⚠ Go to an Emergency Vet Immediately If You See

Open-mouth or labored breathing • Collapse or inability to stand • Seizure • Suspected toxin ingestion • Straining in the litter box with no urine output • Unresponsiveness • Severe trauma • Significant bleeding • Sudden profound behavior change • Pale, white, or blue gums

📞 Call Us Now

What to Observe Before Your Visit

Your observations are the first diagnostic tool we use.

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Appetite & Water Intake

When did you last see your Cat eat normally? Eat partially? Refuse food entirely? Any change in water intake? Note what was offered, how much consumed, and whether interest seemed normal.

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Litter Box Observations

Frequency? Normal urine output, reduced, or none? Straining, vocalizing, or blood? Normal stool, diarrhea, or constipation? Any accidents outside the box? Among the most clinically valuable details you can provide.

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Energy, Behavior & Mobility

More hiding than usual? Reluctance to jump or move normally? Changes in grooming? Interactions with you or other household animals different? Vocalizing more, or quieter?

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Vomiting & GI Signs

How many times? What did it look like, food, liquid, foam, or blood? Any retching without producing vomit? Diarrhea? How long? A photo is genuinely clinically useful.

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Dermatology & Skin

Any changes in coat, skin, or grooming habits? Excessive scratching, licking, or hair loss? Any visible lesions, scabs, or redness? Is it worsening, stable, or improving?

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Respiratory & Ocular Signs

Coughing, sneezing, or wheezing? Eye discharge, clear, cloudy, or colored? One eye or both? Open sores or squinting? Noisy breathing?

Should Your Cat Fast Before the Visit?

For a general illness exam, light fasting (2 to 3 hours) can reduce nausea if vomiting is a concern, but complete fasting is not typically required unless anesthesia is planned. If your Cat is already not eating, do not attempt to fast them further. When in doubt, call our Feline Experience Specialists before the visit.

What to Expect

How CatsOnly approaches an illness visit.

We start with listening

Before touching your Cat, we ask you to walk us through what you have observed. Written-down observations make this conversation more thorough and efficient.

We observe before we examine

Our clinical team notes your Cat’s gait, posture, breathing pattern, and demeanor before making any physical contact. Cats often reveal significant clinical information in these first moments.

We explain before we act

You will know what we are doing and why before every clinical step. If we want bloodwork, urinalysis, or radiographs, we explain the rationale and get your input before proceeding.

You Stay With Your Cat

For illness visits, your presence is especially important. Cats regulate their emotional state in part through proximity to their bonded human. You staying in the room measurably affects exam quality.

After-Hours Concerns

If something worsens after clinic hours, you are automatically connected to our licensed RVT triage team when you call our number, or you can go directly to VEG. Call us first thing the next business day and our Feline Experience Specialists will follow up immediately.

When something seems wrong, here is how to prepare.

Your observations are the first diagnostic tool we use.

How CatsOnly approaches an illness visit.

Questions before your visit?