(760) 443-7241

ZenCat
ZenCat
  • Home
  • Urgent Health Advisory
  • About Us
  • Pricing
  • House Call FAQ
  • Wellness
  • Sick Kitties/Emergencies
  • Cat Lover's Resources
  • ZenCat Videos
  • Dr. Phoenix's Blog
  • Vaccinations
  • Surgery & Dentistry
  • Managing Chronic Diseases
  • Behavior Counseling
  • Nutrition Counseling
  • Quality of Life & Hospice
  • Euthanasia & AfterCare
  • ZenCat Forms & Handouts
  • Referring Veterinarians
  • Employment
  • Contact Us
  • More
    • Home
    • Urgent Health Advisory
    • About Us
    • Pricing
    • House Call FAQ
    • Wellness
    • Sick Kitties/Emergencies
    • Cat Lover's Resources
    • ZenCat Videos
    • Dr. Phoenix's Blog
    • Vaccinations
    • Surgery & Dentistry
    • Managing Chronic Diseases
    • Behavior Counseling
    • Nutrition Counseling
    • Quality of Life & Hospice
    • Euthanasia & AfterCare
    • ZenCat Forms & Handouts
    • Referring Veterinarians
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Urgent Health Advisory
  • About Us
  • Pricing
  • House Call FAQ
  • Wellness
  • Sick Kitties/Emergencies
  • Cat Lover's Resources
  • ZenCat Videos
  • Dr. Phoenix's Blog
  • Vaccinations
  • Surgery & Dentistry
  • Managing Chronic Diseases
  • Behavior Counseling
  • Nutrition Counseling
  • Quality of Life & Hospice
  • Euthanasia & AfterCare
  • ZenCat Forms & Handouts
  • Referring Veterinarians
  • Employment
  • Contact Us

Sick Kitties

How to tell if your cat is sick

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.) 

If you notice any change in your cat's behavior, weight, eating or drinking, s/he may be sick

If you notice any change in your cat's behavior, weight, eating or drinking, s/he may be sick

Book an Appointment

Emergencies

Is it an emergency?

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

An emergency situation can be life-threatening. Seek immediate treatment for emergencies.

An emergency situation can be life-threatening. Seek immediate treatment for emergencies.

Book an appointment

Did You Know ZenCat Supports a Non-Profit

Since it's inception in 2017, Dr. Phoenix has never taken a paycheck for her work on behalf of ZenCat, choosing instead to reinvest any profits from her paying clients to provide veterinary care to those who can't afford it through the ZenCat Foundation. Please help us expand our mission to improve cat welfare through education and no/low cost veterinary care with a donation.

ZenCat Foundation Inc. is an IRS Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit company. Donations are tax deductible. 

Make a Donation

Contact Us

ZenCat

Escondido, California 92026

(760) 443-7241

Call or Visit Our Online Scheduler to Check Availability

Today

Closed

Appointments are generally scheduled between 11am and 4pm Monday through Friday. If you require a veterinary visit outside those times, just call, text or email us so that we may accommodate you. 


ZenCat serves the following communities: Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, 4S Ranch, Del Sur, Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, Del Mar, La Jolla, San Diego, Fallbrook, Bonsall, and Valley Center.

Ask Dr. Phoenix

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Cancel
Book an appointment

Social

Copyright © 2025 ZenCat - All Rights Reserved.


Powered by

Urgent ZenCat Feline Health Advisory

Over 20 cats in Southern California have become sick or died from H5 Bird Flu (formerly referred to as H5N1, and Avian Influenza A). These cats either drank raw cow’s milk, or ate a commercial raw diet with beef and poultry.

Please use the link below for more information on how to protect your cat from this fatal illness.

Read More