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Oh, the life of a cat owner! From 2:00 a.m. zoomies, to \u201cI-can-see-the-bottom-of-the-bowl\u201d catastrophes, to not being able to have \u201cnice things\u201d \u2013 maybe they all balance out when one is the Honored Chosen Lap. The bond between feline companions and cat owners is special but can also be stressful! As an ER veterinarian (and a fellow cat owner!) there are five things I wish I could tell all cat owners before their kitties meet me in the emergency hospital.<\/p>\n
If a cat is going in and out of the litter box, seek immediate veterinary care. This behavior coupled with no urine clumps is a sign of a urethral obstruction – a very life-threatening condition. Even if there are clumps, your cat could still have urinary tract disease, diabetes, or constipation. Changes in litter box behavior<\/a> often hint at a problem that shouldn\u2019t be ignored.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, our homes contain many potential hazards to our fur babies. Items like chocolate and grapes are more well-known, but others aren\u2019t. For cats, two of the most common toxins are:<\/p>\n If you are uncertain if your cat ate something toxic, call your family veterinarian, local animal ER, or animal poison control center. They will help confirm if an item is toxic and recommend what to do next.<\/p>\n Vomiting is NOT something cats \u201cjust do.\u201d If your kitty vomits more than once monthly, schedule an appointment with your family vet. Several diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease or lymphoma, can cause chronic vomiting that may not seem frequent enough to be alarming. Learn more about vomiting in cats here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Your geriatric cat or overweight kitty may not be \u201cslowing down\u201d due to old age. It\u2019s possible that, like humans and dogs do, your cat may have developed arthritis. Cats are masters of hiding pain so there may be no obvious limp. Instead, your cat may show signs of arthritis via these behavior changes:<\/p>\n If any of these ring true for your cat, talk to your family veterinarian about medications and modifications to help.<\/p>\n If your kitty is \u201ca handful\u201d at the veterinary clinic, please don\u2019t let that delay a needed visit. If you\u2019re visiting your family vet, inform the staff beforehand so they can be prepared. Your family veterinarian may also suggest an anxiety-reducing medication such as gabapentin, which can be given prior to a visit. Find more tips for a fear-free vet visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, in emergency situations, medications provided in advance of the visit won\u2019t be an option. Please know, however, that emergency teams are well-trained and comfortable dealing with kitties that turn into lions!<\/p>\n We hope you feel better able to interpret what your cat may be trying to communicate, as well more informed as how to avoid some potential emergencies. In order to make their cat\u2019s visits a more positive experience, we encourage cat owners to build a trusted relationship with their family vet. If you have any questions or concerns about your cat\u2019s health or behavior, consult with your family vet before it becomes an emergency!<\/p>\n Are you also a dog owner? Check out our \u201cFive Things Emergency Vets Want Dog Owners to Know<\/a>\u201d article, written by Dr. Ally Thell, one of our emergency veterinarians.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"cat](\"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Untitled-design-2020-06-10T100508.809.png\")
<\/p>\n2. Was that toxic or not? Call and double-check!<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n3. Chronic intermittent vomiting is NOT normal.<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n4. Cats can get arthritis, too.<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n5. We understand that your kitty is usually not this angry, whirling dervish that we see in the clinic! <\/strong><\/h4>\n
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