Cats are these big furballs of mystery, and they do some pretty weird stuff that most people just chalk up as “normal weird stuff cats do.” Because of that, a lot of cat owners just can’t figure out when to take their cats to the vet. In this video, we’re going to be clearing up some of the most potentially serious things that cats need to be rushed to the vet for, immediately!
10. "Dragging Back Legs."
If your cat normally walks fine but suddenly starts to walk with its hind legs dragging behind it, something very serious might be going on. Cats can sometimes develop clots in their bodies. If that clot doesn’t dissipate and ends up traveling to the back legs, it can get stuck there and cut off the blood flow to the legs, which can cause the cat to literally lose control over its hind legs. If you go in to touch the legs, you might even notice that they’re colder than the rest of the body. Generally, this type of blood clot happens in the hind legs, both of them, but it can even happen in just one of the hind legs, the front legs, or even in other parts of the cat’s body! This is a problem that’s more common in cats with heart diseases but could potentially happen to an otherwise healthy cat too. That’s why it’s extremely important for everyone to know about what this looks like because if it happens to your cat, you need to rush them to the vet immediately.
9. Difference in breathing
Some cats don’t breathe rapidly, others will start to pant even if they’re just done one zoomie round in the past hour. Each cat has a general pattern of breathing that they normally stay in the range of. But, if you’re noticing your otherwise panting cat suddenly has slowed breathing or a calm cat that’s suddenly panting, it’s a cause for concern. If it’s not a hot summer day, and your cat hasn’t gone on the 4 am run around the house, sit them down and examine them. Check their mouth, if the gums are discolored, or the tongue. If the color seems off, there might be something going on with their lungs. Even if the color is normal, the breathing change in itself is a cause for concern, and you should call your vet immediately to rule out any life-threatening issues immediately!
8. Constantly sleeping
Sure, cats sleep a lot. Some cats will even go on to sleep through the entire day, or night, only waking up for a sip of water, some food, and will go back to sleep again! But there’s a point where the constant sleeping doesn’t seem okay. This will be different for each cat, but if they’re starting to sleep a lot more than they usually do, or maybe aren’t sleeping nearly enough, take note of it, and call your vet to make sure that it isn't anything serious. Sometimes there are viruses going around that cats catch without us even knowing, and ignoring signs like excessive sleep could put their life at risk!
7. Throwing up a lot
If cats eat anything, they’re not used to, even a different flavor of the same cat food they’ve had all of their lives! Some say that’s just cats being overdramatic, which, let’s be honest, they are. However, they’re not always being the drama queens they were born to be. Sometimes things are actually serious. If your cat swallows too many bones, they can accumulate in its system and cause internal damage. Or, if they eat something that’s potentially poisonous to them, their bodies might try to reject that food and throw up in response. If nothing in their diet has changed, and they’re throwing up excessively, notify your vet immediately and see if they need to be taken in for an emergency scan.
6. Going to the litter box but not peeing
Cats are some of the bougie-st animals in the world. So much so that they won’t even pee somewhere they’re not supposed to and will throw a massive tantrum if their litter box isn’t scooped the exact way they like it, they’ll refuse to use it. One of the biggest warning signs you need to watch out for in cats is if they’re frequently going to use the litter box but for some reason, aren’t able to do so. They might sit there, straining, and still not be able to pee! This is a telltale sign of a serious UTI, and the cat needs to be put on treatment right away!
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