It's nine o'clock on a Sunday night and your cat isn't right. Is this a ring-the-after-hours-vet moment, or can it wait until the clinic opens? That is a hard call when you're worried, and cats don't make it easier. They are very good at hiding when something hurts.
Here are the signs that mean go now, what to check at home, and how to get your cat to the vet safely.
1. Breathing problems come first
Cats almost never breathe through their mouths. A few seconds of panting after a wild play session that settles straight away is usually fine. Panting or open-mouth breathing while your cat is resting is not.
Go to a vet straight away if your cat:
- breathes with the mouth open while resting
- breathes fast, or with obvious effort, with the belly working hard
- crouches with the neck stretched out and the elbows held away from the body
- has blue, grey or very pale gums
A resting or sleeping cat usually takes around 20 to 30 breaths a minute. Count how often the chest rises in 30 seconds and double it. A resting rate that stays well above that range needs a vet. Above 40, don't wait.
2. A male cat straining in the litter tray
This is easy to mistake for constipation. Male cats have a very narrow urethra, which can block with crystals or a plug of material. The cat goes in and out of the tray, strains, and passes little or no urine. Some cry, lick at their back end or hide.
A blocked bladder is one of the most common real emergencies in cats. Without treatment, a cat can become critically ill within a day or two. Females can get bladder problems too, but they block far less often. If your cat is straining and nothing much is coming out, go now.
3. Collapse, seizures and sudden weakness
- collapse, or not being able to stand
- a seizure, especially one that lasts more than a couple of minutes or happens more than once
- sudden weakness or paralysis in the back legs, often with crying and cold back feet, which can be caused by a blood clot
4. Accidents and injuries
A cat that has been hit by a car or fallen from a height may seem fine at first. Internal bleeding or a damaged bladder isn't visible, so these cats always need a vet check.
The same goes for:
- bleeding that doesn't stop after a few minutes of gentle pressure
- dog bites, which are often much deeper than they look
- an eye that is suddenly shut, cloudy, bulging or injured
- burns, or a cat that has been shut in a hot car, shed or glasshouse and is panting, drooling or unsteady
Cool an overheated cat with cool (not ice-cold) water on the way to the vet.
5. Possible poisoning
If you know or suspect your cat has eaten, licked or walked through something toxic, call your vet before any signs appear. Some poisons take hours or even days to show, and treatment works best early.
Lilies are the classic example. Every part of the plant, including the pollen and the water in the vase, can cause kidney failure. Others include dog flea treatments containing permethrin, human medicines, antifreeze, and rat or slug bait.
Don't try to make your cat vomit at home. Take the packaging, label or a piece of the plant with you.
6. Signs that need a vet the same day
- repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood or lethargy
- not eating for a day. Cats don't cope well with going without food
- yellow gums or yellow whites of the eyes
- a swollen, painful belly
- crying in pain, or hiding and not wanting to move
Our article on signs your cat is unwell covers the quieter changes that are worth a normal appointment.
7. Know what normal looks like
On a normal day, gently lift your cat's upper lip and look at the gums. Healthy gums are pink and moist, though some cats have dark patches. Count the resting breathing rate too and note it down. Then you can tell your vet what has changed. A short video of odd breathing, a wobble or a seizure also helps.
8. Getting to the vet safely
- Ring first. The clinic can prepare and give first aid advice. After hours, your vet's phone message usually says where to go. Save the after-hours number in your phone now.
- Use a carrier or a sturdy box. A carrier with a removable top lets you lift an injured cat in rather than push them through a small door. VCA's guide to cat emergencies has more first aid tips.
- Use a towel. A towel over the cat helps them feel hidden and protects your hands. Even the gentlest cat may bite when in pain.
- Move gently. After a fall or an accident, keep the head, neck and back as still as possible.
- No human painkillers. Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be deadly for cats.
When in doubt, ring
You don't need to be sure before you call. Vets would much rather hear from you early than see a cat that has waited too long.
Nelson Cat Hotel is vet-owned. If a guest needs a vet during their stay, care can be arranged through Nelson Vet Clinic. You can read more about what happens if a cat gets sick while boarding.
