Cat owners should call a veterinarian under these circumstances

Richard H. Gebhardt, former president of the Cat Fanciers' Association, tells us that cat breeders and cat owners should call their veterinarian under the following circumstances. He refers to illness symptoms and whether you should call a veterinarian immediately or the next day i.e. he is grading the importance of dealing with the matter.

My cat inspecting the fence of his enclosure. He eventually escaped!
Picture: Michael. Only 1 in 1000 escape thse enclosures I was told.

I will list them as he writes them if I may as I don't think that there will be any copyright issues in doing this. It ensures the information is accurate. His book was published in 1991, almost 30 years ago.

• Any deep wound or wound still bleeding after pressure has been applied: see a vet at once.
• Seems drowsy after ingesting a foreign substance: see a vet at once
• Stopped breathing after chewing on a poisonous plant: see a vet at once
• Temperature elevated beyond 105: at once
• Temperature between 103 and 105, and other signs of illness present: next day
• Decreased appetite coupled with coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea: next day
• Sudden weakness in hindquarters: at once
• General lameness in any leg lasting more than three days: next day
• Red, ulcerated sore on the lips or other part of the body: at once
• Abscess that is warm and painful to the touch: at once
• Any general swelling that is warm and painful to the touch: next day
• Runny nose accompanied by elevated temperature, pale gums, weakness: at once
• Runny nose accompanied by lethargy, puss in the eye, or rapid breathing: next day
• Coughing accompanied by elevated temperature, difficult breathing, depressed energy level: next day
• Foul breath accompanied by increased water intake, increased urination, excessive appetite, lethargy: next day (this is kidney disease by the way)
• Evidence of trauma accompanied by shortness of breath, elevated temperature, pale gums, lethargy, at once
• Vomiting accompanied by lethargy, frequent attempts to urinate, elevated temperature, blood in stools: at once
• Diarrhoea accompanied by bloody faeces, elevated temperature, vomiting: at once
• Diarrhoea accompanied by dehydration: next day
• Constipation accompanied by straining and failure to defecate: at once
• Abnormally thin stools accompanied by elevated temperature: next day

I hope that this helps somebody at some time. The list presents the symptoms only but that keeps it nice and straightforward and simple.