Same-Day Care When Your Cat Needs Us Most

When something feels off with your cat, you shouldn’t have to wait days for answers. Cats are notoriously good at hiding illness — which means by the time something seems wrong on the outside, it’s often been wrong on the inside for a while.

Please note that all urgent care cases are seen next door at our sister hospital, Rialto Animal Hospital.

What Is Urgent Care for Cats?

Urgent care is for cats who are sick, uncomfortable, or need to be seen soon — but are not in immediate, life-threatening distress. Our team is equipped to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions on the same day you call.

Common reasons cats need urgent care:

  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite (especially if it’s been more than 24 hours)
  • Hiding, lethargy, or unusual withdrawal
  • Limping or mobility issues
  • Skin problems, hair loss, or excessive grooming
  • Coughing, sneezing, or eye discharge
  • Wounds, abscesses, or injuries
  • Litter box changes — going outside the box, straining, or going more or less than usual
  • General “not acting like themselves” concerns

If you’re not sure whether your cat needs urgent care, call us. That’s exactly what we’re here for.

A Note on Urinary Issues — Especially in Male Cats

Straining to urinate or inability to urinate is a life-threatening emergency in cats — particularly male cats — and requires immediate care. Feline urinary obstruction can become fatal within 24 to 48 hours if left untreated.

If your cat is repeatedly going in and out of the litter box, crying or vocalizing in the box, straining without producing urine, or producing only small amounts, call us immediately or go directly to an emergency hospital. This is not a “wait and see” situation.

When It’s an Emergency Instead

Some situations require immediate emergency care. These include:

  • Difficulty breathing or open-mouth breathing (which is rarely normal in cats)
  • Inability to urinate or severe straining (see above)
  • Collapse or inability to stand
  • Active seizures
  • Severe trauma (hit by car, fall from height, major injury)
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Suspected poisoning or toxin ingestion (especially lilies — even small exposures can be fatal)
  • Sudden hind-leg paralysis or weakness

Whether you believe your cat is having an emergency, or even if you’re unsure, give us a call. We’ll always help guide you to the right level of care, even if that means a referral to a 24-hour emergency hospital where your cat can receive around-the-clock attention.

How Our Urgent Care Works

Our urgent care system is designed to balance efficiency, compassion, and medical quality.

1. Call us first. Our team will assess your cat’s condition and help determine how quickly they need to be seen.

2. We prioritize by medical need. Just like a human urgent care, more critical cases are seen first.

3. Drop-off is preferred. Drop-off appointments allow us to care for your cat while you go about your day, with examination happening between scheduled appointments or during dedicated urgent care time.

  • Morning cases: Drop off as early as possible (7:00 – 8:00 AM)
  • Afternoon cases: Typically 1:00 – 2:00 PM

A wait option is also available if you prefer, though wait times can be longer depending on case load and the medical needs of cats already in our care.

4. Real-time updates. Our team will contact you with exam findings, diagnostic recommendations, and a clear treatment plan.

When We Can’t Fit You In, We’ll Never Just Turn You Away

There are days when our urgent care schedule fills up faster than we’d like. When that happens, we don’t simply say “no.” We’ll take your name and number and call you back if a cancellation opens up, offer to schedule the soonest available appointment, or help connect you with the right emergency resource — whichever option gets your cat the help they need fastest.

Urgent Care Pricing

We believe in transparency, so here’s what to expect:

  • Sick / Urgent Care Exam: $88
  • Emergency-Level Exam: priced based on severity and level of care required

We’ll always walk you through diagnostic and treatment recommendations and associated costs before moving forwar

Scheduling & Deposits

To secure your cat’s urgent care visit, a deposit is required. Here’s how it works:

  • Show up? Your deposit is applied to your appointment
  • No-show or cancellation with less than 24 hours’ notice? The deposit is forfeited

This policy helps us ensure we can care for as many cats as possible — especially those who genuinely need us.

Not Sure If It’s Urgent? Call Us Anyway.

We’d much rather talk it through with you than have you worry at home. Our team is here to help you decide what’s next — whether that’s a same-day visit, a scheduled appointment, or a referral.

Call us at (909) 546-3321 to check availability and get started.