Go now: emergency signs
- Straining in the litter box with little or no urine, especially in a male cat.
- Open-mouth breathing or panting, or blue or pale gums. Cats rarely pant; it is a warning sign.
- Collapse, a seizure, or sudden trouble walking or using the back legs.
- Possible poisoning: lilies, medicines meant for people, antifreeze, or flea products made for dogs.
- Hit by a car or a fall from a height, even if your cat seems fine.
- Heavy bleeding, or bleeding that does not stop within about five minutes of firm pressure.
Call today, or watch for a day?
For signs that are not emergencies, this is the line most vets draw.
| Sign | Call your vet today if | Watch for a day if |
|---|---|---|
| Vomiting | more than twice in a day, there is blood, or your cat is not eating | a single hairball, and your cat then eats normally |
| Not eating | a full day without food, or any skipped meals in a kitten | ate a little less once, otherwise normal |
| Diarrhea | there is blood, it lasts more than a day, or your cat is a kitten or a senior | one soft stool after a food change, otherwise well |
| Sneezing | with thick green or yellow discharge, not eating, or any breathing effort | a few sneezes with clear discharge in a cat that eats normally |
| Eyes | squinting, a cloudy eye, or green or yellow discharge | a little clear tearing with no squinting |
| Litter box | frequent trips, peeing outside the box, or blood in the urine | a single accident right after a change at home |
| Hiding | hiding together with not eating or any other sign | hiding for a while after visitors or a move |
What to tell your vet when you call
- When it started and how often it has happened.
- What came up or out. A photo helps.
- Whether your cat is eating, drinking and using the litter box.
- Any plants, strings or medicines your cat could have reached.
- Any recent change in food, home or routine.
How Miyu helps you decide
Photograph the stool, vomit, eyes, ears, skin or mouth, or record a sneeze or cough, and Miyu gives one of four care levels: watch, keep an eye, see a vet today, or see a vet now. It keeps a history, so a vet visit starts with facts instead of memory.
Miyu never says all clear, and it never replaces your vet. The emergency signs above are always free in the app.
Frequently asked questions
When should I take my cat to the vet for vomiting?
Call the same day if your cat vomits more than twice in a day, there is blood, or your cat stops eating. Regular vomiting, even weekly, is also worth a visit.
How long can a cat go without eating?
Not long. A cat that eats nothing for a day should see a vet, and a kitten sooner. Cats that stop eating can develop a serious liver problem.
When is sneezing in a cat serious?
Call your vet if the discharge is thick, green or yellow, if your cat stops eating, or if it lasts more than a few days. Any breathing effort means go now.
Is a male cat straining in the litter box an emergency?
Yes. Straining with little or no urine can be a blocked urethra, which is life-threatening within hours. Go to a vet now.
Sources
General guidance consistent with these veterinary sources. They did not review this page.
- Emergency Care for Your Pet · ASPCA
- Vomiting in Cats · VCA Animal Hospitals
- Vomiting · Cornell Feline Health Center
- Animal Poison Control · ASPCA
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Miyu is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. If your pet seems unwell or you are worried, contact your vet.
