Care / Emergency
Emergency Numbers.
Save this page. Print the reference card.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling. You are not overreacting.
The numbers to save
| Service | Number | When |
|---|---|---|
| Your own vet | Save it on the card below | First call, always |
| Vets Now | Find your nearest clinic | Out-of-hours emergency care across the UK |
| Animal Poison Line | 01202 509 000 | 24 hours, fee applies |
| RSPCA | 0300 1234 999 | Welfare emergencies |
Before anything else
Panic wastes time. Preparation saves lives.
The moment something goes wrong with your cat, you will not be thinking clearly. That is normal. The adrenaline will make everything feel faster and slower at the same time.
This page exists so that when that moment comes, you do not have to search. You do not have to remember. You just have to look.
Save this page. Print the reference card at the bottom. Put the numbers on your fridge, in your phone, in your wallet. Tell your partner, your housemate, your cat sitter.
Do not search. Call and go.
Time is not abstract here: if your cat is in immediate danger
Do not wait. Do not search online. Call and go.
If your cat is unconscious, having a seizure, struggling to breathe, bleeding heavily, or has ingested something toxic, this is not a moment for research.
Call your vet. If they are closed, call your nearest Vets Now clinic. If you cannot reach anyone, go to the nearest emergency clinic. Call on the way.
Time is the one thing you cannot get back. Every minute matters.
Finding a vet (UK)
If you do not have a vet, start here.
RCVS Find a Vet
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons maintains the official register of all licensed veterinary practices in the UK.
Vets Now
Out-of-hours emergency veterinary care across the UK. Open evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
Animal Trust
Not-for-profit veterinary clinics offering free initial consultations across multiple locations in the UK.
CVS Group
One of the UK's largest veterinary groups with practices nationwide. Use their locator to find your nearest branch.
Poison advice
If you think your cat has been poisoned
The Animal Poison Line is a 24-hour emergency telephone service for pet owners and animal professionals who need advice on poisoning in animals.
A fee applies per call. They will guide you on what to do next based on what your cat has ingested, how much, and how long ago.
Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed. Do not give your cat milk. Bring the packaging or substance with you to the vet.
Welfare emergencies
If an animal is being mistreated
If you see an animal being mistreated, abandoned, or in distress and no owner is present, call the RSPCA. They operate a 24-hour cruelty and advice line.
If the animal is in immediate physical danger and the RSPCA cannot attend quickly, call the police on 999. Animal cruelty is a criminal offence.
Microchip databases
If your cat is lost or found.
| Database | What it is | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Petlog | The Kennel Club's microchip database | 01296 336 579 |
| Identibase | UK microchip registration database | identibase.co.uk |
| PetScanner | Free microchip lookup service | petscanner.com |
Make sure your microchip details are up to date. If you move house or change phone number, update your records immediately. A microchip is only useful if the information behind it is current.
While you wait
What to do between the call and the car.
You have called the vet. You are going. Now you need to keep your cat as safe and calm as possible until you arrive.
Do not give your cat food or water unless the vet has told you to. Do not try to give medication. Do not restrain your cat tightly: an injured or frightened cat may bite or scratch.
Speak gently. Move slowly. Use a carrier lined with a towel. If you do not have a carrier, a sturdy box with air holes will work.
Bring any packaging, substances, or objects involved. Note the time the incident happened. The vet will ask.
- Call your vet or your nearest Vets Now clinic. Tell them what happened and that you are on your way.
- Place your cat gently in a carrier or secure box lined with a towel.
- Do not give food, water, or medication unless instructed.
- Bring the substance, packaging, or object involved. Note the time.
Save these now: print this card
Your personal reference card.
My vet (daytime)
- Name: ______________________
- Number: ______________________
My out-of-hours cover
- Name: ______________________
- Number: ______________________
Nearest 24-hour emergency clinic
- Name: ______________________
- Address: ______________________
- Number: ______________________
Fixed numbers
- Animal Poison Line: 01202 509 000
- RSPCA: 0300 1234 999
- Petlog: 01296 336 579
A note on staying calm
- You will not be completely calm. That is not the goal.
- The goal is to do the next right thing.
- Call. Go. Tell them what happened.
- If something feels wrong, it probably is. Trust it.