First Aid For Cats

By Heike Hagenguth

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For most people, lifesaving actions for their cats are as gray an area as first aid for humans. Get ready for emergencies, because accidents can happen everywhere! First aid can never substitute for veterinarian treatment, but it is–as the name says–a first lifesaving step.

Prevention

Whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, dangers lurk everywhere. Responsible owners take precautions and provide for safety in the home and garden. You need to secure bottom-hung windows and electrical cords. Don't keep detergents or poisons where your cat can get to them, and sharp-edged or pointed items should be stored safely in a cat-proof drawer.

After the accident

If your cat is injured, move quickly, but stay calm. An animal's reaction under pain, shock or fear is unpredictable. Approach carefully and speak calmly to the cat. Be ready for uncontrolled reactions, and try to protect yourself against bites or scratches. A struggling cat may best be caught with a large towel or blanket. Once caught, wrap the cat in the blanket, and put him in a carrier for transportation. Caution: grasp the cat lightly but securely. A strong hold can result in making the injury and/or fractures worse.

Unconsciousness

Check the cat's condition. Is he breathing regularly? Does he react to noises? What about circulation? Pale mucous membranes and gums are a symptom of circulatory collapse. Feel the pulse at the inner side of the thigh. You can practice this beforehand while playing or grooming your cat. The heartbeat can be felt at the side of the chest.

Does the cat show papillary reflexes? Pupils are sensitive to light and must contract.

Bandages

Apply a bandage to heavily bleeding wounds and injuries. Be careful not to tie the bandage too tight. Place a fluff-free swab or pad directly onto the wound and dress with a bandage, then secure with tape. Caution: blood circulation should not be restricted. An exception would be a pulsing, light-red bleeding injury, which indicates an injured artery. If you don't stop the bleeding from such a wound, the cat could be in danger of bleeding to death. Ligature the vessel directly above the bleeding or squeeze off with a bundle of swabs. Then get to the veterinarian immediately!

And call the vet before leaving to make sure the staff is prepared for an emergency case. For the safest movement, transport the injured cat in a carrier.

bandage1

Resuscitation

If the cat isn't moving, he may not be breathing freely. Oxygen supply must be restored to the organs. For this, both respiration and blood circulation must work. Open the muzzle and remove vomit or foreign objects. Pull the tongue forward and straighten the neck. Now breathe carefully into the cat's nose about every three seconds. The thorax should rise but not bulge out. Check the pulse and heartbeat. Cardiac massage may be necessary if the cat is in cardiac arrest. Lay the cat on his side and press two fingers of your left hand onto the thorax at the height of the elbow. Then, press with your right hand on your two fingers in fast sequence up to 10 times to animate the heartbeat. Breathe mouth-to-nose again; check pulse and heartbeat again before you massage the heart again.

x-ray

X-ray's of fractures

Emergency 101

Eye injuries: All eye injuries should be treated by a veterinarian. Try to wash out movable foreign bodies with electrolyte solution. It's best to cover the eye with a moist pad and secure it with a head bandage during transportation.

Fractures: If you suspect a closed fracture, luxation or rupture of a ligament, get to the vet! A correct diagnosis can only be made with x-rays. Open fractures must be treated immediately. Examine the cat for possible shock and cover the open wound as described. Do not use ointments.

Drowning: Remove all water from the lungs (hold the cat by his feet and swing him, head-down), wrap in a towel or blanket, keep warm and begin with resuscitation.

Heat Collapse: Cool down the temperature with cold water–first the head, then the limbs. Massage the body to animate the blood-circulation. Vomiting or unconsciousness are symptoms of shock. Go to the vet immediately.

Internal Injury: Weak blood circulation, respiratory problems and symptoms of shock may indicate internal injuries. If you think your cat has sustained one, get to the vet immediately.

Insect Bite: Treat bites on the body with cool compresses and give calcium. Bites inside the mouth are life threatening. Cortisone to reduce the swelling must be given by the vet.

Shock: Shock therapy takes priority over all other necessary treatments. Take the described steps for reanimation and stop any bleeding. Protect him from further cooling with a warm blanket and see the vet immediately. Symptoms are: fast breathing, high pulse rate, pale mucous membranes and gums, low body temperature.

Hypothermia: First, treat the shock. Follow the described reanimation steps, warm the cat with a blanket and a hot-water bottle. Go to the vet and let him treat frostbite (e.g. eartips, tail).

Burn: Rinse the burned area with cold water for about 20 minutes, and take the cat to the vet. Protect open burn wounds and burn blisters with sterile swabs. Do not apply burn ointment! Keep an eye out for shock symptoms, which can also occur later and are caused by fluid loss and the inflammatory reaction of the skin.

Poison: If you think the cat has ingested a poison, take a specimen to the vet. Watch for symptoms of shock. Symptoms of poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, tremor, respiratory distress, apathy, pale mucous membranes, pain and salivation.

Wounds: Light-red arterial bleedings must be treated immediately. Ligature the vessel above the bleeding, and–you guessed it–take the cat to the vet. Watch for shock symptoms. Bites are rich in causative organisms and must be professionally treated as well. If there's a foreign body in the wound, don't pull or remove it but apply a light bandage. Try to wash away a loose foreign body with electrolyte solution. Be careful not to stop the circulation with the bandage.

First Aid Box

A responsible cat owner keeps a first aid box handy. Check the contents on a regular basis and replace old items. This first aid pharmacy is only meant for first treatment and does not replace the urgent visit to the veterinarian! Your box should include:

Bandages (self-adhesive can be affixed easily)
gauze
purified cotton
oxidized cellulose
sterile swaps
tape (to affix the bandage)
scissors (round tips)
thermometer (digital)
ointment for minor cuts and nicks
iodine solution (disinfectant, stops bleeding)
sterile electrolyte solution (cleans wounds)

Heike is a well-known cat expert in Germany. Her articles appear in various cat publications in Europe. A cat enthusiast since childhood, she shows and breeds Persians and is the PR person for the International Royalcat Club.

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