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), allergic bronchitis/asthma, ingestion of foreign bodies, and cancer. If your cat is having difficulty breathing, including gasping, heavy breathing that is obviously taxing the body, or harsh coughing fits that will not go away, see your veterinarian immediately.

Urination Issues

If you see your cat straining to urinate, particularly if your cat is male, then this is a genuine emergency and you need to see your veterinarian right away. It is most urgent because male cats can get completely blocked, which can then shut down their kidneys and the cat will then die. Even if the cat is straining to urinate and does not have a complete blockage, it could still escalate to a complete blockage very quickly, and is also extremely painful for your cat. If you cannot tell whether your cat is straining to urinate or defecate, it is best still to see a veterinarian ASAP, so they can ascertain which condition your cat is suffering from, and treat them.

Trauma

Any cat who has experienced severe trauma, such as falling from a high distance, being hit by a car, being in a fire, etc., should see a veterinarian immediately, even if the cat appears perfectly normal afterwards. The cat could have internal injuries (in the case of a fall or car accident), or may have a build up of smoke in the lungs (from a fire), which can cause immediate or eventual failure of major organs and organ systems soon afterwards. The shock from the trauma itself can also be life-threatening, and should be immediately treated.

Walking Problems

(Suddenly becoming lame or unable to walk, including hind-end failure, or onset of a wobbly gait)

Suddenly becoming lame or unable to walk are usually associated with trauma issues (such as a fracture), bone infections, blood clots (from heart disease or high blood pressure), and even severe arthritis. These can be especially life-threatening in the instance of blood clots. If your cat has a sudden onset of a wobbly gait, he or she needs to see a veterinarian immediately. The wobbly gait can be caused by main things, including inner- or middle-ear infections, neurologic disease, metabolic conditions (kidneys, liver, electrolytes), and poisoning.

Seizuring

Seizures in cats can be associated with primary epilepsy, infections, tumors, toxins, and metabolic conditions. A seizure is defined as any convulsion or spasm (including disorientation, lack of appropriate recognition of the cat’s surroundings, twitching, etc.).

Vomiting Several Times in One Day

Vomiting several times in one day requires an immediate visit with a veterinarian, particularly if there is blood in the vomit. Causes of severe vomiting can include sudden onset of kidney failure, intestinal blockage (from a tumor or foreign body), liver disease, severe infections, toxins/poisoning, and cancer.

Bleeding from Any Opening

Bleeding from any body opening, including the eye or ear, can indicate a serious issue. In addition, if the blood is pulsing from a cut (which can indicate that an artery has been affected), you should apply immediate pressure and take your cat to the veterinarian immediately.

Sudden Blindness

Sudden blindness for cats is linked to high blood pressure, inflammation or infection of the optic nerve, or glaucoma. An immediate vet visit is necessary, and these conditions can many times be reversible if treatment is started right away.

Abdominal Problems

A cat who paws at its abdomen, adopts a “praying” position, or lies on the ground with its legs tucked underneath its body (especially if associated with lack of appetite, hiding, or vomiting) is experiencing abdominal pain.This could be from organ rupture, a foreign body, abdominal bleeding, intestinal tract blockage, or another life-threatening issue. The cat needs to be treated immediately.

Ingestion of a Poison

If you are unsure whether or not your cat has eaten, licked, or otherwise ingested something poisonous, call your veterinarian. You can also call the Animal Poison Control hotline at 1-888-426-4435. Please see the articles “ Foods That Can Be Poisonous to Companion Animals”, or “Common Poisonous Plants” if you need help recognizing whether your cat has ingested something poisonous. If your cat has eaten one of your prescribed or over-the-counter human medications, you need to see a veterinarian immediately.

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