- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
While it’s scary to think about, any cat can experience a medical emergency at any time. If that happens, understanding cat first aid can help you keep your cool and give your kitty the best chance of recovery. “It’s often difficult to self-diagnose what exactly is causing your cat discomfort, so I always recommend contacting your veterinarian ahead of administering any at-home first-aid treatment,” explains Whitney Miller, DVM, DACVPM, Chief Veterinarian at Petco.
If you’re unsure if your cat’s in pain, look out for these signs:
- Vocalizing, like meowing, growling, or hissing.
- Licking, biting, or scratching at a particular body part
- Hiding or avoidant behavior, like resisting pets or being held
- Limping or favoring part of their body
- Trembling or shaking
- Lethargy
- Glazed eyes or dilated pupils
- Panting when at rest
Once you’re sure your cat needs help, here are some basic first-aid tips that could help during various emergency scenarios. Plus, learn how to stock your cat’s first-aid kit with vet-approved essentials.
Cat First Aid Kit: The Essentials
Once you know your cat’s in pain, get out the first aid kit. Essential items you’ll need in the kit include:
- Cotton pads and swabs
- Bandages and gauze rolls
- Non-stick bandage tape
- A digital thermometer and water-based lubricant
- Disposable gloves
- Scissors for cutting bandages
- Tweezers, for extracting objects
- A clean towel
- Treats for encouragement
Dr. Miller also suggests having your cat’s vaccine and medical history on hand, and the contact information of your cat’s primary vet and the closest emergency vet. Put it inside your kit so it’s handy when you need it.
How to Provide First Aid for a Cat Who’s In Pain
“If your cat is in pain, it’s a natural response for them to be more skittish than normal, so I recommend approaching slowly and speaking gently,” says Dr. Miller. After all, an afraid and confused kitty could redirect their feelings and lash out at you.
To protect yourself, keep your hands and face away from your cat’s mouth, and don’t attempt to hug them. Try and let your cat lead the interaction and handle them as gently as possible. You can also try recruiting another person to help hold them steady.
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How to Dress and Treat a Wound You Can See
If you find a wound on your cat, you may need to apply some quick first aid before heading to the emergency vet’s office.
How to apply first aid on a bleeding wound
If the wound is bleeding, apply pressure or an ice pack wrapped in a towel to reduce blood flow to the affected area, says Christen Fout, DVM, a veterinarian with the Veterinary Emergency Group.
Don’t attempt to see if the bleeding has stopped until you’ve applied pressure for at least three minutes. If you see blood soaking through the cloth, don’t take the first layer off. Instead, add another layer to avoid breaking up any potential blood clots.
How to apply first aid on a shallow wound
If your cat’s wound isn’t bleeding, you can clean it with mild soap and water. From there, you can bandage it to protect it from the elements.
An effective bandage generally consists of three layers.
- The contact layer that directly touches the cat’s wound, such as a non-sticky cotton pad.
- The absorbent layer that helps keep your cat’s bandage dry, like a non-sticky cotton gauze.
- The outer layer that holds your cat’s bandage in place. It can be made from a stretchy elastic or sticky adhesive wrap.
How to Apply a Bandage on An Injured Cat
When applying a bandage, pay attention to the pressure as you wrap. Wrapping too tightly could cut off circulation and put your cat at risk of tissue death. So, again, ask your vet for advice before bandaging a wound. With their blessing, here are some tips for bandaging various parts of your cat’s body.
On the legs
When bandaging a cat’s front or back limb, Dr. Fout says to keep an eye on their toes. If the toes look swollen, the bandage is too tight.
On the torso
Instead of wrapping your cat’s torso with gauze, you can cover the wound by slipping a toddler T-shirt or a baby onesie over their head. Depending on your cat’s size, Dr. Fout says you can also use a sock with the toes cut off.
On the paw
If your cat doesn’t like you handing their paw, you may find it easier to slip a small sock or bootie over their foot. You can keep it attached by gently wrapping a bandage around the top of the leg.
The nails
“If a cat’s nail is torn and bleeding, cornstarch or flour can be used at home to try and stop the bleeding,” says Dr. Fout. Otherwise, you can generally follow the same bandaging process that you’d use on their paws.
Bandages in other areas
If the wound is on your cat’s ears, face, or tail, don’t attempt to bandage it. Cats don’t usually tolerate bandages in these areas. So, Dr. Fout says that vets likely won’t use them either.
iStock/Vonschonertagen
How to Dress and Treat Burns on a Cat
Your cat can suffer burns from fire, hot surfaces, electricity, or chemicals. There are three different kinds of burns with varying appearances and degrees of severity:
- First-degree burns affect the top layer of skin and typically cause redness and mild pain.
