Signs of Cat Medical Emergency
Cats are curious creatures. That’s where the famous saying, “curiosity killed the cat” comes from.
However, it’s exactly because of their nature, we adore and love them. Not just because they are fluffy, sassy, cuddly, and take less upkeep than dogs or children.
Sadly, even with their 9 lives, they are not immune to health emergencies. They can come out of the blue and surprise us with our fluffy king/queen of the house. Not just that, vet bills can also be very expensive, so when do you actually take them in?
How do you know when they are just coughing out a hairball or something much worse?
Let’s go through some of the things you should definitely look out for with your cat.
Remember, this is a good base guideline and there are always circumstances that require out-the-box thinking. There are endless possibilities and you as the owner should know your cat best.
We encourage you to call your vet if you have any questions or are on the fence. Don’t just take advice from the internet or me, even though i’m pretty great ????. I always encourage you to keep reading, so you can be aware of what may be signs of a larger issue at hand
Difficult or labored breathing
Cats can make all sorts of sounds, from meowing, hissing, and panting after running. Gallant Bloom shares a few things to notice when it comes to your cat’s breathing, that are different than normal. If you notice any of these things call your vet to figure out what your next steps should be.
- Short and/or uneven breaths
- Raspy breathing or wheezing
- Inability to breathe at all (check mouth for obstruction)
- Very rapid breathing
- White or blue gums (indicative of lack of blood flow)
Excessive Vomiting
Maybe your cat ate a bad rat, or maybe it’s something worse. Sometimes cats throw up because of an upset stomach, but if they are repeatedly vomiting, it might be more than a simple stomach bug. Pet Central gives us this tip: “If your cat appears to be stable and not in distress, a few episodes of vomiting can generally wait for a vet visit in the morning. However, it is an emergency if your cat is uncomfortable, appears bloated, is gagging or is vomiting quite frequently.
Other signs
Regardless of the severity, if you are unsure and shows signs of the following, you should take your cat to the vet.
–Seizures: Seizing could be anything from an illness to something wrong in their brain. Go get them checked out immediately
–Collapsing: If your cat collapses and refuses to move go take them in.
–Your Cat ingested poison: Even if you aren’t sure how much they ate/drank. Better safe than sorry. Do not induce vomiting on your own.
–Bites: If your cat is bit by another cat or animal take them in. Think of bites like an ice pick, on the surface it could be a tiny puncture, but if you wave a ice pick back and forth it can cause a lot of damage.
-Eye injuries: If your cat is limping, you can give it a day, but if something is wrong with their vision that can be harder to heal on it’s own and is worth taking your cat to the vet
Transporting a Sick Cat
When my pet Cosmo was bit by another animal, he was not about to go into a kennel because he was injured. Your cat may feel the same. The VCA Animal hospital shares an idea to keep your cat’s stress to a minimum when bringing them in, “To safely move or transport an injured cat, use a suitable container such as a strong cardboard box or a cat carrier, you can do this by removing the top for easy and safe access to the carrier. Whatever you do, DO NOT push an injured cat through the small door or opening.
Always place a blanket or thick towel over the patient, this will help keep it a bit more calm during the transport.
Remember, if you are in doubt, always check with the vet.
Even though Vet cost quite a bit, it may just save your kitty’s life or a life threatening surgery that needed to be perform since it was diagnosed way to late.
