When My Cat Needs to See an Emergency Vet in Houston, TX

To help you better understand when your cat is in an emergency situation, we’ve listed some common signs to watch for:

• Difficulty breathing. Watch for breathing with the mouth open, coughing, wheezing, or heaving sides.
• Abnormal urination. This refers specifically to male cats and is an indication of urinary obstruction which is fatal if not treated. Your cat may strain, but produce very little urine, vocalize, or groom their genitals excessively.
• Excessive vomiting/diarrhea. While some soft stools or an occasional throw-up is normal, prolonged vomiting and diarrhea, especially with blood in it, means your cat needs to see an emergency vet pronto.
• Seizures. While most seizures last for less than two minutes, any seizure that lasts longer or occurs in rapid succession requires immediate veterinary care to determine the cause.
• Any traumatic injury. Even if visible wounds aren’t present, if your cat has suffered a traumatic blow such as a fall from a great height, hit by a car, or even a fight with another cat or a dog, injuries could be mostly internal.
• Signs of extreme pain. This could include excessive vocalizing, hindered movement, or not moving at all, lethargy, and even loss of appetite.
• Exposure to lilies. Lilies are very dangerous to cats, and even a tiny amount of pollen or flower ingested can cause kidney failure and even death. Check out noliliesforkitties.org for more information.
• Ingestion of a toxin. If your cat has ingested a known toxin, they need an emergency vet. Common cat toxins include many human medicines, alcohol, chocolate, garlic, onions, raisins, xylitol (found in sugarless gums and candies), insecticides, detergents, antifreeze, and more. If your pet ingests any toxin, call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.