Most cat owners have been there: something seems off, but you can’t tell whether it’s serious enough for a vet visit. At Cat Care of Fayette, Brittney Kilgore, DVM, makes that call easier by offering urgent and emergency care during regular clinic hours. You won’t scramble after hours, deal with unfamiliar faces, or sit in a waiting room full of anxious dogs. You’ll get fast, focused care from a team that works only with cats.
Urgent Care/ER During Open Hours
Signs That Need Same-Day Veterinary Attention
Some symptoms can wait for a scheduled appointment. Others can’t. Straining to urinate, especially in male cats, is a medical emergency that can turn fatal within hours. Labored breathing, collapse, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, sudden paralysis, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, and suspected poisoning belong in the same category. If your cat hasn’t eaten in more than 24 hours, is hiding more than usual, or is crying out for no clear reason, don’t wait to see if things improve. Call us the same day.
Urgent care during clinic hours is for situations like these: clearly serious, but not something that can wait for a scheduled visit. Getting your cat seen quickly means a faster diagnosis, earlier treatment, and a better chance at a full recovery. Even a few hours can change the outcome for conditions like urinary blockages, internal injuries, and breathing trouble.
Benefits of Urgent Care During Open Hours
How Your Cat Gets Care From the Moment You Call
Triage and First Assessment
Our team starts evaluating the situation the moment you call. We’ll ask specific questions about your cat’s symptoms, behavior changes, and history so we can decide how quickly they need to be seen. If it sounds serious, we’ll tell you to come in right away. When you arrive, we assess your cat immediately. Dr. Kilgore joins right away, so nothing waits on a handoff.
Finding Out What's Wrong
Once your cat is stable enough for a full exam, we work to find the root cause rather than just treating surface symptoms. Depending on what the first assessment shows, that may include bloodwork, urinalysis, X-rays, or other diagnostics. We walk you through each step so you understand what we’re looking for and why.
Starting Care Without Delay
Treatment begins as soon as we have enough information to act. Depending on the situation, that could mean IV fluids, pain management, wound care, medication, or a more involved procedure. Dr. Kilgore and the team work quickly while keeping your cat as calm and comfortable as the circumstances allow.
Sending You Home Prepared
Before you leave, we go over every instruction in plain language: what to give, when to give it, what your cat should eat, and how active they can be while they recover. You’ll also know exactly which symptoms should make you call us before your follow-up visit. If anything is unclear, ask. We’d rather explain something twice than have you go home unsure.
Checking In as Your Cat Recovers
We monitor recovery closely. We schedule follow-up visits based on your cat’s condition and how they responded to initial treatment. Dr. Kilgore reviews each case individually instead of using a standard recovery timeline, because bouncing back from a urinary blockage looks very different from recovering after a trauma injury. If something changes between visits, call us. We want to hear about it.
What makes Cat Care of Fayette different?
- Specialized Care for Cats and Select Small Exotic Pets – Although cats are in our name, we also welcome select small exotic pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, rats, hamsters, mice, gerbils, and degus.
- Calm Environment – We work to create a quieter, lower-stress experience that helps pets feel more comfortable during urgent visits.
- Compassionate Team – Our veterinary team approaches every patient with patience, gentleness, and attention to detail.
- Clear Communication – We explain findings, recommendations, and treatment options so you understand your pet’s care plan.
Why Choose Our Cat-Only Practice
Urgent cat care is hard to find on short notice. Most general practices don’t have room to fit urgent cases into an already-full schedule, and standalone emergency clinics, while valuable after hours, aren’t built around cats. That’s the gap we’re here to fill. Cats here aren’t squeezed in between other appointments or handled by staff who rotate between species. Our protocols, exam rooms, and team are all built around cats.
That focus affects how quickly and accurately we assess urgent cases. Some conditions show up subtly in cats: early respiratory distress, the start of a urinary blockage, signs of internal pain. A team that sees cats every day is more likely to catch them early. Dr. Kilgore brings that experience to every urgent case. When time is the one thing you don’t have, familiarity with how cats present means she can make clear decisions quickly, without losing time on guesswork. For you, that means a clearer answer sooner, and a plan that fits your cat.
Services and Payment Options
Our Veterinary Services
- Wellness & Vaccines
- Urgent Care
- Surgery
- Dental Care
- Diagnostics & Imaging
- Exotic Pet Care
- Boarding
- Internal Medicine
- Nutritional Guidance
- Laser Therapy
- Acupuncture
- Telemedicine
- Herbal Medicine
- Fecal Microbiome Transplant (FMT)
- Ozone Therapy
Payment Options
We offer multiple ways to help make veterinary care more manageable, including major credit cards, and financing options –
- Cherry
- CareCredit
- ScratchPay
Same-Day Cat Care Is Hard to Find. Here’s Where.
That uneasy feeling when something seems off with your cat is why this service exists. Dr. Kilgore and the Cat Care of Fayette team have built urgent and ER care into regular clinic hours, so your worry has somewhere to go. Save our number, 770.716.5651, in your phone now, before you need it. Follow us on Facebook for cat health tips, clinic updates, and practical information that helps you make better decisions for your cat.
If your cat needs help when we’re closed, go to the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital rather than waiting for us to open.
FAQs
When to take a cat to the emergency vet?
Seek emergency or urgent veterinary care if your cat is having trouble breathing, can’t urinate, has collapsed or is unresponsive, is vomiting or having diarrhea repeatedly, has been in a traumatic accident, or is crying out in pain. Seizures, sudden paralysis, uncontrolled bleeding, suspected poisoning, and visible wounds also need immediate attention. If you’re in doubt, call your vet and describe what you’re seeing. They can tell you whether your cat needs to be seen right away.
How much is an emergency vet visit for a cat?
The cost depends on the condition and how severe it is. A basic urgent care exam may start around $100 to $200, with added costs for diagnostics, medications, or procedures. Complex cases that need hospitalization or surgery can cost much more. Coming in during regular clinic hours helps you avoid after-hours surcharges and keeps costs more manageable.
How urgent is a UTI in a cat?
A urinary tract infection should be checked promptly, ideally within 24 hours of noticing symptoms. UTIs cause real discomfort and, if untreated, can spread to the kidneys or lead to other serious problems. In male cats, treat any urinary symptom as urgent, because it can point to a life-threatening blockage. If your cat is straining to urinate, crying in the litter box, or producing little or no urine, call us right now.
How urgent is a cat with blood in urine?
Blood in your cat’s urine is always a reason to call your veterinarian promptly. It can signal a UTI, bladder inflammation, bladder stones, or, in male cats, a dangerous urinary blockage. Even if your cat otherwise seems fine, don’t wait for it to resolve on its own. Male cats with blood in their urine should be seen the same day, since a blockage can become fatal within hours if it isn’t treated.
What qualifies as urgent care for pets?
Urgent care is intended for medical concerns that should be evaluated promptly during regular business hours. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, call ahead for guidance.
What pets do you see for urgent care?
We provide urgent care services for cats and select small exotic pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, rats, hamsters, mice, gerbils, and degus.
Do I need an appointment for urgent care?
Contact us to discuss your pet’s condition and availability for same-day care.
What should I bring to my pet’s urgent care visit?
Bring any current medications, medical records you may have available, and details about your pet’s symptoms or recent changes in behavior.
