Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Many first-time cat pet parents are not sure when to call the vet for their cats. This is normal! When you have a cat for the first time, you’re not sure what to expect. However, over time, you learn how to spot symptoms that can indicate your fur baby has a health issue.
We’ve put together some information about how to tell when it’s time to call the vet for your cat. Let’s get started!
Know Your Cat
When you’re a cat pet parent for the first time, it’s important to get to know your cat. That means paying attention to how your cat cats throughout the day. You should monitor your fur baby’s eating habits, his bathroom habits, the way he normally walks, the level of energy he has, grooming habits, and his friendliness (or lack thereof).
When you know what’s normal for your cat, it’s much easier to spot when trouble hits. For example, if your cat normally runs through the house all day long and suddenly doesn’t, this may be an indication something is wrong. Of course, it’s not always that simple. But we want to stress that knowing your cat’s baseline behavior can help you see when he’s acting differently. And this may be an indication he’s not feeling well or has an injury.
Symptoms That May Indicate Your Cat Needs to See the Vet
Here’s a list of symptoms that may indicate your fur baby needs to see the vet:
- Signs of distress (howling, crying, hiding, and more)
- Abnormal litter box use or behavior
- Repeated vomiting
- Lethargy
- Sudden change in appetite
- Dragging hind legs
- A lump or unusual growth
- Coughing or breathing problems
- Discharge from nose or eyes
- Trauma after a fight or fall
These are all symptoms that indicate your cat must see the vet ASAP. If you notice these symptoms last longer than 24 hours, be sure to call the vet immediately. These could indicate a serious health issue.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live NowCats & Symptoms
One thing to understand about cats is that they are pretty stoic when they’re not feeling good. That means they may not show symptoms until their condition has worsened.
If in Doubt, Call the Vet
If you are ever in doubt and worried about your cat, then be sure to call the vet. Vets understand that first-time cat pet parents don’t usually have much experience or knowledge of things that can go wrong with cats. So, they’re happy to offer advice and guidance. The vet will definitely let you know whether or not it’s necessary to bring your kitty in to be checked.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now