Basic First Aid at Home

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Cat - Safety

Basic First Aid at Home

Cat Care - Basic First Aid At Home

Basic first aid for your cat involves your dealing with injuries or other physical problems your pet might encounter in and around your home. Three precautions to take immediately are 1) learn CPR for cats in case you ever need it, 2) put together a Cat First Aid Kit and 3) program the phone numbers for your vet, the National Animal Poison Control Center and the closest animal hospital that offers emergency services (if you have one) as speed dial numbers on your home and/or cell phones.

Some of these first aid issues will be minor and you can handle them yourself. Others may involve a medical emergency where you might have to treat the problem immediately, prepare your cat for transporting in a way that minimizes the chance of further injury and then take him to the veterinary hospital. In either case, your responsibility as owner is to know the following:

What symptoms to look for
What the possible causes are
What you should do to treat the animal
What you should not do
When to call the vet or transport your cat to a veterinary hospital

The tables that follow provide this information at a glance, organized alphabetically by the type of problem. They also provide links to find more detailed information, if it's available, on each category.

Bite and Stings, Insect

Symptoms: Redness and/or swelling, pain, itching, licking

Possible Causes: Mosquitoes, chiggers, spiders, other biting insects

What to Do: 1. Try to identify the insect.
2. If you see an embedded stinger, remove it by scraping it with a hard object such as your fingernail or a credit card.
3. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
4. Apply ice or cold packs to the affected area to keep swelling and pain to a minimum.
5. You can apply Calamine lotion or Cortaid for itching.

What Not to Do: Do not attempt to remove an embedded stinger as you would a splinter; this may release more toxins.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: 1. Transport immediately if your cat exhibits signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face and neck or difficulty breathing or
2. If your cat goes into shock or otherwise seems ill.

Where to Look for More Information: Allergic Reactions
CPR

Bites, Snake

Symptoms: Puncture wounds, redness, swelling; if the snake is poisonous, your cat may exhibit signs of respiratory or motor difficulties

Possible Causes: Snake or other venomous animals

What to Do: 1. Keep your cat calm. If he gets excited, the accelerated heart rate will spread the poison (if the snake is poisonous) more rapidly.
2. If you see the snake, remember what it looks like. Identifying the kind of snake is important for determining treatment options.
3. If the bite is on an extremity (his leg, for example), tie a handkerchief or bandage around it between the bite wound and your cat's heart. Tie it loose enough so you can slip one finger underneath it.
4. If your cat goes into shock:

Attempt to calm your cat by talking soothingly.

Put your cat in a comfortable position. Elevate his hind end slightly.

Cover your cat with a blanket.

5. If your cat stops breathing, administer CPR.
6. If your cat is not in dire physical distress, wash the wound with mild soap and water.

What Not to Do: 1. Do not try to suck the venom out.
2. Do not put ice on the wound.
3. Do not tie the bandage too tight (you don't want to cut off circulation).

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Transport immediately.

Where to Look for More Information: Snake Bite
Shock
CPR

Bite Wounds, Other Animals

Symptoms: Unruptured abscess that is red or blue and swollen; Ruptured abscess with foul smelling pus; loss of appetite; fever above 103°F; lethargy.

Possible Causes: Being attacked, fighting

What to Do: 1. Control bleeding.
2. If you witness the attack, try to find out if the animal has rabies.
3. If the attacking animal is wild, and it is dead, take it with you to the veterinarian. Wear gloves to carefully pick up the animal and place it in a bag.
4. If your cat has an abscess or wound, clip the hair around the wound and flush it with water.
5. Take your cat to the veterinarian.

What Not to Do: Do not try to capture the attacking animal if it is still alive.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Hopefully, your cat has already had his rabies shot. Regardless of this, your cat will need to see your veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent infection.

