Sick Kitties

You are your cat’s only hope that illness will be recognized in time to do something about it, so it’s important to recognize when kitty isn’t well. Things to watch for include:  

• Increase or decrease in drinking and urination
• Straining to urinate
• Changes in appetite
• Weight gain or loss
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Not jumping up on things s/he used to jump on
• Anything that seems abnormal (take a video with your phone)
• Any change in behavior

If you aren’t sure your cat is sick, call me and I will help you sort it out (subject to availability.) 

Cats are so good at hiding pain and injuries that it can be difficult to tell if your cat requires emergency treatment. As a general rule, the following list of signs and symptoms may be considered life-threatening. If you aren’t sure if your cat needs emergency treatment, call me and I’ll help you sort it out. If it is after hours and I don’t answer my phone right away, call one of the 24-hour hospitals listed below to determine if your cat needs to be seen immediately. 

Emergency Veterinarians In the ZenCat Service Area

Animal Urgent Care - Escondido

(760) 738-9600

2430-A South Escondido Blvd.

Escondido, CA  92026

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - San Marcos

(760) 466-0600

2055 Montiel Road

San Marcos, CA  92069

VCA California Veterinary Specialists - Carlsbad

(760) 431-2273

2310 Faraday Avenue

Carlsbad, CA  92008

Veterinary Emergency Group - Encinitas

(760) 377-6611

260 North El Camino Real

Encinitas, CA  92024

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Sorrento Valley

(858) 875-7500

10435 Sorrento Valley Road

San Diego, CA  92121

VCA Animal Specialty Group - Kearny Mesa

(858) 560-8006

5610 Kearny Mesa Road

Suite B

San Diego, CA  92111

VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center - Mission Valley

(619) 299-2400

2317 Hotel Circle South

San Diego, CA  92108

Cat Emergencies (compiled from several veterinary emergency reference texts - may not include all possible emergency situations)

• Unconsciousness
• No heartbeat
• Not breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• Breathing hard
• Breathing fast
• Coughing as if something is stuck in the throat
• Sneezing as if something is stuck up the nose
• Abnormal urination
• Difficulty urinating
• Unable to urinate
• Signs of severe pain or obvious distress
• Sudden paralysis of the hind limbs
• Stopping eating or drinking
• Severe vomiting or diarrhea, especially if there is blood
• Known ingestion or exposure to toxins 
  • lilies
  • antifreeze
  • Tylenol
  • rat bait
  • snake bite
  • any human medication
  • marijuana
  • household cleansers
  • any other substance you're not sure about
• Lethargy that lasts more than a few hours
• Hiding that lasts more than a few hours
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Any major trauma
  • hit by car
  • fall from a height
  • stepped on
• Anytime you suspect a broken bone
• Eye injuries
• Sudden blindness
• Fight with another cat
• Bleeding from anywhere
  • eyes
  • ears
  • nose
• Blood in urine or feces 
• Your cat appears disoriented and can’t walk straight – is bumping into things
• Your cat’s abdomen is hard to the touch; she may be trying to vomit
• Your pregnant cat has gone more than three hours between delivering kittens
• If you see your cat eat a string/thread/dental floss/etc. (linear foreign body) and you are not able to stop it before it has already been swallowed (do NOT attempt to pull it out – go to the emergency)
• Facial swelling, hives, itchiness