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3541 results for “when to take cat to vet”
My cat has soft stools with mucus but normal spirits after vaccines and deworming; should I see a vet?
Soft stool with good spirits usually rules out acute infectious disease; it is likely diet, gut flora imbalance, or internal parasites. Overfeeding, irregular meals, or an intolerant food causes it; fast half a day, give probiotics, then small frequent easily digested meals. If it recurs, get a fecal test, deworming does not cover coccidia or tritrichomonas.
My cat has been breathing fast lately, about 55 breaths; appetite and spirits are fine, but it panted through its mouth a few times
Fast breathing with normal appetite and spirits may follow exercise, or signal lung or heart disease. Panting after exertion is normal and settles with rest; but at rest or persistent, think pneumonia, pulmonary edema, or heart disease and see a vet.
I have a cat and a dog; before I left the dog’s eyes were fine, but when I returned they were tearing and a bit swollen; not sure if the cat scratched it
Tearing and swelling likely mean conjunctivitis or keratitis, with light sensitivity, discharge, and redness; causes include foreign objects, entropion, a cat scratch, or rubbing. If appetite and spirits are normal, distemper is unlikely; use pet eye drops 4-6 times daily and a collar, or see a vet.
My cat’s head seems to have less fur, and when I pick at it, it comes off like dandruff
Hair loss and more dandruff on the head suggest fungal or mite infection. Watch for itching or ulcers and check for parasites; mites bring itching and redness. If the bald spot has no other signs, it may be minor, watch for regrowth; if fur never returns, see a vet.
I just bought this cat; I didn’t notice the eye, but it has discharge and won’t open fully. What is wrong?
Eye discharge and trouble opening can be bacterial, foreign-body, or viral eye disease; see a vet to confirm before choosing medicine. If no fever or appetite loss, clean with saline and apply antibiotic drops like neomycin sulfate 4-6 times daily, with an Elizabethan collar.
Why does my cat’s urine have white foam?
White foam in urine may mean a urinary problem such as a tract infection or stones, which blocks the urethra and raises protein concentration in retained urine. Pyometra or prostatitis can also cause it; see a vet to avoid worsening.
My cat won’t eat, is listless, lies down, twitches now and then; I suspect it ate a dead mouse
A dead mouse that ate rat poison can poison the cat, causing breathing trouble, twitching, and bleeding from eyes/nose/mouth in some types. There is often no antidote, so rush to the vet for induced vomiting and gastric lavage, plus specific antidotes like vitamin K for warfarin.
My cat’s wound improved daily July 1-15, then stalled on the 16th with a tissue layer covering it; I clean and medicate twice daily
A non-healing wound is usually three cases: infected dead tissue and scab delaying healing; normal new granulation tissue slowly turning to scar; or antibiotic resistance from long use. A stalled, covered wound is often normal granulation; if truly stuck, get a vet debridement and culture-guided antibiotics.
My cat vomited undigested kibble, then yellow fluid with white foam, now only white foam. What should I do?
Vomiting yellow fluid and white foam usually points to a digestive disease with many possible causes, so withhold food and water and see a vet for a confirmed diagnosis. Common causes include hairball gastritis, parasites, acute gastroenteritis, wrong food or poisoning, and panleukopenia.
My cat’s belly has been swollen and soft for two days, no poop for two days, no fever, no loafing, but it drank water frequently at noon today
A swollen, soft belly with reduced defecation can be a sign of wet-form FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), caused by a mutated coronavirus that produces fluid buildup. Early FIP signs include stubborn fever, rough coat, loafing, appetite loss, and weight loss. Watch for these and see a vet early if unsure.