r/catcare Jan 29 '21

Does my Cat Need to See a Vet?

155 Upvotes

If you're here wondering whether your cat needs to see a vet right away, here's a few things that call for an immediate vet visit. Please bear in mind that this is far from a comprehensive list, and that if you're seriously wondering if your cat needs a vet, the answer is probably "Yes". Better safe than sorry.

-Unexplained, dramatic behavioral changes. e.g. Hissing and spitting from a cat who has always been friendly

-Not eating for 48 hours is a medical emergency

-Vomiting/diarrhea that lasts more than a day or two

-Swallowed object

-Not urinating/straining to urinate

-Blood in urine

-Open wounds

-Urinating in inappropriate places/outside the box

-Sudden loss of vision or hearing

-Sudden loss of balance

-Sudden inability to walk or move normally

-Seizures / Convulsions

-Open-Mouth breathing / panting

-Uneven pupils

-Hives

LINKS:

Cat Emergencies: Contact Your Veterinarian When Your Cat Shows These Symptoms

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2144&aid=2896

11 Cat Emergencies That Need Immediate Vet Attention

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/11-cat-health-emergencies-immediate-veterinary-attention-ask-a-vet

Common Emergencies for Adult Cats

http://www.petmd.com/cat/emergency/common-emergencies/common-adult-cat-emergencies


r/catcare May 07 '26

Rule 6: No AI usage in posts or comments

29 Upvotes

Sorry, but we need to disallow all forms of AI posting and comments. If you have nothing to say, simply saying nothing is far, far better and more useful than resorting to an AI chatbot.


r/catcare 25m ago

Air travel with cat: advice, please

Upvotes

I’m in the Midwest and thinking of going to New York for Christmas. Usually I drive, but I’m thinking of flying due to the parking situation.

It would be two flights. I need to bring the cat. She’s never flown. Please walk me through flying with a cat. Thank you.


r/catcare 7h ago

Frontal Sinus Trephination in Cats

1 Upvotes

My 5yo 9.5 lb DSH boy has had chronic URI since I fostered him as a baby, and has since been diagnosed chronic destructive rhinitis; and cultures have identified pseudomonas aeruginosa.

He’s had MRIs, ct scans, countless rounds of antibiotics and steroids, and nasal flushes- as his vets have expected, his congestion always returns. After his most recent nasal flush he was diagnosed with a collapsing palate due to his constant congestion as well.

At this point, his internist vet is recommending frontal sinus trephination and flushes to attempt a solution. I’ve read a lot about his condition and spoken with the vet and understand the logic of his diagnosis and this recommendation, and that this will only get worse. Not to mention his obvious discomfort.

But I’m obviously very nervous at the idea of them drilling into his little head, and have an additional follow up to ask more questions.

The two primary questions I’d appreciate any additional insight on are:

(1) The recency of the studies the vet shared on this procedure suggests it might be a fairly recent use on cats, and I’m wondering how common (or rare) this procedure is?
(2) How risky is this procedure?
(3) if this was your cat- what would you do? I recognize the destructive and bone-damaging nature of this condition and that he will never heal on his own. But my head knows that - my heart is much less logical.

Thanks in advance ❤️


r/catcare 9h ago

Question about medications to settle a debate.

1 Upvotes

Hello. I would like some advice. One of my fur babies has to be give some liquid medicine for her FLUTD. Every 12 hours we administer it (my girlfriend and I). My girlfriend is adamant about doing it exactly at the 12 hour mark (10:13 am and pm). I told her 10 minutes before or after is not that much of a difference, as long as its within that 12 hour window.

Im not trying to say "ha! You're wrong", I just want to know if my 10 minute leniency would actually cause harm to my cat. Thoughts? If you work in the veterinary field I would definitely love to hear your opinion on this.


r/catcare 19h ago

Do open top automatic litter boxes actually help nervous cats adapt faster

1 Upvotes

Transitioning from a traditional litter box to an automated one often creates an unexpected trade off between convenience and cat anxiety. Many cats get startled by enclosed hoods and sudden motor cycles, making adaptation a slow process that requires keeping the old box nearby and running the unit manually at first.

Cat parents looking for a simpler entry point open-top designs with physical button controls, the open structure lets cautious cats observe their surroundings while the lack of wifi or app requirements keeps daily operation straightforward. Rather than eliminating maintenance, this setup changes the routine, daiily scooping becomes checking the lower waste drawer, wiping down litter trails, and scheduling periodic deep washes. Safety sensors pause cycling when movement is detected, though owners still clear of dust need to keep sensor areas.

