Emergency Cat Illnesses

Injuries, poisoning and complications from illnesses can all cause medical emergencies in cats. Knowing the signs of an emergency and being prepared to act quickly and calmly can save your cat's life. Keeping directions to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic and the clinic's telephone number with your cat's medical records will save time if you need to get to the clinic quickly.

  1. Urinary Tract Blockage

    • In a male cat, a urinary tract blockage is a life-threatening emergency. "If the blockage persists even just a few days, the toxin build-up will result in death," said veterinarian Wendy C. Brooks, educational director for VeterinaryPartner.com. Signs that your male cat is blocking include passing little or no urine, crying out in the litter box, urinating outside the litter box and excessively licking the urinary opening.

    Poisoning

    • The symptoms of poisoning -- including vomiting, staggering or stumbling, difficulty breathing and seizures -- sometimes do not appear for hours, or even days, according to the veterinarians at PetPlace.com. If you suspect your cat has ingested or inhaled a toxic substance, contact your veterinarian immediately.

    Saddle Thrombus

    • Saddle thrombus, or a clot that blocks the blood supply to the rear legs, is a painful complication of heart disease in cats. Symptoms include paralysis, weak or no pulse in the hind legs, blue nail beds, panting or respiratory distress and cold hind legs, according to the veterinarians at the New England Animal Medical Center.

    Congestive Heart Failure

    • Signs of congestive heart failure, or fluid accumulation in the cat's lungs, include lethargy, decreased activity level, labored or rapid breathing and open mouth breathing, according to the doctors at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. If your cat is breathing with its mouth open, it needs immediate medical care.

    Asthma

    • Coughing and panting are the main signs of asthma in cats. Asthma becomes a medical emergency when the airway becomes so constricted the cat breathes with its mouth open, said veterinarian Susan Little of the Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds studies to improve cats' health. A cat breathing with its mouth open needs immediate veterinary care.

    Hepatic Lipidosis

    • Hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease, occurs when a cat stops eating and loses weight too quickly. Symptoms include jaundice, nausea and loss of appetite. "Survival and recovery from hepatic lipidosis approaches 90 percent with nutritional support," said Dr. Brooks. "Without aggressive nutritional support, most cats will die."

    Hypoglycemia

    • Severe hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can be a medical emergency for a diabetic cat. Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia include seizures and unconsciousness. Among the other warning signs that a diabetic cat's blood sugar is beginning to drop dangerously low are a suddenly ravenous appetite, shivering, weakness or lethargy, difficulty seeing, staggering, walking in circles or acting "drunk," changes in head or neck movements, restlessness, urgent meowing and aggressiveness, veterinarian Debra Primovic writes for the website PetPlace.com.

    Diabetic Ketoacidosis

    • Diabetic ketoacidosis, or the buildup of ketones in the cat's body, can also be a life-threatening emergency in diabetic cats. Signs of ketoacidosis include breath that smells like fruit or nail polish remover, drinking excessive amounts of water or not drinking at all, excessive urination, not eating for more than 12 hours, vomiting, lethargy, depression, weakness, rapid breathing and dehydration, according to Dr. Primovic.