Where to Look for More Information: Abscesses
Wounds

Bleeding

Possible Causes: Animal bites, fighting, injury

What to Do: 1. Cover the wound with a piece of sterile gauze or a clean washcloth and apply direct pressure to the wound site. If the blood soaks through the covering, apply more cloth or gauze over it, repeating as necessary.
2. If the bleeding doesn't stop and the wound is spurting (which indicates a cut artery), apply pressure to the area just above the wound with your hand. If the wound is oozing but not spurting, apply pressure below the wound.
3. If the wound is still bleeding, apply a pressure bandage by wrapping gauze or another soft material around the wound. Check periodically for swelling.
4. If the wound is on a limb and the limb is not broken, elevate it above your cat's heart to slow the bleeding.
5. If the wound is spurting and continues to bleed after Steps 1-4 have been completed, apply a tourniquet. To make a tourniquet, tie a piece of gauze or cloth above the wound. Make a loop and insert a stick in the loop. Twist the stick until the bleeding is under control. Be sure to loosen the tourniquet for two to three minutes every 30 minutes to allow blood to flow into the limb.

What Not to Do: 1. Do not remove the gauze or cloth from the wound because this can dislodge a formed clot and restart bleeding.
2. Do not use neck pressure on animals with head injuries.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Transport immediately if the bleeding is severe and cannot be stopped, if the wound needs cleaning or stitches or if there is an embedded object.

Where to Look for More Information: Wounds and Bleeding

Breathing Problems

Symptoms: Increased breathing effort, pale or blue mucous membrane, fainting, voice changes, cessation of breathing.

Possible Causes: Asthma, lung infections, overheating, electrical shock

What to Do: If the cat isn't breathing, start artificial breathing:

Lie the cat on his right side.
Open the mouth and clear any blockages.
Put your mouth over the cat's nose and exhale until the chest expands. If the cat's chest does not rise and fall during mouth-to-nose breathing, breathe more forcefully until it does.
Give four or five quick breaths, then check to see if the cat is breathing. Continue artificial breathing until the cat begins breathing on his own.

CPR: Perform if there is no pulse.

Continue artificial breathing. If another person is available nearby, they can help with breathing or heart massage.
Place the palm of one of your hands over the ribs where the elbow touches the chest. Place your other hand underneath the right side of the cat.
Compress the chest to one inch five times; administer artificial breath and repeat.
Pause every two minutes to check for breathing and pulse.
Continue until the heart starts beating and the cat is breathing on his own.

What Not to Do: 1. Do not put your fingers in the mouth of a conscious animal
2. Do not assume there is no pulse because the animal is not breathing.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Transport immediately.

Where to Look for More Information: Loss of Consciousness
Poisoning
Drowning
Respiratory Emergencies

Broken Bones

Symptoms: Lameness, swelling, abnormally positioned limbs, pain, maybe bruising, bone protruding through skin

Possible Causes: Traumatic injury, fighting, bone disease

What to Do: 1. Try to calm the cat.
2. Check for breathing and pulse and administer CPR if needed.
3. If a bone is protruding through the skin, wash the area with water, place a loose dressing over the wound and wrap it with tape. Make sure the dressing is loose enough to not disturb or move the bone.
4. Splint the fracture with a magazine or newspaper. Put the magazine or newspaper under the leg and loosely roll it around the leg. Put a piece of tape around the top and bottom of the splint. DO NOT pull on the leg.
5. Begin taping just above the magazine to attach the splint to the leg for transport. Continue taping all the way down the leg, but do not cover the toes.

What Not to Do: 1. Do not splint the limb unless you are sure you can do it properly. Improper splinting can cause further injury.
2. Do not splint the limb if the animal struggles excessively.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Transport Immediately.

Where to Look for More Information: Leg or Tail Injuries
CPR

Burns

Symptoms: Red skin, pain, swelling, loss of skin, charred appearance of skin

Possible Causes: Chemicals, electric shock, fire, hot water, heating pads, hair dryers

What to Do: 1. Apply cool water. This can be done by immersing the area in a cool bath, by running water over the burn or by applying cool compresses to the area. If more than one area is affected, do not immerse the cat in a cool bath because this can cause shock.
2. Apply a sterile non-stick bandage to the area to keep it clean.