- Second-degree burns involve deeper layers of skin and can cause blistering.
- Third-degree burns destroy the top layer of skin entirely and damage deeper layers of flesh. They’re the most serious, and you may notice charring or more extensive damage.
To apply first aid on a burn, cover the area in a compress soaked in cool or room-temperature water. You can also use damp paper towels. Once the burn is clean, Dr. Fout says to apply an antibiotic ointment and a bandage.
How to Respond to a Fracture or Sprain
If your cat suffers a broken bone or sprain, you may notice them suddenly favoring a limb or refusing to use it. You may also notice swelling or the limb jutting out at an unusual angle. More rarely, you may even see the bone jutting out.
If you can see the bone, cover the area with clean gauze or a cloth. If the wound is bleeding, keep pressure on it until the bleeding stops. From there, gently lay your cat on a flat surface, like a small board, to keep them steady while transporting them to a vet. Make sure that the board is small enough to fit inside their carrier. Again, your cat’s likely in pain, so be careful when handling them.
Don’t try to splint the fracture at home – you may end up doing more harm than good. So, it’s best to let your vet handle it.
How to Spot, Treat, and Dress Bug Bites on a Cat
If your cat gets stung by a bee or another type of insect, you may notice symptoms of a skin problem like swelling, scratching, or redness. If your cat has an allergic reaction, they may even break out in hives or faint.
If a stinger is still lodged in your cat’s skin, scrape it off with a credit card or another blunt surface. After, apply a cool compress to soothe the area or a paste with baking soda and vinegar to counteract the bee venom.
How to Spot When Your Cat is Ill or Sick
If your cat is sick, look out for symptoms like coughing, diarrhea, or vomiting.
If your cat shows mild symptoms, you can try taking their temperature. Coat an electric thermometer with a water-based lubricant, like petroleum jelly, and insert it 1-2 centimeters into their rectum. A cat’s normal body temperature is 101 to 102.5°F. If their temperature is higher than that, you can keep them cool on the way to the vet by spritzing their fur with cool water or applying a fan. Lastly, cats running a high fever may need vet attention to bring their body temperature back to normal levels.
Did my cat eat something poisonous?
A cat that’s consumed something poisonous may also show similar symptoms to illnesses, like vomiting and diarrhea. But you may also notice more concerning symptoms, such as seizures.
If you suspect poisoning, don’t try to make your cat throw up at home. Instead, call a pet poison control hotline – like the Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) – and follow their advice before heading to the pet ER.
iStock/Phynart Studio
How to Provide First Aid During a Cat Seizure
A seizure is a neurological issue that happens as a result of abnormal electrical brain activity. Seizures in cats often happen due to epilepsy or another underlying health condition, like hyperthyroidism or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar.)
If your cat has a seizure, you may notice sudden or uncontrollable movements that affect their whole body or only part of it. During the seizure, take steps to keep your cat safe, like moving them off high surfaces.
If you can, time the seizure: Seizures that last longer than 3-5 minutes can put your cat at risk of serious side effects, like a dangerous rise in body temperature or fluid in their brain or lungs. If it lasts less than three minutes, call your vet for advice. If it lasts longer than three minutes, cover your cat’s ears and belly with cool compresses and head to the vet.
What to Do If You Think A Cat is Choking
If you suspect that your cat is choking, try to remove the object from their mouths. “Use caution as your pet is likely stressed, reactive, and could bite,” Dr. Fout says.
If you can’t get it out or don’t feel comfortable reaching into your cat’s mouth, try the pet Heimlich maneuver: Pick up your cat’s back legs and swing them from side to side to dislodge the object. If that doesn’t work, apply pressure to their abdomen, just below their ribcage.
What If A Cat Isn’t Breathing Properly?
“If you suspect your cat isn’t breathing, you can intervene to help move air in and out of the lungs,” Dr. Fout says. Don’t try to give your cat mouth-to-mouth. Instead, he recommends giving them gentle chest compressions on the way to the vet. Cup one hand around your cat’s chest, just behind the elbows, and squeeze at a rate of 100 bpm — the same rate as human CPR. You can keep time to songs like Staying Alive by The Bee Gees, or Baby Shark by Pinkfong.
How to Transport an Injured or Sick Cat to a Vet
Getting a cat into their carrier can be trying under normal circumstances. To make it easier, start by corralling your cat into a small room, like your bedroom or bathroom, to prevent them from darting to an easy-to-reach hiding place.
If your cat won’t go in on their own, gently grab them and place them inside the carrier, either head or butt, first.
Takeaway
Handling an emergency situation can be stressful for you and your cat. But with these supplies and tips, you can stay calm and collected as you apply first aid before heading to the vet.
