Cat Emergency? Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care Is Here For You

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If your cat has suffered a sudden trauma or is experiencing any life-threatening symptoms, please call us immediately at: (657) 756-5683

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A fluffy brown tabby cat with yellow eyes crouches and stretches its front paws forward on the ground, surrounded by green plants and flowers in a sunlit garden.

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

Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care is a hybrid emergency animal hospital offering both emergency veterinary services and routine care. We are open from 5am-11pm with Dr’s on staff 24/7 to serve you and your feline companions. Our experienced veterinarians, Dr. Ryan Smith and Dr. Reid Forman, are always ready to provide expert care for your cat.

A fluffy brown tabby cat with yellow eyes crouches and stretches its front paws forward on the ground, surrounded by green plants and flowers in a sunlit garden.

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

Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care is a hybrid emergency animal hospital offering both emergency veterinary services and routine care. We are open from 5am-11pm with Dr’s on staff 24/7 to serve you and your feline companions. Our experienced veterinarians, Dr. Ryan Smith and Dr. Reid Forman, are always ready to provide expert care for your cat.

Cat Emergencies That Require Immediate Veterinary Attention

Cats can be very subtle in showing signs of illness. Therefore, it is crucial that you be on the lookout for subtle changes in your cat’s behavior. If your cat normally greets you and wants to eat when you get home, and suddenly they neither greet you nor want to eat, this may be a serious sign that they need veterinary medical help.

The following conditions warrant immediate veterinary care for your cat:

A long-haired, brown and orange tabby cat with green eyes lounges on a tan cushion, looking at the camera with sunlight highlighting its fur.
A fluffy, long-haired cat with green eyes and a mix of brown, black, and orange fur lies on a brown cushion, looking toward the camera in soft sunlight.

Cat Emergencies That Require Immediate Veterinary Attention

Cats can be very subtle in showing signs of illness. Therefore, it is crucial that you be on the lookout for subtle changes in your cat’s behavior. If your cat normally greets you and wants to eat when you get home, and suddenly they neither greet you nor want to eat, this may be a serious sign that they need veterinary medical help.

The following conditions warrant immediate veterinary care for your cat:

This may be the most serious of all non-trauma-induced injuries. Hypoxia (low oxygen levels) can lead to respiratory arrest and possibly death if not treated quickly. When this occurs, your cat is suffering and panicked. Symptoms include labored breathing, noisy breaths, puffing of the lips, or even open-mouth breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek immediate emergency care.

This is a blockage in the urinary tube that leads from the bladder to the penis. When obstructed, your cat cannot urinate, which is both very painful and can lead to life-threatening metabolic changes. Symptoms include urinating outside the litter box, straining to produce only small amounts of urine, vocalizing due to pain or distress, frequent trips to the litter box, and excessive genital grooming. This mainly affects male cats, but female cats can have urinary problems too.

If you find your cat unable to use its rear legs and showing signs of stress and pain, it’s an emergency. This condition, known as aortic thromboembolism (ATE), 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.

If your cat does not eat at its usual time or its usual amount, it should be a concern. Cats shouldn’t go extended periods without eating or drinking, as this may be a sign of serious illness, including kidney failure, diabetes complications, or intestinal obstructions. If you notice your cat not eating or drinking for more than one day, seek emergency care.

While soft stools occasionally are normal, if your cat vomits repeatedly or has persistent watery or bloody diarrhea, seek urgent care.

If you witness your cat ingesting toxic substances, seek emergency care immediately. If possible, bring the packaging or label of the ingested substance for our veterinarians to review and administer proper treatment.

Although a solitary seizure may not be life-threatening, seizures can come in clusters and become progressive. If your cat has never had a seizure before, we recommend seeking immediate medical attention, as seizures are generally a sign of serious illness in cats.

