Cat Emergencies - Would You Recognize One?

 

We watch our cats closely to be sure they're ok - what and how much they eat, litter box use, how playful they are, water drinking, are their gums pink, just to name a few.  As good and watchful cat parents, we know that catching a problem early could keep our fur kids from becoming very sick. 



Cats are notoriously good at masking pain and other symptoms - it's part of their evolution and helped them to survive.  While it's always good to monitor your cat for subtle signs of distress or illness, it's also important to know what signs of distress are considered to be emergencies.   

Catster.com published a very helpful list of emergency situations that require immediate veterinary attention for all pet owners.  They note that, while this is a great list, other situations might arise that don't exactly match what's included.  So, as with every pet health situation, if you are at all concerned, call your vet right away.  If it's after hours or on a weekend, many areas now have emergency veterinary clinics that will be ready to help your pet.

Catster.com's list of emergency situations includes:
1. Difficulty breathing
2. Abnormal urination in male cat
3. Signs of severe pain or obvious distress (including meowing or howling, panting, hiding and reaction to touch)
4. Sudden paralysis of the hind end
5. Stopping eating and/or drinking
6. Protracted vomiting and/or diarrhea
7. Known ingestion of toxins
8. Profound lethargy or collapse
9. Seizure
10. Major trauma (including gaping wounds or hemorrhaging)
11. Fights with other cats 

CLICK HERE to read more about each of these 11 signs and the entire catster.com article.