What Not to Do: Do not apply ointments, butter or petroleum jelly.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Always take your cat to the veterinary hospital after a burn to prevent infection.

Where to Look for More Information: Electrical Shock
Burns in accidents & emergencies

Choking

Symptoms: Cessation of breathing, difficulty breathing, making loud noises when breathing, anxiety, blue or white gums

Possible Causes: Foreign object in throat, illness (choking on vomit), allergic reaction (swollen tongue), trauma

What to Do: 1. Open the cat's mouth and feel for any foreign objects with your finger.
2. Remove the object, if possible.
3. With the cat standing, lift his hind legs into the air, leaving his front legs on the floor or table, and attempt to dislodge the object.
4. Perform the Heimlich Maneuver:
Make a fist with each of your hands and place them below the cat's last rib. Thrust up rapidly on the abdomen. Repeat five times. 5. Perform artificial breathing. If a tiny bit of air gets past the object, it may be enough to dislodge the object when you repeat Step 4.
6. Repeat Step 4.
7. If the object is still stuck, take the palm of your hand and sharply strike the cat between the shoulder blades to dislodge the object.
8. Put your fingers in the cat's mouth and feel for and remove the object.
9. Administer CPR as needed and take the cat to the veterinary hospital.

What Not to Do: Do not put your fingers in your cat's mouth if he is alert or growling.

When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital: Depends on severity of incident. If choking caused by illness (vomiting), transport immediately.

Where to Look for More Information: CPR

Cold Exposure (Hypothermia)

Symptoms: Dilated pupils, shivering, body temperature below 95°F, unconsciousness, coma or stupor, pale blue mucous membranes, weakened pulse or decreased heart rate.

Possible Causes: Being caught in a storm, shock, illness, inability to regulate temperature (kittens)

What to Do: For Adult Cats:

Immediately remove the cat from the cold.
Check for breathing and pulse. Administer CPR as necessary.
Check for shock and treat as necessary.

Take the cat's temperature rectally.

Give the cat a warm bath. Rub vigorously with towels after the bath.
Wrap the cat in a blanket and place warmed bottles of water under his armpits and next to his chest and abdomen.
Check the cat's temperature every 10 minutes until it reaches 100°F.
Mix four teaspoons of sugar with a pint of water and encourage the cat to drink some.

For Kittens:

Tuck the kitten next to your skin underneath a sweater or jacket. It may take two to three hours to warm the kitten.
Place the kitten in a homemade incubator.
Offer warmed Pedialyte or 5 to 10 percent glucose and wate

Bite and Stings, Insect
Symptoms:	Redness and/or swelling, pain, itching, licking
Possible Causes:	Mosquitoes, chiggers, spiders, other biting insects
What to Do:	1. Try to identify the insect. 2. If you see an embedded stinger, remove it by scraping it with a hard object such as your fingernail or a credit card. 3. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area. 4. Apply ice or cold packs to the affected area to keep swelling and pain to a minimum. 5. You can apply Calamine lotion or Cortaid for itching.
What Not to Do:	Do not attempt to remove an embedded stinger as you would a splinter; this may release more toxins.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	1. Transport immediately if your cat exhibits signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face and neck or difficulty breathing or 2. If your cat goes into shock or otherwise seems ill.
Where to Look for More Information:	Allergic Reactions CPR

Bites, Snake
Symptoms:	Puncture wounds, redness, swelling; if the snake is poisonous, your cat may exhibit signs of respiratory or motor difficulties
Possible Causes:	Snake or other venomous animals
What to Do:	1. Keep your cat calm. If he gets excited, the accelerated heart rate will spread the poison (if the snake is poisonous) more rapidly. 2. If you see the snake, remember what it looks like. Identifying the kind of snake is important for determining treatment options. 3. If the bite is on an extremity (his leg, for example), tie a handkerchief or bandage around it between the bite wound and your cat's heart. Tie it loose enough so you can slip one finger underneath it. 4. If your cat goes into shock: Attempt to calm your cat by talking soothingly. Put your cat in a comfortable position. Elevate his hind end slightly. Cover your cat with a blanket. 5. If your cat stops breathing, administer CPR. 6. If your cat is not in dire physical distress, wash the wound with mild soap and water.
What Not to Do:	1. Do not try to suck the venom out. 2. Do not put ice on the wound. 3. Do not tie the bandage too tight (you don't want to cut off circulation).
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Transport immediately.
Where to Look for More Information:	Snake Bite Shock CPR

