As a pet parent, it can be hard to tell when your furry feline needs to pop into your vet’s office for a quick checkup. Though you know your cat better than anyone, the truth is that animals–especially cats!–are tricky.

It can be hard to tell if your cats are exhibiting signs of distress or illness and even harder to tell if they could just use a little at-home rest or more serious medical care.

Bringing your cat to the vet for regular visits is important, but there’s no denying the fact that vet visits are expensive (especially without pet savings plans like Carefree Pet offers).

If you’re trying to avoid unnecessary vet bills or extra animal costs, it’s likely you’re always looking for a better understanding of when and why your cat might need a vet visit.

The good news? That’s exactly what we’re here to do.

In this article, we’ll talk about some common signs that point directly to a trip to the vet, how you can monitor your cat’s health at home and what you need to know about saving money when you do end up in the vet’s office. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Recognizing when your cat requires a vet visit can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure timely care for your furry friend.
• Establishing a routine of regular vet checkups is essential for maintaining your cat's well-being, even if they appear healthy on the surface.
• Signs of distress, such as excessive vocalization, hiding, or unusual behavior, along with changes in appetite, thirst levels, and litter box habits, are important indicators that your cat may need medical attention.
• Other concerning signs include recurring vomiting or diarrhea, unusual lethargy, difficulty walking or dragging back legs, the presence of lumps or growths, coughing, distressed breathing, or discharge from the eyes or nose.
• Common health issues in cats encompass a range of conditions, including dental problems, skin disorders, parasitic infections, heart murmurs, obesity, respiratory ailments, urinary tract diseases, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
• To address potential gaps in cat insurance coverage, consider supplementing with pet discount savings plans like Carefree Pet, designed to help mitigate the financial strain of pet care and veterinary expenses.

Does Your Cat Need a Vet Visit? What You Need to Know

Unfortunately, our cats sometimes get sick and need a vet’s expert attention. 

We get it–the ideal scenario for our adored cats would be that they never need to step a paw inside a vet’s office. Even more unfortunately, that’s not how the world works (no matter how much we wish it did).

Even so, we can do our best to ensure that they don’t need to go to the vet unnecessarily. Read on for more of the top signs that your cat might need a quick trip to the vet.

12 Early Signs Your Cat Might Need to See the Vet

They Haven’t Been in a While

This isn’t necessarily a “sign,” but if you’re wondering about a vet visit and can’t remember the last time your cat was checked out, it’s already been too long.

There’s no standard for how often you should take your cat to the vet, but regular vet visits are important. Outside of the necessary vaccinations, your cat will need, you’ll likely want them to have a routine checkup that ensures they’re happy and healthy. (Peace of mind like that is a must for a pet parent).

They shouldn’t be looked at as just a problem solver when something’s going wrong or your cat comes down with an illness. Rather, vet visits are an important and necessary preventive measure to keep anything serious from causing issues for your cat. Chat with your vet about a regular schedule that makes sense for your cat’s needs and specific health challenges.

Signs of Distress

Though there are plenty of exceptions, cats tend to be pretty calm and stoic creatures (outside of mealtime and playtime, maybe).

If your cat is overly vocal (yowling or howling), crying, shaking excessively, hiding or acting in a way that suggests they’re distressed or in pain, you’ll want to pack your cat up and head to the vet’s office.

Of course, you know your cat better than anyone. If they serve up erratic behavior and that’s just part of their personality, this might not be a symptom they should see a vet.

Appetite Changes

You already know that cats can be picky about their food every now and again, but if your cat is refusing to eat and losing weight, it’s likely they’re dealing with a serious condition. Alternatively, if your pet is ravenous and can’t ever seem to get enough food, this could also point to a more serious issue.

Excess Thirst or Not Thirsty at All

Cats who are far thirstier than usual (or are urinating more than normal) might be dealing with an illness. In the same vein, cats that are actively avoiding water also might be dealing with an illness. Too much water could point to a hormone imbalance, while too little water might be the result of a fever or other illness.

Behavioral Changes or Mood Swings

Is your normally cheery and friendly cat acting crabby? Does your stoic, chill cat suddenly have a yelping or crying issue? Is your social butterfly buddy nowhere to be found? If your cat starts displaying dramatic changes in their behavior and mood, it’s possible they’re ill and need a vet’s attention.