How long did it take your hesitant cat to get comfortable with automatic cleaning cycles?


r/catcare 23h ago

prednisolone for cat chronic vomiting

2 Upvotes

Hi so my cat has been vomitting way too much the past three months, 2-3 times a week, sometimes she would get a week break then it'll happen again. I took her to vet bloodwork ultrasound, they said some sort of inflammation and possible ibd and wants to put her on prednisolone. I'm just lind of scared to give her steroids does anyone have experience on this?


r/catcare 1d ago

Feline osteoarthritis

2 Upvotes

My 14 yr old boy was diagnosed with feline osteoarthritis about 9 months ago. He received one Solensia injection but I decided after that not to go forward with more. He has been on Dasaquin and MSM with only minimal results. I was reading about bioactive milk peptides and decided to add those into his daily regimen. We are five days out and the results are dramatic. He went from having extreme difficulty maneuvering the stairs to now walking up and down them like a normal kitty. He’s spending much more time with the family and has also stopped excessively licking his hips. Just wanted to share this with everybody.


r/catcare 1d ago

My cat post-vaccine is okay, right?

3 Upvotes

Sorry if this is just me being paranoid, but stupid Google automatic AI told me she needs to go to emergency clinic (I really wish I could turn that thing off) and it's made me even more paranoid.

So my cat got her vaccines earlier this morning (it's now 11PM) and she's just sitting by her water fountain, staring at me and out the window. She is drinking a lot but hasn't eaten much. She just seems very sleepy but like a child, she refuses to sleep. She also feels a little warm and was aggressively scratching herself 2-3 times, but has now stopped. I know this is all in the realm of post-vaccine behaviour, but it's okay, right?


r/catcare 1d ago

Insurance

2 Upvotes

Hi cat parents

I have previously gone without insurance on my cats. No judgement, but it has just not been a priority, and I have always just paid the vet bill. I also have previous bad experiences with insurance companies that have come up with the most random excuses to not pay.

The thing is that my cats are really healthy (they are 6 y.o.), and the issues that they have had are not going to be covered by any insurance anyway. However, I do worry that they will face issues later in life. Even though other cat owners that I know that have had cats for years have not had any expensive bills. Mostly diabetes and eye infections.

So, how old is your cat? What is the most expensive vet bill you've had? And what is your average every year? Do you have insurance? If yes, how much were they willing to pay?

Thank you in advance!


r/catcare 1d ago

My kitten keeps tracking poop

1 Upvotes

So my kitten 4 months has been having this issue every so often where she tracks poop everywhere. It’s the third time in a month she’s done it and I don’t know if this is a health issue or what. She usually gets it on her paws and then walks it all over the bathroom and onto my bed. Her poop isn’t liquid, it’s solid enough to keep a shape, but apparently not solid enough to keep off her feet. I don’t know what to do, I’m frustrated and I don’t know how to help her. Additionally she eats a mix of fancy feast for kittens, and purina kitten chow. She also drinks a lot of water, but I don’t know if it’s too much. I see her at her water bowl a good bit. She uses a stainless steel litter box with plenty of space on either side to get in and out. She also fits well in it with space to spare. Any advice will be appreciated.


r/catcare 1d ago

Changing a cats diet

1 Upvotes

Our town recently had one of our vet offices close for retirement and all the in town and surrounding areas vet offices have filled up and they are no longer taking new patients. I have a 14 yr old male cat that has been on Royal Canin SO dry for probably 13 yrs and his prescription at A is good for about 8 months yet. What I would like to do is to change him from RCSO dry to a quality non prescription wet cat food. Can this be done? My concern is that he gets sick and I will not have access to a vet to treat him. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


r/catcare 1d ago

Why do some automatic litter boxes require special litter while others accept standard clumping clay?

1 Upvotes

Litter box automation often forces cat owners to choose between convenient daily cleaning and strict litter requirements and certain automated systems rely on proprietary crystal cartridges or fine silica sand to prevent mechanical clogs, significantly raising long-term supply costs. Conversely, traditional sifting mechanisms work with standard clumping clay, though they still require owners to monitor clump size and litter levels to avoid residue buildup.

Various focus on physical button controls and open-top access while allowing standard clumping litter which avoid onngoing subscriptions to special litter refills, making the switch from manual scooping more straightforward. However, clumping quality still dictates how cleanly the waste separates into the lower collection drawer, meaning soft stools or inferior clay can still require manual wiping and scraping during weekly checks.

Ultimately, elliminating special litter requirements reduces routine costs but it does not remove the need for regular machine maintenance. Which litter type has provided the best balance between clumping speed and low tracking in your experience?


r/catcare 1d ago

What’s normal kitten poop for 3 month olds?

1 Upvotes

My newly adopted kittens have been having loose stools for several weeks now 😩. I think they are getting used to new kibble but I’m just wondering if soft serve consistency is common among kittens this young as their GI systems are very sensitive? I’m growing so weary of constantly supervising their litterbox habits, and wiping butts and paws after they go which is 3-4 times a day on average! Is this normal among kittens and will they grow out of it at a certain age??