Bite Wounds, Other Animals
Symptoms:	Unruptured abscess that is red or blue and swollen; Ruptured abscess with foul smelling pus; loss of appetite; fever above 103°F; lethargy.
Possible Causes:	Being attacked, fighting
What to Do:	1. Control bleeding. 2. If you witness the attack, try to find out if the animal has rabies. 3. If the attacking animal is wild, and it is dead, take it with you to the veterinarian. Wear gloves to carefully pick up the animal and place it in a bag. 4. If your cat has an abscess or wound, clip the hair around the wound and flush it with water. 5. Take your cat to the veterinarian.
What Not to Do:	Do not try to capture the attacking animal if it is still alive.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Hopefully, your cat has already had his rabies shot. Regardless of this, your cat will need to see your veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent infection.
Where to Look for More Information:	Abscesses Wounds

Bleeding
Possible Causes:	Animal bites, fighting, injury
What to Do:	1. Cover the wound with a piece of sterile gauze or a clean washcloth and apply direct pressure to the wound site. If the blood soaks through the covering, apply more cloth or gauze over it, repeating as necessary. 2. If the bleeding doesn't stop and the wound is spurting (which indicates a cut artery), apply pressure to the area just above the wound with your hand. If the wound is oozing but not spurting, apply pressure below the wound. 3. If the wound is still bleeding, apply a pressure bandage by wrapping gauze or another soft material around the wound. Check periodically for swelling. 4. If the wound is on a limb and the limb is not broken, elevate it above your cat's heart to slow the bleeding. 5. If the wound is spurting and continues to bleed after Steps 1-4 have been completed, apply a tourniquet. To make a tourniquet, tie a piece of gauze or cloth above the wound. Make a loop and insert a stick in the loop. Twist the stick until the bleeding is under control. Be sure to loosen the tourniquet for two to three minutes every 30 minutes to allow blood to flow into the limb.
What Not to Do:	1. Do not remove the gauze or cloth from the wound because this can dislodge a formed clot and restart bleeding. 2. Do not use neck pressure on animals with head injuries.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Transport immediately if the bleeding is severe and cannot be stopped, if the wound needs cleaning or stitches or if there is an embedded object.
Where to Look for More Information:	Wounds and Bleeding

Breathing Problems
Symptoms:	Increased breathing effort, pale or blue mucous membrane, fainting, voice changes, cessation of breathing.
Possible Causes:	Asthma, lung infections, overheating, electrical shock
What to Do:	If the cat isn't breathing, start artificial breathing: Lie the cat on his right side. Open the mouth and clear any blockages. Put your mouth over the cat's nose and exhale until the chest expands. If the cat's chest does not rise and fall during mouth-to-nose breathing, breathe more forcefully until it does. Give four or five quick breaths, then check to see if the cat is breathing. Continue artificial breathing until the cat begins breathing on his own. CPR: Perform if there is no pulse. Continue artificial breathing. If another person is available nearby, they can help with breathing or heart massage. Place the palm of one of your hands over the ribs where the elbow touches the chest. Place your other hand underneath the right side of the cat. Compress the chest to one inch five times; administer artificial breath and repeat. Pause every two minutes to check for breathing and pulse. Continue until the heart starts beating and the cat is breathing on his own.
What Not to Do:	1. Do not put your fingers in the mouth of a conscious animal 2. Do not assume there is no pulse because the animal is not breathing.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Transport immediately.
Where to Look for More Information:	Loss of Consciousness Poisoning Drowning Respiratory Emergencies