Abnormal Litter Box Habits

Normally, your cat uses their litterbox like a champ, right? Even the best cat has an accident outside their box now again, but if your cat has been struggling to use their box correctly lately, it’s possible something more serious is at play.

Cats who suddenly aren’t using their box, have trouble urinating, are straining to use the bathroom or excessively groom their genitals could have a condition that requires a vet visit. 

Vomiting or Diarrhea (Repeated)

It’s not unusual for a cat to vomit every now and again (you’re probably used to their hairball coughs, too). That said, repeated gastrointestinal upset is not normal for cats, and excessive vomiting or diarrhea could be a sign of something much more serious. If this is paired with symptoms like sedentary behavior, change in eating or drinking or abnormal litter box behavior, you’ll want to consult your veterinarian right away.

Tired, Lethargic or Weak

Cats are pretty chill creatures that do a lot of sleeping–but you know the difference between a lazy cat nap and an overly tired kitty. If you’ve been monitoring your cat and they seem exhausted, lethargic or lazier than their usual selves, you might need to take them in for a checkup.

If your cat is entirely sedentary, that’s a sign of illness or possibly something more serious–a vet visit is a must.

Dragging Back Legs

If you see your cat dragging their back legs, it’s important to get them to a vet immediately. While it’s possible they might have just hurt their paws or pulled a muscle, dragging back legs is a telltale sign of aortic thromboembolism–something that can develop in cats with heart problems. This symptom is one of those “it’s best not to chance it” type of things.

Lumps, Growths & Bumps

In all honesty, lumps and bumps on your cat can be totally harmless and might require no medical treatment whatsoever. That said, this can be a sign of something more serious. If you feel a developing lump or bump on your cat, it’s best to have your vet take a look at it to determine if it’s a benign condition.

Coughing or Distressed Breathing

Wheezing, panting or persistent distress breathing could point to a much larger issue. Sure, sometimes your cat wheezes for a while and then coughs up an impressive hairball. This isn’t always the culprit, though. Any changes in your cat’s respiratory system should be taken seriously. They could point to small issues–like a cough or fever–or something more serious–like a tumor or infection.

Eye & Nose Discharge

This is one of the most common signs of respiratory infection in cats. If your cat has this symptom in addition to sneezing, shortness of breath, panting or wheezing, it’s likely they’re battling an infection and need a vet’s attention and medical treatment.

Issues After Trauma

If your cat recently got into a fight with a cat, dog or other kind of animal or got hit by a car, it’s possible they have recurring trauma that needs to be checked out and addressed. Even if your cat seems like they’re behaving normally, any sort of trauma qualifies as a must-visit for the vet's reason. Why? They could be dealing with internal issues or wounds hidden beneath their fur that will affect them over time. Reduce the risk of greater damage by popping over to the vet for a full checkup.

Common Cat Issues & Feline Illnesses

While it’s impossible to pin down all the potential issues that could ail your furry feline friend, there are some common cat issues that could explain why your cat is feeling under the weather.

Here are a few of the most common health issues cats deal with:

• Dental issues
• Skin problems
• Parasitic infections (like fleas)
• Heart murmurs
• Obesity
• Coughs and colds
• Lower urinary tract disease
• Tapeworms
• GI Upset (hairballs)

All that to say, the best route you can possibly take to ensure your cat’s safety and health is to chat with and visit your local vet. They’ll have the knowledge to give your cat a full checkup and make sure they’re in tip-top shape.

Bridge the Gaps of Cat Insurance with Carefree Pet Savings Plans

As a pet parent, your top priority is caring for your furry friend. Undoubtedly, though, that care can be costly. Your cat deserves the best, and you deserve coverage that doesn’t leave you worried about the cost of vet visits.

Opting for a pet insurance or cat insurance plan that can help with the financial aspect can potentially ease the burden, but that doesn’t mean it will cover everything. Bridge the gaps your pet insurance leaves behind with pet discount savings plans like Carefree Pet.

If you’re looking for affordable, convenient pet discount savings plans with an option that can help you save money on pet care or at the vet when your cat needs a checkup, Carefree Pet can help.

Explore our memberships, choose the best for your pet and save money the next time your furry friend needs a vet visit.