Cats are good at hiding when they don’t feel well, so small changes can matter. If you’re worried, it’s always OK to call your vet.
Not vet advice. This guide is general information collected from the animal-welfare and veterinary sources listed below. Every cat is different, so please see your vet about your own cat. In an emergency, contact your nearest vet or emergency animal hospital straight away.
Go to a vet or emergency animal hospital straight away if your cat:
- Is unconscious, unresponsive or has collapsed
- Has difficulty breathing, including open-mouth breathing or panting
- Has blue, purple or pale gums
- Has been hit by a car, had a fall or has a wound, or is bleeding heavily
- Is having a seizure or tremors
- Is straining to wee but passing little or no urine
- May have eaten a medicine, poison, toxic plant (such as a lily) or other toxic substance
- Has severe or repeated vomiting, or retches without bringing anything up
- Has severe diarrhoea with blood (red, or black and tarry)
- Has a swollen or painful belly, facial swelling or hives
- Can’t walk properly, loses balance, or won’t put weight on a leg
- Is in obvious pain, or is having trouble giving birth
This list is based on the emergency conditions listed by the Cornell University Hospital for Animals.
Why “can’t wee” is an emergency
A blocked urethra stops urine leaving the body. Cornell calls it an absolute emergency: without treatment a cat can die in less than 24 to 48 hours. Male cats are at higher risk. Signs include straining, trying to go often, crying while weeing and passing little or no urine.
Possible poisoning
Signs can include drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, wobbliness, heavy breathing, unusual sleepiness and seizures (Cornell). Call your vet or an emergency clinic straight away, and take the packet, label or a photo of the plant if you can. Don’t try to make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to, because some poisons cause more harm coming back up (Cornell). In Australia, RSPCA also points to the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline.
Book a vet visit soon if you notice
- Your cat isn’t eating, or has vomiting, diarrhoea or low energy that lasts more than two days (ASPCA)
- Weeing more often, blood in the urine, weeing outside the litter tray, or licking the genital area a lot (Cornell). These can be early signs of urinary problems.
Sources
- Cornell University Hospital for Animals: Emergency and critical care
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline lower urinary tract disease
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Poisons
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Common cat hazards
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
- ASPCA: General cat care
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase: Where can I find out about plants that might be poisonous for my pets?
Checked 28 October 2026.