Cat panting, not eating, not moving. Should I go to an emergency vet?

Hi there and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Oh, I am sorry to hear about Oreo- sounds like he is not feeling well at all. It is hard to say exactly what is going on with Oreo without examining him first. If he hasn't moved from one location in a few days, this is very concerning and tells me Oreo may be very ill. There can be many causes for Oreo's symptoms. Drinking a lot of water lately is a sign of diabetes mellitus or kidney disease. If he has only urinated a couple times in the last 3 days, he could have a urinary plug or blockage. In any case, Oreo should be taken to his nearest emergency veterinary clinic ASAP to determine the cause of his illness so he can get better soon. There is really nothing you can at home to help- taking him to a veterinarian is the best thing for him. I hope this helps and best of luck to you and Oreo. I hope he fells better soon.

Oh no, poor Ezra! It sounds like this food has made him sick, and it may be causing a toxic reaction. It's not normal at all for a cat to pant, and he really does need veterinary attention now. There's nothing you can do at home for him. I would see if you can borrow money from family and friends to afford an ER visit, and I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
 God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.
 The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.
 Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. I hope this was helpful and one of my resources helps you afford the vet. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I definitely understand your concern. Vomiting and inappetence are concerning symptoms as they could occur with things like a gastrointestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, dietary indiscretion, among many other possibilities. The fact that he is also breathing fast is also concerning. I recommend that you have Pedrito evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Poor Precious! It sounds like she's quite sick. Open-mouth breathing or "panting" in cats is not normal, and usually indicates a serious breathing problem or some type of severe stress. Acting lethargic and not eating are very vague symptoms that could be caused by almost any kind of illness, so it's hard to say what might be going on without being able to examine her and run some tests. It does sound like this may be a life-threatening problem, so I would recommend taking her to the vet today to be seen. If your regular veterinarian doesn't have Saturday hours, I would take her to your nearest emergency clinic. The vet there can do blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Scamper. I wish this was something that could be treated at home, but it cannot. He sounds very sick, and he does need to see a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps.

Hello, sorry to hear about Pancake. I am most concerned that he may have had a urinary obstruction. This can be a deadly medical emergency which should be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. Alternatively, given his rapid breathing, other causes of this may include heart failure or a clot in his aorta. All of these are medical emergencies and it sounds like Pancake needs to be seen immediately. Please have him evaluated tonight. Hope this helps and best of luck.

If this has been going on for more than a few days it might be better to see an emergency veterinarian today, however if the symptoms are more recent you may be able to wait. If Greta's gums seem pale or she is having trouble breathing, or if she has a history of other medical problems it would also be better to have her seen today. Otherwise I think you can probably wait until tomorrow. Ultimately these symptoms are somewhat vague and can be a sign of a number of problems so you should go with your gut.