Cat X-Ray: Cost and What to Expect

Veterinarians use X-rays and other types of medical imaging to see structures inside the body so they can diagnose and treat their patients. If you have a cat, then there is a good chance that they may need to be X-rayed at some point in their lifetime. 

So what happens during a cat X-ray, is it risky, and how much does it cost? In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about cat X-rays so you’ll feel more prepared if your pet ever needs one.

What Is an X-Ray?

X-ray technology is used within the medical specialty called radiology. Radiology uses different types of medical imaging, including X-rays, to diagnose diseases and guide treatment choices. A radiologist is a doctor who receives additional training to read X-rays and other types of imaging studies, such as MRI and ultrasound. 

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with extremely short, high frequency wavelengths. The ability of X-rays to penetrate objects that do not allow light to pass through them (“optically opaque”), such as the body, led to their application in medicine. X-rays are used with photographic plates to create pictures called radiographs. Calling the pictures made with X-rays an “X-ray” is actually a misnomer. Although the correct term is “radiograph,” to avoid confusion, we will continue using the term “X-ray” in this article.

X-ray pictures used to be created on photographic film. Nowadays, most X-rays are digital, which is a more convenient and economical way of storing X-ray images. Digital X-rays are easily shared, so if your cat needs to see a specialist, your veterinarian can just email the digital copies. Because digital copies are so easy to share, many veterinarians now use radiology services to read their X-rays. Your vet can also easily share the X-rays with you so you can have a record. 

X-rays are very useful in seeing certain conditions in the body, but not all conditions. X-rays work best for imaging bones, joints, large body cavities, large organs, and structures that don’t allow X-rays to pass through them (“radio-opaque”), such as swallowed or inhaled foreign bodies and some bladder stones.

The soft tissues of the body don’t absorb X-rays well, which can make it more difficult to evaluate soft tissues and small organs with pictures taken by X-ray. In these cases, a special imaging procedure called contrast radiography can be used to provide more detailed images. With contrast radiography, a harmless dye is given by various routes that blocks X-rays, and then a series of X-ray pictures are taken. 

Cat Ultrasound vs. X-ray

While X-rays can give veterinarians a lot of information, sometimes additional information is needed. In these cases, X-ray is often combined with other imaging types, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, to give the doctor a more complete picture. Ultrasound, for example, uses sound waves to make moving pictures, and is very good for imaging soft tissue structures in the abdomen and chest. By combining different imaging studies, your veterinarian can use more complete information to diagnose and treat your cat. 

Why Do Cats Need X-Rays?

A veterinarian will order cat X-rays for a variety of reasons. X-rays are often included in preliminary diagnostic testing for many conditions and symptoms, including: 

• Cancer
• Limping
• Trauma or other injuries
• Vomiting
• Abdominal enlargement
• Coughing
• Dental disease
• Heart disease
• Swallowing abnormalities
• Difficulty breathing
• Urinary tract symptoms, including bloody urine, increased urination, and straining to urinate
• Intervertebral disc disease

X-rays are most useful for detecting:

• Fractures
• Injuries
• Deformities
• Osteoarthritis
• Tumors
• Obstructions
• Dental disease
• Enlargement or deformity of medium to large internal organs, such as the stomach, liver, heart, and kidneys
• Fluid
• Air

In these situations, X-rays can confirm a diagnosis, locate a problem, and provide information on how the condition should be treated. X-rays can also be used to track progress during treatment, such as rechecking a bone after a fracture has been repaired surgically. 

Types of Cat X-Rays

While any part of the body can be X-rayed, it is more beneficial to focus X-ray diagnostics on locations where vets can obtain a clear picture. The most common X-rays performed in cats include the following:

Chest X-rays to view structures in the thoracic cavity including heart, lungs, large vessels, diaphragm, esophagus, windpipe, and pulmonary cavity. Chest X-rays also provide information on the ribs, thoracic spine, and body wall of the chest.

Abdominal X-rays are used to view structures in the abdomen, including stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, bladder, ureters, and spleen. Abdominal X-rays also provide information on the lumbar and sacral spine, as well as the pelvis and hip joints.

Other common X-ray studies in cats include:

• Bones and joint X-rays to assess injuries, swellings, or signs of lameness
• Dental X-rays
• Skull X-rays
• Cervical (neck) X-rays

Veterinarians must use a different, smaller X-ray machine to take dental X-rays that provide up close, detailed pictures of the teeth and jaw bones.

What to Expect During a Cat X-Ray

Most X-rays can be done on an outpatient basis, sometimes even while you wait in the exam room. As long as the cat stays still for the procedure, it is very quick. Veterinary technicians will cover themselves with lead aprons to block X-rays and restrain your cat on an X-ray table to take the picture. Pet parents are generally not allowed to be with their cat during an X-ray because of OSHA regulations. The X-ray technician will narrow (“collimate”) the X-ray beam down to the smallest size to avoid unnecessary exposure to X-rays. 

While X-rays are not painful, some cats become frightened by the sights and sounds of the equipment and restraint. To help these cats have a better experience and allow the technician to take good X-rays, veterinarians often recommend sedating the cat so they feel sleepy and relaxed.

In some cases, your vet may be able to diagnose the problem right away with an X-ray. In other cases, they will need to send the film to a radiologist for interpretation, which can take up to 24 hours. 

Cat X-Ray Cost

The cost of cat X-rays depends on several factors, including:

• The cost of living in your area
• How many X-rays your cat needs
• Whether your cat has to be sedated for X-rays
• Any additional special X-ray studies, such as contrast dye studies

The following is a cost guide, but always check with your veterinarian:

• Dental X-rays: $50-$150
• Chest or abdominal X-rays: $100-$200
• Bone or joint 2 view X-rays: $75-$150
• Whole body X-rays: $250-$350
• Spinal X-rays: $200-$1,000 depending on whether cat requires sedation 

If your cat requires sedation or special X-ray studies, like contrast dye studies or fluoroscopy (which is X-rays in motion), the cost will go up. 

Pet parents have several options that they can use to offset the cost of veterinary care, such as pet insurance, line of credit, emergency credit card, or wellness plans offered through the veterinary clinic.