If your cat has suffered a sudden trauma or is experiencing any life threatening symptoms, please call us immediately at: (602) 833-7511

In an emergency, time is of the essence, please call us as soon as possible so we can determine if our doctors are able to help your pet or if would need to direct you to the nearest Emergency Veterinary Hospital. 

What To Do If Your Cat May Be Having A Veterinary Emergency

In case of a cat emergency, waiting until "normal business hours" is not an option. In a time of crisis, proceed directly to an emergency clinic for animals.

If your cat has suffered a sudden trauma or is experiencing any life-threatening symptoms, please call us immediately at: (602) 833-7511

Cat Emergency? Animal Wellness Clinic of Tamarac offers 24 hr emergency cat care

Cat Emergencies That Require Immediate Veterinary Attention

  • Difficulty Breathing - Difficulty breathing is an immediate emergency. Symptoms include labored breathing (this can be subtle, but it looks like your cat's chest is moving faster and more pronounced while breathing), making alarming noises, or puffing of the lips. If you see or suspect these symptoms, seek immediate emergency dog care.

  • Urethral Obstruction - This is a blockage in the urinary tube that leads from the bladder to the penis. When obstructed with small sand like particles, your cat cannot urinate. Symptoms include urinating outside of a litter box, straining to produce very small amounts of urine, vocalizing pain or distress, and excessive genital grooming.
  • Hind-End Paralysis - If you find your cat unable to use its rear legs and is showing signs of stress and pain, it is an emergency. This condition is known as aortic thromboembolism or ATE. It is a complication of heart disease that causes a blood clot to lodge in a large vessel of the hind legs. Symptoms include panting, vocalizing pain or distress, and severe physical distress resulting from an inability to move the hindquarters of the body. 
  • Not Eating/Drinking -  It should be a concern if your cat does not eat at its usual time or its usual amount. Cat's do not go extended periods of time without eating or drinking and doing so may be a sign of serious illness including kidney failure, diabetes complications or intestinal obstructions. 
  • Vomiting and/or Diarrhea - Almost all cats have soft stools occasionally, but if your cat vomits repeatedly or has violent diarrhea, seek urgent care.
  • Ingestion of Toxins - If you witness your cat ingesting toxic substances, it is essential to seek emergency cat care. Recovery rates are exponentially better when immediate emergency care is provided.
  • Seizures - Although a solitary seizure may not be life threatening, seizures often come in clusters and can become progressive. Seizures have many causes including ingestion of a toxic substance or medication. Seizures are generally a sign of serious illness in a cat.
  • Major Trauma - If your cat experiences major traumas, such as attack by a dog, falling from a height, or a fight with another cat, seek cat emergency care immediately. Remember, cats do not usually show immediate symptoms of injury even when they have internal trauma. 

Tips For Getting Your Cat Safely to an Emergency Clinic

Follow these tips for safely transporting your cat to an emergency care clinic:

  • First, gently place a towel over your cat's head to prevent biting, and then slowly lift him or her into an open-topped carrier or box.
  • Be sure to support the cat's body weight, which should also help with relaxation.
  • Take special care to support your cat's head, and avoid any twisting of the neck, especially in cases of possible spinal injury.

First Aid Treatments to Consider Before Visiting an Emergency Cat Clinic

  • For external bleeding due to trauma, try to elevate the affected area, and apply direct pressure to the wound. This could include constructing a makeshift tourniquet to isolate an affected limb. Use a towel to apply pressure to any area that is actively bleeding.
  • For choking emergencies, place your fingers in your cat's mouth to see if you can remove the blockage. Be careful to not push the blockage farther back into the throat and mind your fingers to ensure they do not end up being bitten due to fear on the part of your cat.
  • If you cannot remove the object, perform a modified Heimlich maneuver by giving a sharp rap to your cat's chest. This should help dislodge the object. We recommend learning how to perform this maneuver beforehand, in order to minimize the risk of injury in the case of an actual emergency cat care situation.

How To Perform CPR On Your Cat

CPR is extremely important for any human being to know how to administer. By nature, emergency situations are never planned or convenient. Time is of the essence and a few simple techniques can mean the difference between life and death. The first thing to understand is that, like humans, a beating heart and working lungs are the two most critical body functions. So, if your cat cannot breathe, or if he or she does not have a heartbeat, then emergency CPR is in order.

If a cat emergency like this arises, take the following steps to perform CPR on your beloved feline friend:

  1. First check to see if he or she is breathing.
  2. If not, place him or her on their side and perform artificial respiration by extending the head and neck, holding the jaws closed and blowing into the nostrils once every three seconds.
  3. Make sure no air escapes between your mouth and the nose.
  4. If you don't feel a heartbeat, incorporate cardiac massage while administering artificial respiration. This is done using three quick, firm chest compressions for every respiration, until your cat resumes breathing on his or her own.

What To Do If Your Cat Eats Something Poisonous

If you see your cat ingest a toxic substance, or even if you suspect that he or she has, it is important to seek emergency cat care immediately.  Call ASPCA's Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or go directly to the veterinarian. Bring the bottle or know the type of medication or poison ingested. Call on your way in and tell them what the cat ingested and how long ago it was ingested and the amount.