My power is out. What cat illness signs mean I need a vet or boarding?

Hello. Are you kidding that it is 108F in your home!!! You poor guys, no wonder Nicky is breathing fast & panting. Are you in one of the storm ravaged areas without electricity yet? I really feel for you. Nicky, however, is a older cat, so I can not totally rule out a medical reason for the panting & rapid breathing, but the hot temps are definitely not helping. Can you board him for a few days? I know I would be in a Motel if my home was this hot. If it does not cool down soon, think about moving him. If he still seems to be having some breathing difficulties, please consult a veterinarian at your earliest convenience. The very best to all of you & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If you are able to sit in your apartment without distress, then your kitties if they are in good health should be able to tolerate it, but I would provide plenty of cool water and fans to help cool them, and if they show signs of distress such as excessive panting or lethargy/decreased appetite consider bringing them to a friend's house or boarding them somewhere with air conditioning. If they have any underlying health problems it may be more dangerous for them/possible for them to become overheated.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I agree with you that Oreo needs to go to a vet. It sounds like you should do your best to not wait until Tuesday. If there is a 24 hour clinic in your area, or if your vet provides after-hours care, then I would get Oreo in right away. There isn't really anything you can do for him at home given what you have described. Usually if you call your vet, even if they are closed they will leave a message that tells you who to call in case of an emergency. If your vet doesn't have this try other vets in your area. Best of luck with Oreo.

HI there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concerns. With your description, I would be concerned about a respiratory problem, hypothermia or systemic infection. The outdoor temperature is cold right now so if he was exposed to very cold temperatures for a prolonged period of time, he may be hypothermic. I would recommend getting him examined by a veterinarian to ensure nothing serious is going on that needs immediate medication attention. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns that I may help you with.

Hello! Cats are very stubborn nose-breathers and hate panting. This means they usually only pant if they are in severe respiratory distress. This, associated with the drooling and being outdoors makes me very concerned that she could have been suffering from severe heat distress or heat stroke. Sometimes cats can also hide signs of heart and lung disease until they are truly struggling to breathe, and this could be exacerbated by heat by as well. I would recommend taking her into a vet to be seen. They will likely recommend bloodwork and x-rays to start evaluating her major organ function, check for signs of infection, and evaluate the heart and lungs. I hope you find this helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mr. Fluffy! I am curious on how old Mr. Fluffy is. If he hasn't eaten well while you were gone either because he was scared or because he is suffering from a medical condition he needs to see a Vet. Cats can not go longer than 3-5 days with out eating before getting even sicker from fatty liver disease. I would take Mr. Fluffy to the emergency room today or as soon as your Vet opens Monday to have an exam and blood work ran. Check the whites of his eyes and if the whites look yellow he should go to the emergency room today. I hope this helps and I wish Mr. Fluffy a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Shadow is seriously ill and would benefit from seeing a veterinarian. There is really not much you can do at home at this point. It is hard to know exactly what is going on as her clinical symptoms are a bit non-specific. However, diseases such as pancreatitis or another inflammatory or cancerous process is possible. You could consider your local humane society as they usually offer inexpensive veterinary care. At the very least they can make sure she is stable. Good luck and have a good day!