10 Signs a Cat Is Sick & Needs To Go to the Emergency Vet
Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Cats are masters at acting like everything is fine and masking pain and illness. But sometimes, there are subtle signs that a cat is not feeling well. For example, instead of lounging in their favorite sunbeam, they’re hiding under the bed, skipping meals, or behaving a little differently than usual.
As a cat sitter, it’s important to be able to recognize when something seems off. Knowing the warning signs of illness can help you act quickly and get the cat the care they need. Here are 10 cat sickness signs that should never be ignored—and may warrant a trip to the emergency vet.
1. Straining To Urinate
If your Rover cat keeps making trips to the litter box but isn’t producing much urine or any at all, don’t ignore it. Difficulty urinating is one of the most urgent emergencies veterinarians see, especially in male cats. It could be a blocked urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body from the bladder), which can quickly become life-threatening.
What it could mean
- Urinary blockage
- Kidney failure
- Bladder inflammation
Signs to seek emergency care
- Frequent trips to the litter box with little or no urine produced
- Straining or crying while urinating
- Excessive licking of the genital area
- Blood in the litter box
- Vomiting
- Hiding or unusual lethargy
- Difficulty standing or walking
2. Struggling To Breathe
Unlike dogs, cats don’t pant. So if a cat in your care is breathing with their mouth open, gasping, or showing signs of respiratory distress, it’s safest to head to the emergency vet immediately.
What it could mean
- Asthma attack
- Respiratory infection
- Airway obstruction
- Heart condition
Signs to seek emergency care
- Open-mouth breathing
- Rapid breathing while resting
- Wheezing or gasping
- Blue, gray, or pale gums
- Extended neck posture while breathing
3. Severe Vomiting or Diarrhea
One hairball or episode of vomiting isn’t always cause for concern. But if your Rover cat can’t keep food or water down, has repeated bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, or starts acting lethargic, it’s time to take things more seriously. Ongoing digestive issues can quickly lead to dehydration and may signal a more serious underlying problem.
What it could mean
- Gastrointestinal blockage
- Toxic ingestion
- Severe infection
- Pancreatitis
Signs to seek emergency care
- Multiple episodes within a few hours
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Inability to keep water down
- Severe lethargy
- Abdominal pain
4. Ingesting Something Toxic
Cats may be pickier than dogs when it comes to eating, but they can still get into things they shouldn’t. Many of the things we keep around the house without a second thought can be harmful to cats, like lilies, human medications, essential oils, and some cleaning products.
What it could mean
- Poisoning
- Kidney failure
- Organ damage
Signs to seek emergency care
- Known or suspected exposure to a toxic substance
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Difficulty walking or disorientation
- Seizures
- Collapse
Marina Demidiuk via iStock
5. Dragging the Back Legs
If a cat suddenly can’t use their back legs, treat it as an emergency. This symptom can be caused by a serious condition called a saddle thrombus, where a blood clot blocks circulation to the hind limbs.
What it could mean
- Saddle thrombus (blood clot)
- Severe spinal injury
- Neurological disease
Signs to seek emergency care
- Sudden inability to walk
- Dragging one or both hind legs
- Crying out in pain
- Rapid breathing
6. Trauma or Injury
Sometimes the most serious injuries are the ones you can’t see. If a cat you are sitting has taken a hard fall, been involved in an accident, or is showing signs of injury, don’t assume they’re in the clear just because they’re still walking around.
What it could mean
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
- Head trauma
- Organ damage
Signs to seek emergency care
- Hit by a vehicle
- Fall from a significant height
- Visible wounds
- Difficulty walking
- Signs of pain
7. Bleeding
Significant blood loss can become dangerous quickly and requires immediate veterinary attention.
What it could mean
- Deep cut or wound
- Bite wound
- Internal injury
- Clotting disorder
Signs to seek emergency care
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Loss of large amounts of blood
- Pale gums
- Weakness
- Collapse
8. Seizures
Seeing a cat have a seizure can be scary, especially if you’ve never witnessed one before. A seizure may look like full-body shaking and paddling of the legs, but it can also look like staring, twitching, drooling, or sudden confusion. It’s a good idea to make sure any unusual neurological symptoms are evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
What it could mean
- Epilepsy
- Toxin
- Brain disorder
Signs to seek emergency care
- First-time seizure
- Seizure lasting more than five minutes
- Multiple seizures in 24 hours
- Difficulty recovering afterward
- Loss of consciousness
9. Sudden Collapse or Extreme Weakness
If your Rover cat suddenly falls over, can’t stand, or seems too weak to walk normally, it should be treated as a medical emergency.
What it could mean
- Heart disease
- Brain issue
- Severe infection
Signs to seek emergency care
- Loss of consciousness
- Inability to stand
- Severe weakness
- Disorientation
10. Heatstroke
Most people associate heatstroke with dogs, but cats can overheat too, especially in poorly ventilated environments. Once a cat’s body temperature rises too high, it can quickly become life-threatening.
What it could mean
- Heatstroke
- Severe dehydration
Signs to seek emergency care
- Rapid breathing or panting
- Bright red or pale gums
- Excessive drooling
- Muscle tremors or shaking
- Vomiting
- Weakness or disorientation
- Collapse
Communication & Support
As a pet sitter, when a cat in your care is showing signs of sickness or a medical emergency, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Even so, recognizing those signs and having a plan in place will help you stay calm and focus on getting the cat the care they need.
If you suspect a cat needs emergency veterinary attention, follow these steps:
- Assess the situation. Pay attention to what you’re seeing, including when the symptoms started and whether they’re getting worse. Photos or videos can be helpful if it’s safe to take them.
- Contact the owner. Let them know what’s happening and share the symptoms you’ve observed. If the cat is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, don’t delay taking them to the emergency vet while waiting for a response from the owner.
- Follow the emergency plan. Before each booking, ask owners for their preferred emergency veterinary clinic and any instructions for emergency situations. Having this information on hand can save valuable time.
- Seek veterinary care. If the owner hasn’t left information about their preferred emergency vet, head to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic right away.
- Contact Rover Support. Rover’s Trust & Safety team is standing by 24/7 to help you if an emergency arises at 888-727-1140.