If your cat experiences major traumas, such as an attack by a dog, falling from a height, or being hit by a car, seek emergency care immediately. Remember, cats don’t always show immediate symptoms of injury, even with internal trauma.

Of course, we cannot explore every possible emergency scenario here. If you are worried about the health of your cat, especially if you suspect a life-threatening situation, please call us immediately or bring your cat to our clinic located at:

16161 Springdale St
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(657) 756-5683

Getting Your Cat Safely To Our Emergency Clinic

During times of illness or injury, even the most affectionate cat may become aggressive. Follow these tips for safely transporting your cat to our emergency care clinic:

  1. Gently place a towel over your cat’s head to prevent biting, then slowly lift them into an open-topped carrier or box.
  2. Support your cat’s body weight to help them relax.
  3. Take special care to support your cat’s head and avoid any twisting of the neck, especially in cases of possible spinal injury.
  4. Once secured, transport them immediately to our clinic. If possible, call ahead to alert our staff of your pending arrival so we can adequately prepare.
A light brown cat is lying on a windowsill, basking in the sunlight with its eyes closed and appearing relaxed. Sunlight filters through the window, casting a warm glow on the cat’s fur.
A light orange cat is resting with its eyes closed, basking in sunlight on a windowsill. Sunlight streams in, highlighting the cat’s fur and creating a peaceful, cozy scene.

Getting Your Cat Safely To Our Emergency Clinic

During times of illness or injury, even the most affectionate cat may become aggressive. Follow these tips for safely transporting your cat to our emergency care clinic:

  1. Gently place a towel over your cat’s head to prevent biting, then slowly lift them into an open-topped carrier or box.
  2. Support your cat’s body weight to help them relax.
  3. Take special care to support your cat’s head and avoid any twisting of the neck, especially in cases of possible spinal injury.
  4. Once secured, transport them immediately to our clinic. If possible, call ahead to alert our staff of your pending arrival so we can adequately prepare.
A black and white cat rests on someone’s lap while the person, wearing light blue jeans and a cream sweater, writes in a spiral notebook.

What To Do If Your Cat Eats Something Poisonous

If you see your cat ingest a toxic substance, or even if you suspect that they have, it’s important to seek emergency cat care immediately.

  • Come directly to Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care. Bring the bottle or note the type of medication or poison ingested.
  • Call us on your way at (657) 756-5683. Tell us what your cat ingested, how long ago, and the amount if known.
  • If you’re unsure whether you should seek medical attention for your cat, don’t hesitate to call us. We’re here to guide you to the right care.

At Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care, we’re committed to providing compassionate, expert care for your feline friends, whether it’s a routine check-up or an emergency situation. Our team, led by Dr. Ryan Smith and Dr. Reid Forman, is always ready to help. Remember, when it comes to your cat’s health, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. We’re here for you and your pets, 24/7.

A black and white cat rests on someone’s lap while the person, wearing light blue jeans and a cream sweater, writes in a spiral notebook.

What To Do If Your Cat Eats Something Poisonous

If you see your cat ingest a toxic substance, or even if you suspect that they have, it’s important to seek emergency cat care immediately.

  • Come directly to Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care. Bring the bottle or note the type of medication or poison ingested.
  • Call us on your way at (657) 756-5683. Tell us what your cat ingested, how long ago, and the amount if known.
  • If you’re unsure whether you should seek medical attention for your cat, don’t hesitate to call us. We’re here to guide you to the right care.

At Love Animal Hospital & Urgent Care, we’re committed to providing compassionate, expert care for your feline friends, whether it’s a routine check-up or an emergency situation. Our team, led by Dr. Ryan Smith and Dr. Reid Forman, is always ready to help. Remember, when it comes to your cat’s health, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. We’re here for you and your pets, 24/7.

A blank white image, reminiscent of a sterile veterinarian's clinic, captures an essence of simplicity and purity.

Visit our website at Love.vet for more information about our services and to learn how we can help keep your furry family members healthy and happy.