Sick Cat Triage Guide
Is your cat sick? Choose a symptom below to assess severity and see immediate care steps.
How to Use This Site
When your cat starts showing worrying symptoms, it is hard to think clearly. This site gives you a structured way to evaluate severity fast. Each symptom page walks you through three questions: Is this a right-now emergency requiring an immediate vet visit? Is this a same-day problem you can monitor for a few hours? Or is this something you can manage at home with supportive care and a follow-up call to your vet?
What We Cover
- FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) — including GS-441524 guidance
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) — fluids, diet, phosphate
- Feline Diabetes — insulin, hypoglycemia, remission
- Vomiting — acute vs. chronic, hairball vs. obstruction
- Lethargy — tired vs. dangerously weak
- Breathing Problems — open-mouth, labored, effusion
- Toxic Foods — onions, garlic, xylitol, grapes
- Toxic Plants — lilies, sago palm, autumn crocus
A Note on Our Approach
This site was built by cat owners who have navigated serious feline illness — FIP diagnosis, CKD management, end-of-life decisions. The guides here reflect real experience cross-referenced against published veterinary literature. Nothing on this site replaces a licensed veterinarian. What it does is help you walk into that vet appointment — or that emergency room at 2am — already knowing what questions to ask and what information to bring.
For poison emergencies: ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 — Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661.