Broken Bones
Symptoms:	Lameness, swelling, abnormally positioned limbs, pain, maybe bruising, bone protruding through skin
Possible Causes:	Traumatic injury, fighting, bone disease
What to Do:	1. Try to calm the cat. 2. Check for breathing and pulse and administer CPR if needed. 3. If a bone is protruding through the skin, wash the area with water, place a loose dressing over the wound and wrap it with tape. Make sure the dressing is loose enough to not disturb or move the bone. 4. Splint the fracture with a magazine or newspaper. Put the magazine or newspaper under the leg and loosely roll it around the leg. Put a piece of tape around the top and bottom of the splint. DO NOT pull on the leg. 5. Begin taping just above the magazine to attach the splint to the leg for transport. Continue taping all the way down the leg, but do not cover the toes.
What Not to Do:	1. Do not splint the limb unless you are sure you can do it properly. Improper splinting can cause further injury. 2. Do not splint the limb if the animal struggles excessively.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Transport Immediately.
Where to Look for More Information:	Leg or Tail Injuries CPR

Burns
Symptoms:	Red skin, pain, swelling, loss of skin, charred appearance of skin
Possible Causes:	Chemicals, electric shock, fire, hot water, heating pads, hair dryers
What to Do:	1. Apply cool water. This can be done by immersing the area in a cool bath, by running water over the burn or by applying cool compresses to the area. If more than one area is affected, do not immerse the cat in a cool bath because this can cause shock. 2. Apply a sterile non-stick bandage to the area to keep it clean.
What Not to Do:	Do not apply ointments, butter or petroleum jelly.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Always take your cat to the veterinary hospital after a burn to prevent infection.
Where to Look for More Information:	Electrical Shock Burns in accidents & emergencies

Choking
Symptoms:	Cessation of breathing, difficulty breathing, making loud noises when breathing, anxiety, blue or white gums
Possible Causes:	Foreign object in throat, illness (choking on vomit), allergic reaction (swollen tongue), trauma
What to Do:	1. Open the cat's mouth and feel for any foreign objects with your finger. 2. Remove the object, if possible. 3. With the cat standing, lift his hind legs into the air, leaving his front legs on the floor or table, and attempt to dislodge the object. 4. Perform the Heimlich Maneuver: Make a fist with each of your hands and place them below the cat's last rib. Thrust up rapidly on the abdomen. Repeat five times. 5. Perform artificial breathing. If a tiny bit of air gets past the object, it may be enough to dislodge the object when you repeat Step 4. 6. Repeat Step 4. 7. If the object is still stuck, take the palm of your hand and sharply strike the cat between the shoulder blades to dislodge the object. 8. Put your fingers in the cat's mouth and feel for and remove the object. 9. Administer CPR as needed and take the cat to the veterinary hospital.
What Not to Do:	Do not put your fingers in your cat's mouth if he is alert or growling.
When to Call the Vet or Transport to a Veterinary Hospital:	Depends on severity of incident. If choking caused by illness (vomiting), transport immediately.
Where to Look for More Information:	CPR

Cold Exposure (Hypothermia)
Symptoms:	Dilated pupils, shivering, body temperature below 95°F, unconsciousness, coma or stupor, pale blue mucous membranes, weakened pulse or decreased heart rate.
Possible Causes:	Being caught in a storm, shock, illness, inability to regulate temperature (kittens)
What to Do:	For Adult Cats: Immediately remove the cat from the cold. Check for breathing and pulse. Administer CPR as necessary. Check for shock and treat as necessary. Take the cat's temperature rectally. Give the cat a warm bath. Rub vigorously with towels after the bath. Wrap the cat in a blanket and place warmed bottles of water under his armpits and next to his chest and abdomen. Check the cat's temperature every 10 minutes until it reaches 100°F. Mix four teaspoons of sugar with a pint of water and encourage the cat to drink some. For Kittens: Tuck the kitten next to your skin underneath a sweater or jacket. It may take two to three hours to warm the kitten. Place the kitten in a homemade incubator. Offer warmed Pedialyte or 5 to 10 percent glucose and wate