When To Take Your Cat To The Veterinarian

Cats are exceptional at masking illness or pain, which can make it difficult for carers to determine if a cat needs medical attention. There are often small but subtle signs that your cat is not well. It is up to us to keep a close eye on our cats and look for any clues that our cat may not be well.

We need to be aware of eating habits, toileting, behaviour, sleeping, weight and general wellbeing. If you notice any changes, no matter how subtle it should be checked out with the vet. The earlier problems are caught, the better the chance of recovery.

If you are in any doubt about taking your cat to the vet it is ALWAYS better to err on the side of caution and seek help. Never wait and see because delaying medical attention may prolong suffering and mean that a sickness or injury is all the harder to treat.

Emergency

This means the cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, it can’t wait until the next day.

Anorexia (loss of appetite)

It may not seem a big deal if your cat refuses food, after all, he will eat if he becomes hungry enough, right? No, this is not the case. When a cat loses its appetite it can lead to a serious condition known as hepatic lipidosis (or fatty liver disease) which is life-threatening. Loss of appetite can also just be a vague sign that your cat is not well. Some medical conditions which may cause your cat to lose his appetite include:

Loss of appetite is one of the most common signs of sickness in cats, while the above list is long, it is by no means complete.

Ataxia

Unsteady, wobbly gait, walking in circles. This can have many possible causes including:

Bleeding

Bleeding of any sort should be checked out.

Breathing

Seek veterinary care if you notice panting, wheezing, coughing, suffering shortness of breath. There are many causes of breathing difficulty including heart and lung disorders which are life-threatening.

Burns

No matter how mild, any burns should be checked.

Change in toileting habits

Changes such as urinating more or less often, straining to go to the toilet, toileting in inappropriate places. There are many reasons why your cat’s toileting habits may have changed, all warranting investigation by your veterinarian. Some causes are fairly benign such as dirty litter tray, others have more serious causes, some reasons include;

Coughing

Coughing isn’t seen as often in cats as it is in dogs but it always warrants further investigation. Possible causes include:

Diarrhea

Which lasts more than 12 hours or if it is blood or mucous tinged or accompanied by other signs of sickness.

Diarrhea in kittens is especially dangerous as they can become dehydrated so quickly. Urgent veterinary attention is necessary.

Electric shock

Even if your cat appears to be well after the incident, you should still seek veterinary attention.

Ingestion of toxic substances (including plants, medications, poisons)

Your cat may look okay, but the toxin could be causing irreversible damage, so veterinary attention is urgent.

Poisoning

If you notice or suspect your cat has ingested something toxic medical attention should be sought immediately.

Seizures

Fortunately, these are relatively uncommon in cats but if you suspect your cat has had a seizure veterinary attention is vital.

Straining to go to the toilet

This common symptom can be mistaken for constipation, but a far more serious cause is FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease), which can lead to the cat becoming completely blocked and unable to urinate. Straining in the litter tray is always cause for concern and urgent veterinary attention is necessary.

Vaginal discharge

Any discharge from the vagina is abnormal and must be attended to immediately, possible causes include;

Birth and postnatal problems