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Cat First Aid
Now that you have your cat first aid kit assembled, let's go into it's use and how to help your cat. There are several things we will address, just like for people. If you don't know what is wrong with your cat, call your veterinarian. However, if you know to do something and your first aid kit addresses the problem, then start there. Call your veterinarian as soon as you can leave your cat for a few minutes to see if there is anything else they advise. Don't try to avoid a vet visit. You may be very sorry when a few dollars spent might have saved your cat's life. Unconscious, not responsive  Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation You can do mouth to mouth breathing with a cat. Similar to people, only breathe over the nose and mouth and keep the air from going into the belly. Let the ribs expand and contract. That's where the lungs are. The cat's lungs are small, so very small breaths should be used. CPR You can massage the lower chest gently to restart the heart, but if you've never done this on a cat you don't know how much pressure is too much. If you are breaking bones, you are too strong, but you need to get the heart pumping, too. You will need to apply just enough pressure so that the heart pumps. It is a delicate balance. When in doubt, don't. Choking If your cat is choking, hold it upright on your lap, with the head toward your knees. Drop the head off your knees and keep the hind quarters on your lap. Gently, with the head toward the floor, pat the ribs to simulate the pressure of a good cough. We don't have a similar operation to the heimlich maneuver for cats because of different physiology, but this usually works. Don't shake the cat up and down. Be sure your cat is having difficulty coughing before you attempt this. Broken Bones If your cat has broken bones, wrap your cat in a blanket, stabilize the bones to minimize further damage and get the cat to the vet. If the bone is broken but there are no internal injuries, you may have a hefty vet bill, but an OK cat. If the bladder ruptured during the impact which broke the bones, your cat will be euthanized to ease it's suffering. There is no repair possible to the bladder. Burns If your cat is burned, sluice (allow the solution to flow over) the area gently with saline solution. Trim away the hair, and sluice again. Apply clean, damp gauze gently to the area and take your cat to the vet for further treatment. Electric Shock If your cat bites an electrical cord, electric shock may occur. Unplug the cord from the wall before attending to your pet. Check to be sure the heart is beating and the cat is breathing, wrap it in a blanket and get it to the vet. There is not much you can do on your own. Cat Fights and Bites If your cat gets in a fight, the ears and eyes are quite vulnerable. Treat the ears for bleeding, bites and scratches. Most of the time, the injuries will look worse than they really are. However, the eyes will need to be sluiced with saline and opthamalic ointment applied. Take the cat to the vet in any case, since you need to have the cat seen for the more serious damage. If your cat was bitten, clean the wound. Trim the hair around it and be sure there is no foreign matter in the wound. Wash with the saline solution and keep the area clean. Apply bandages and tape and take your cat to the vet. It will need antibiotics and possibly some vaccinations. No matter if the bite is from a cat, dog, snake or rat, the cat needs to be seen. If the animal was wild, your cat may also need rabies updates. Frostbite If your cat gets frostbitten paws, warm them gently with warm water. The feet will look pretty bad for a couple of days. You might also consider using a different litter medium, such as shredded newspaper, until your cat's feet are better. Be sure to keep yor cat warm. Soft bedding near a heat source, but not on or in it, would be best. Your cat's skin will be tender until it heals. Heat Stroke If your cat is overheated, cool gradually, not quickly. Don't use ice, but cool tap water instead. Give your cat water, perhaps a little pedialyte. Bring your cat into a cooler area. You can dip your cat in cool tap water, but usually just moving the cat to a cooler area will be enough. Watch your cat for seizures and symptoms of dehydration. If your cat doesn't perk up after getting cooled down, it may need to be seen by the vet. Poisoning If you suspect your cat got into some kind of poison, antifreeze or plant material for instance, take it to the vet immediately. You may not be able to save you cat if the poisoning was from antifreeze, but you won't know until you take the cat in. For more information on poisons to cats, read Poisons and Hazards to Cats. Seizures In case your cat has a seizure, protect it from harm during the seizure. Take it to the vet to find out why the seizure ocurred and see if there is anything you need to do. Seizures can occur after heatstroke, electrical shock and vaccinations. Any time your cat has a seizure and you don't know why, it needs to be seen. Vomiting If your cat vomits, you may have a hairball problem. Use a lubricant to eliminate the hairballs. If your cat continues to vomit and hairballs are not the problem, take your cat to the vet to be checked. It could be a food allergy or other problem. Kittens If your cat is having kittens and having difficulty, put the cat and any newborns in a carrier and take her to the vet. Caring for Your Cat After the EmergencyYour cat may not be able to eat correctly for a couple of days. Many people will tell you that baby food is an acceptable substitute. However, be sure that any food you give your cat does not contain onions or onion flavoring. This is poisonous to cats, and may undo all the good you have done.Surgical Wound Care Keep the cat from trying to clean the area or bite the stitches. If you notice seepage, call your vet. Gently clean the wound area with saline solution on a soft cloth, using little or no pressure. Follow the advice your vet gives you, whether you need to bring your cat in or just keep the area clean and dry. You may be directed to put ointment on the wound. Wash your hands with soap and hot water before attempting this, as any germs on your hands may contaminate the surgical wound. To give your cat a pill You can grind up many pills and administer with your hypodermic syringe and water or saline solution. You can also attempt to put it in the food, although many cats won't eat food with medication in it. There are pill-pockets you can put the pill in, that are treats to help your cat get the medicine down. The best way I've found to administer most pill-form medications is to simply put the pill in the back of the cat's mouth, close the mouth and massage the throat until the pill is swallowed. Restraining the cat is often necessary, and can be easily accomplished with either a pillowcase or bath towel wrapped around the cat. Claws can still come through, so be careful. Be sure to praise and love your cat after the pill has been swallowed. I find that simply giving the pill to my cats fosters trust that I won't try to do something sneaky to my cats, but some cats are harder to handle or have special conditions, so some of these other methods will help. If your cat cannot swallow a pill, the syringe is the best way to administer any medication.
References:Pocket Ref Compiled by Thomas J. Glover, Sequoia Publising Inc, Littleton CO copyright 2002.See the measurement conversions: 0.16667 us oz = 1 tsp 1 cc = 0.03381 us oz 1 mL=0.0338 us oz 1 tsp= 0.16667 us oz 1 tbsp= 0.5 us oz 1 oz us = 29.5735 cc This works out as: 29.5735/.5= 14.78675 cc=1 tbsp 14.78675/3 =4.92891667 cc = 1 tsp Various veterinarians across the globe, including Dr. Keith Perrett in Australia and Dr. Khalsa at Fountain City Animal Hospital in Knoxville.
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