Cat First Aid

There’s nothing more worrying than when our pets are injured and it’s easy to go into a panic if we don’t know what to do.

First aid is all about knowing what to do to prevent further injury or to stabilise your cat while you get them to the vet as quickly and safely as possible.

Cats are explorers at heart, whether it’s climbing the tree in their own catio or wandering off to investigate the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, this love of adventure can sometimes land them in trouble, and you may find yourself in need of some cat first aid skills.

At Purina, we’ve put together some essential cat first aid tips so you can provide immediate care, while arranging veterinary attention.

Cat First Aid Checklist

Keep these items together in a clean, easy-to-access container so you can find them quickly in an emergency.

• Your vet’s phone number
• Emergency vet details
• Towel or blanket
• Cat carrier
• Sterile gauze pads
• Non-stick dressings
• Bandage roll
• Saline solution
• Pet-safe antiseptic wipes
• Disposable gloves
• Pen torch
• Scissors
• Digital thermometer
• List of your cat’s medications (if any)

How to tell if a cat is in pain

Often injuries are obvious, but cats are very secretive creatures and expert at hiding signs of illness or injury. Because of this we don’t always know if they’re in pain, so it can be hard to know when they need cat first aid.

While it will largely depend on the specific illness or injury your pet has, a few of the most common cat illness or sickness symptoms they might display are as follows:

• Hiding, such as in a dark place or in their cat igloo
• Rapid and shallow breathing
• Growling, hissing or crying
• Aggression both towards people and other pets in the home
• Sleeping more
• Lack of appetite
• Obsessive licking of a particular area
• Lack of self-grooming
• Reluctance to move or engage in any activity or play
• Change in toileting
• Limping or difficulty getting around

Your first step: Contact your vet. Tell them your cat’s symptoms (or signs) and get their advice.

How to handle an injured cat

Approach them calmly and quietly, then place one hand under their chest, and the other under their back legs to support them.

If they seem frightened or are reacting defensively, you may want to use a thick towel to protect yourself and wear protective gloves as well. Once you’ve lifted them, place them into a well-padded carrier to ensure their journey is as comfortable as possible. You may want to cover the carrier with a towel to help them feel more secure and less frightened.

Helping a cat that’s bleeding

If your cat is bleeding and you find yourself in a situation where you need to slow bleeding before help can be sought, applying basic cat first aid can help slow the bleeding and reduce the risk of shock while you arrange urgent veterinary attention.

Assess the bleeding

First, try to identify where the blood is coming from and how severe the bleeding is. If your cat is frightened or in pain, approach them calmly and carefully

Apply gentle pressure

Apply gentle but firm pressure to the area using a wad of gauze, tissue or a clean cloth. If possible, keep the pressure in place for at least 10 minutes – you may need someone else to help if your cat is resisting and to ensure you get veterinary help without delay. Do not tie anything tightly around the area as you may damage surrounding tissue.

While you’re applying pressure, it’s best not to lift the dressing to check if the bleeding has stopped as this could dislodge the clot. If the blood soaks through, simply place a fresh one on top rather than removing the first one.

When to call the vet

Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible if your cat is bleeding, especially if the bleeding is heavy, does not stop, or your cat seems weak, distressed or collapsed.

Cat first aid for broken bones

Take your cat to the vet as soon as possible. Support the affected area if you can with a towel underneath and gently lift them into a carrier. Never attempt to apply a splint yourself or move the affected limb as this will do more harm than good and may even cause the bone to break through the skin.

Remember to take extra care when handling your cat, as pain may cause them to react differently than usual.

Dealing with burns and scalds

If your cat allows it, cool the affected area with cold running water for at least five minutes. Don’t apply any ointments or creams as this may create irritation. If needed, you can lightly cover the area with a saline-soaked gauze to help protect it. Once you’ve done this, take your cat to the vet straight away.

What to do if your cat’s been poisoned

If you think your cat may have been poisoned after eating potentially toxic foods, getting veterinary help quickly is the priority. Don’t spend time on cat first aid at home. You’ll need to identify the poison, if at all possible, contact your vet straight away and take your cat in as soon as you can. It’s important that you bring the packaging, label or any information about what your cat has eaten with you. If it’s a plant, take the name of the plant if you know it, or bring a sample or a photo to help with identification.

Helping a fitting cat

If your cat is having a fit, do not try to hold them. Instead, you should darken the room, turn off anything that makes noise and make sure you remove anything that your cat could injure themselves on. Once you’ve done this, phone your vet and they’ll recommend the next course of action.

Insect bites or stings

In many cases, the safest option is to contact your vet for advice, especially if your cat seems distressed or the area becomes swollen.
If the insect bite or sting is in or around your pets’ mouth, seek veterinary attention immediately, as swelling could. cause breathing difficulties.

What to do if your cat is choking

If your cat is choking, wrap them in a towel and if possible, look inside their mouth. It’s important that you don’t tilt their head back as this could cause the object to move further down their throat. You may need two people for this - one to hold and support the cat, and another to check the cat’s mouth.

If the clearly see the object and it doesn’t appear to be attached to anything, you may be able to remove it very carefully with blunt tweezers. If the object looks like it could be attached to something, don’t pull at it. Contact your vet and get them to the surgery right away.

Cat first aid is for emergencies - and should only ever be used to help your cat until you can get to a veterinary surgeon – it should never be used instead of professional care but it can help you act quickly where immediate action is required. Always ensure that you have your vet’s number saved in your phone as you never know when you might need it.

FAQs