"My cat is having X, Y, and Z symptoms, but I can't
decide if I should take him to the vet." Most experienced cat caretakers
have heard hundreds, if not thousands, of variations on this question. Here are
nine indications of a medical emergency. If your kitten has one or more of
these symptoms, he needs veterinary attention right away.
Abdominal pain. Your cat is pawing at his stomach, he's
crouched instead of sitting in a relaxed manner, or he refuses to let his
stomach be touched. He could be suffering from a urinary tract infection, organ
disease, a blockage of his digestive tract, or internal bleeding.
Bleeding. If your kitten is bleeding from his eyes or ears,
or if the blood is spurting or pulsing, bandage it and call your vet while
you're packing your cat in the car.
Blindness that comes on suddenly. If your cat is bumping
into things or is afraid to walk because she can't see, he could be suffering
from a detached retina or glaucoma.
Difficulty breathing. If your cat is wheezing or
experiencing labored breathing, she could be having an asthma attack, heart
problems, or anaphylactic shock (life-threatening allergic reaction). Get to
the vet right away.
Difficulty urinating. If your cat is running back and forth
to the litterbox and producing little or no urine, if he's crying in pain while
trying to urinate, or if he's frantically licking his genitals after an attempt
at urinating, call the vet now. Especially in male cats, these can be signs of
a potentially fatal urinary blockage.
Lameness or inability to put weight on limbs. Cats
instinctively hide their pain, so if your kitten is hurting enough to visibly
favor a leg, that means it's serious. He could have a fracture, infection, deep
penetrating wound, or heart problems.
Seizures. If your cat is having convulsions, spasms,
twitching, or acting disoriented, he may be having a seizure or he may have
been poisoned.
Staggering. This could be a sign of a middle-ear infection,
neurological disorder, or poisoning.
Vomiting more than once within an hour, especially if the
vomit is bloody. Your cat could have swallowed a foreign object or she could be
suffering from liver or kidney disease. Intestinal disturbances and poisoning
also cause frequent vomiting.
If you think about it, this is really simple common sense.
It all boils down to this question: If you were experiencing these symptoms,
would you go to the emergency room or call the doctor? If so, seek the same
level of treatment for your cat.