Cats often
become reclusive and hide when they are not feeling well which makes knowing
when they need to be seen by your veterinarian a challenge. They have unique
signs and symptoms of emergency conditions that often go unrecognized by their
owners. Some injuries are obvious, such as a cat with an open wound, while
others have more subtle signs that can be equally deadly if left untreated.
Knowing what signs to look for is crucial in determining when to seek emergency
care for your cat. Below is a list of some of the most common cat emergencies
and their signs.
Urethral Obstruction
This is a
condition in which a cat, usually male, is unable to urinate due to a blockage
in the urethra (the tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside
environment).
Cats will show a
sudden onset of restless behavior which includes frequent trips in and out of
the litter box. They will often attempt to urinate in unusual places such as in
a bath tub or on a plastic bag. You may notice a very small stream of urine
that contains blood. More often than not, despite a cat’s straining, there may
be no urine or even just a drop produced. In later stages of the obstruction,
cats may cry loudly, vomit, and become lethargic.
You should
consider these signs a serious emergency and seek veterinary care immediately.
There are reports of cats developing kidney failure and dying within 12 hours
after the onset of signs. Expect your cat to be hospitalized at least 36 hours
for treatment of this condition which may include a urinary catheter,
intravenous fluids, and pain management. Female cats are less likely to become
obstructed due to their wider urinary tract.
Toxicities (Poisoning)
The combination
of their curious nature and unique metabolism (the way their body breaks down
chemicals) makes cats very vulnerable to toxins. Owners are often not aware
that their home contains multiple products that are poisonous to their feline
companions. The most common cat toxins include antifreeze, Tylenol, and rat or
mouse poison.
The signs your cat
displays depends on what type of poison they have encountered. Antifreeze will
often cause wobbliness or a drunken appearance first, then progresses to
vomiting/weakness as the kidneys fail. Tylenol may cause an unusual swelling of
the head and changes the cats blood color from red to chocolate brown. Rat or
mouse poison interferes with blood clotting so you may see weakness from
internal blood loss or visible blood in urine or stool.
Breathing Problems
Many times cats
hide the signs of breathing problems by simply decreasing their activity. By
the time an owner notices changes in the cat’s breathing, it may be very late
in the progression of the cat’s lung disease. There are several causes of
breathing changes but the most common are feline asthma, heart or lung disease.
Foreign Object Ingestion
As you know cats
love to play with strings or string-like objects (such as dental floss, holiday
tinsel, or ribbon), however, you may not know the serious danger that strings
can pose to your cat. When a string is ingested, one end may become lodged or
“fixed” in place, often under the cat’s tongue, while the remaining string
passes farther into the intestine. With each intestinal contraction, the string
see-saws back and forth actually cutting into the intestine and damaging the
blood supply.
Signs that your
cat has eaten a foreign object may include vomiting, lack of appetite,
diarrhea, and weakness. Occasionally owners will actually see part of a string
coming from the mouth or anal area. You should never pull on any part of the
string that is visible from your pet.
Most times
emergency surgery is necessary to remove the foreign object and any damaged
sections of intestine.
Bite Wounds
Cats are
notorious for both inflicting and suffering bite wounds during encounters with
other cats. Because the tips of their canine, or “fang”, teeth are so small and
pointed, bites are often not noticed until infection sets in several days after
the injury.
Cats may develop
a fever and become lethargic 48 to 72 hours after experiencing a penetrating
bite wound. They may be tender or painful at the site. If the wound becomes
infected or abscessed, swelling and foul-smelling drainage may develop.
You should seek
emergency care for bite wounds so that your veterinarian may thoroughly clean
the area and prescribe appropriate antibiotics for your pet. Occasionally the
wounds will develop large pockets called abscesses under the skin that require
surgical placement of a drain to help with healing.
Hit by car
Cats that spend
time outdoors are at a much greater risk for ending up in the emergency room.
Being hit by a car is one of the most common reasons for your pet to suffer
traumatic injuries such as broken bones, lung injuries and head trauma. You
should always seek emergency care if your cat has been hit by a vehicle even if
he or she appears normal as many injuries can develop or worsen over the next
few hours.
Increased Thirst and Urination
Sudden changes
in your cat’s thirst and urine volume are important clues to underlying disease.
The two most common causes of these signs are kidney disease and diabetes
mellitus.
Your
veterinarian will need to check blood and urine samples to determine the cause
of your cat’s signs. Having your pet seen on an emergency basis for these signs
is important as the sooner your pet receives treatment, the better their
chances for recovery. Many times exposure to certain toxins, such as antifreeze
or lilies, will show similar signs and delaying veterinary care can be fatal.
Sudden inability to use the hind legs
Cats with some
forms of heart disease are at risk for developing blood clots. Many times these
clots can lodge in a large blood vessel called the aorta where they can prevent
normal blood flow to the hind legs. If your cat experiences such a blood
clotting episode (often called a saddle thrombus or thromboembolic episode),
you will likely see a sudden loss of the use of their hind legs, painful
crying, and breathing changes.
On arrival at
the emergency room, your pet will receive pain management and oxygen support.
Tests will be done to evaluate the cat’s heart and determine if there is any
heart failure (fluid accumulation in the lungs). Sadly, such an episode is
often the first clue for an owner that their cat has severe heart disease. In
most cases, with time and support, the blood clot can resolve, but the cat’s
heart disease will require life-long treatment.
Upper Respiratory Infections
Cats and kittens
can experience a variety of upper respiratory diseases caused by a combination
of bacteria or viruses. Upper respiratory infections, or URIs, often cause
sneezing, runny noses, runny eyes, lack of appetite, and fever. In severe
cases, they can cause ulcers in the mouth, tongue, and eyes. More often than
not, severe cases are seen in cats that have recently been in multiple-cat
environments such as shelters. Small or poor-doing kittens are also easily
infected and may develop more severe complications such as low blood sugar.
Sudden Blindness
A sudden loss of
vision is most likely to occur in an older cat. The most common causes are
increased blood pressure (hypertension) that may be due to changes in thyroid
function (hyperthyroidism) or kidney disease. There are some cats that appear
to have hypertension with no other underlying disease.
Sudden blindness
should be treated as an emergency and your veterinarian will measure your cat’s
blood pressure, check blood tests, and start medications to try to lower the
pressure and restore vision.
Anytime you
notice a change in your cat’s eyes, whether they lose vision or not, you should
consider this an emergency have your pet seen by a veterinarian as soon as
possible.
Disclaimer:
This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis,
or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related
advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at CatHealth.com is
exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice
or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.
VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital would like to welcome Dewey Carpenter, DVM, ACVIM (Cardiology) to our practice.
