© 2025 Alley Cat Allies. All rights reserved. When to Seek Emergency Veterinary Care for a Cat 6 Alley Cat Allies Warning: some of the photos contain graphic content. If you see one or more of the following signs, consult a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY: 1. Respiratory distress Cats are coughing constantly, open-mouth breathing, struggling to breathe, or breathing too fast. Watch for excessive panting and abnormal movement of the chest or abdomen. 2. Open wounds or other visible injuries A wound is apparent and/or there is blood anywhere on the cat. Look closely at areas where you can tell the cat has lost fur to see if an injury is visible. 3. Limping, dragging part of body Cats may not always make their pain or limping apparent, so watch to see if they are walking differently than usual, like an inability to walk in a straight line or favoring one leg over the other. 4. Clouded, crusted, runny, or injured eyes Eyes that are crusted shut, leaking, swollen or protruding, clouding or cataracts in one or both eyes, or holding one eye or both closed. 5. Crusted mucus around the nose An overly running nose, and crusting of the nostrils, are signs of respiratory infection and could impede breathing. 1 2 4a 4b Example of panting Example of an open wound Example of crusted eyes Example of crusted eyes
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