Cats are very independent pets and even have a reputation for being surly, but we know that this is not the case and that they are just as capable as any other pet of showing their affection and establishing an important emotional bond with its owner.
As a result of this genuine, independent and exploratory character, the cat may suffer some other accident, and although in these cases it will be essential to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible, it will also be necessary for us to act with knowledge and speed. In this AnimalWised article we show you what are the first aid in cats that you should know.
Take an assessment of your cat
If our cat has suffered an accident, we should not attend to it ourselves since we do not have the necessary knowledge, therefore it is essential to have the contact of a veterinarian on call.
However, if it will be our function to assist our pet and prepare ourselves to offer the necessary information to the veterinarian, in order to speed up the care.
To do this we must carry out an initial evaluation of the state of our cat, we must ffocus on the following aspects:
- Respiration and pulse
- Degree of consciousness
- Body temperature
- Behaviour
- Color of mucous membranes
- Pupils
- Presence of hemorrhages
First aid for dehydrated cats
Dehydration in cats is a dangerous situation that threatens our pets during the warmer months of the year. A dehydrated cat will show dry sticky gums and a skin that lacks elasticity You will see this clearly if you pinch its skin, as it will return strangely slowly to its starting position.
You must prepare to take the cat to the vet but first you must start an oral administration of physiological saline or saline solution, which you will easily find at any pharmacy. If you couldn't go, you can make physiological serum at home, you will only need 1 small spoonful of sea s alt for every 250 milliliters of water (a glass). If he does not drink directly from his water bowl, you can wrap him in a towel and administer the serum with a blunt syringe and in a controlled manner. Discover on our site some home remedies for dehydrated cats that can help you in an emergency.
First aid for injured cats
An injured cat can be aggressive and therefore it is also important that we handle it with extreme care. Gloves can help, but in some cases it may be convenient to completely wrap him in a towel so that his vital signs can be studied. The cat may present internal and external wounds:
The external wound will be easily visible and we must act as soon as possible if the animal is losing blood, pressing the wound with gauze for about 10 minutes to stop the bleeding. If it is shallow, we can use hydrogen peroxide for wounds in the cat, as well as betadine, however, we must prevent it from licking itself. If the wound is very deep, the risk of infection is certain, so we can stop the bleeding, but it will still be necessary to visit a veterinarian to administer antibiotics.
In the case of internal bleeding in cats we will observe symptoms such as cold extremities, rapid breathing, pale gums or lethargy. Internal wounds require immediate veterinary attention, so the ideal would be to go to the specialist as soon as possible, trying to handle the animal as little as possible.
First aid for cats with obstructed airways
In some cases we can find the presence of a foreign body in our cat's throat that causes respiratory distress, it is a serious situation that must be treated quickly to avoid suffocation.
If the cat is still breathing and is aware you should try to calm it down and remove that object with your hands or with the help of tweezers. We recommend that you ask a relative or acquaintance for help since the cat may try to bite you.
In the event that the cat has lost consciousness, you should lay it on its side and press with your hand from the throat to the head to make it easier for the object to come out. Another drastic but effective option is to place the cat upside down to force the foreign body out.
First aid for poisoned cats
Cats can be poisoned by multiple substances, from toxic plants to cleaning products, if you know what your cat has been poisoned with, take a sample to the vet. Here are some tips for cat poisoning:
- If the cat has been poisoned by a toxic food or plant, you can make him vomit. To do this, insert a finger into the throat and press gently.
- If the cat has ingested a corrosive or acidic substance, such as bleach or ammonia, do not induce vomiting, Give him milk to drinkto neutralize the toxins. If the cat does not seem to want to ingest it, help yourself with a small blunt syringe.
- Finally, if you don't know what substance he has ingested, don't make him vomit or give him anything to drink, this could aggravate his he alth condition.
Find out more about cat poisoning in our full article.
First aid for cats with fractures
A bad fall can cause a cat to break, which will be clearly visible as the cat will show signs of pain and movement difficultyIn these cases it is a priority to keep the cat immobile, for this we can use the carrier, a piece of cardboard to support the cat and hold it with cloth straps or a towel.
If the fracture is open, the wound will be bleeding, and as we have mentioned before it is necessary to apply pressure to stop the bleeding, but very carefully so as not to aggravate the fracture.
What to do in case of an accident?
It is important to know what has happened to our cat and for this we must observe its condition, secondly we will apply the corresponding first aid, finally we will contact the veterinarian and take it to the clinic as comfortable as possible and completely immobilized in cases that require it.
