Basic first aid for cats

Cats are inquisitive animals by nature and since they often spend so much time exploring alone, curiosity can really end up hurting our feline friends. For that reason, you may one day find your cat needing medical attention and you could be required to perform basic first aid on them until you’re able to get them to a vet.

As scary as the situation can be, it’s essential to keep calm when providing your cat with first aid as injured animals may try to bite or scratch in fear or pain.

In this article, we’ve shared the basic first aid equipment that every cat owner should have, along with the three most common ways to provide first aid to your pet.

Things to remember

Along with remaining calm throughout the process, you should contact your vet as soon as possible. When explaining your cat’s injury, they may advise you to perform a different form of first aid that is more suitable for their condition.

Never: Give human medicine to a cat as this can be life-threatening.

First aid kit

You should keep a first aid kit for your cat in a place in your home that is easily accessible, and always remember to take it with you if you’re travelling with your pet.

There’s no need to pack hundreds of medical items. A basic first aid kit for your pet should include:

• Surgical sticky tape
• Bandages
• Non-adhesive dressings
• Blunt-ended scissors
• Antiseptic wipes
• A towel

Most common requirements for first aid

Whilst there are a variety of accidents that could result in your cat needing first aid, the following are some common injuries and illnesses.

Burns

Similar to humans, burns on your cat’s skin must be run under cold, running water for at least five minutes for the temperature to cool. If your cat becomes distressed (lashing out, panting, vocalising) stop trying to wet the burns and get them to your vet as quickly as possible for pain relief and further treatment.

It’s important to keep the rest of their body warm whilst soothing their burns. This can be done by gently wrapping them in a fluff-free blanket or dry towel, avoiding the burn.

Do not: Apply any ointments or creams to their injury.

Poisoning

Another potential requirement for performing first aid can happen when your cat has consumed something toxic. Items such as household cleaning items, human food like chocolate and things found in the garden could be poisonous to your cat and can result in them vomiting or experiencing diarrhoea.

Unless advised specifically by your vet, never force your cat to vomit as this can actually cause more harm than good. Instead, try and find out exactly what your pet has consumed that could have caused the poisoning. This information may be able to help your vet provide your cat with better treatment.

Important: Contact your vet as soon as it happens or you suspect they have eaten something toxic. This will provide the best chances of helping your cat and reducing any further complications.

Bite wounds

Bite wounds very often get infected because of the high concentration of bacteria in the mouth. Larger wounds can result in significant blood loss. Always have your cat checked by your vet if they have been bitten or attacked, even if there are no obvious concerns. Bite wounds can be more serious than they look because of hidden damage below the skin.

What to do if your cat has a bite wound  

First, check your pet:

• Is your cat conscious?
  • If NOT, phone your vet immediately to let them know you are coming and take your cat straight to your vet. Be careful moving them as there may be internal injuries so try to keep their body as still as possible and transport them on a flat surface. Try to use a secure cat carrier in case they regain consciousness during the journey. If you have a plastic cat carrier, these normally come apart around the middle, don't try and put your cat through the door at the front. Simply take the top half off and place them carefully into the bottom of the carrier before securing the lid back on for transport.
  • If partially, you will still need to call your vet and take your cat in to be checked urgently. Be slow, quiet and careful with your handling as partially conscious animals will be confused and likely in pain and may bite or scratch if frightened, even if they are normally very friendly. You can use a thick towel or blanket over your hands if needed to help protect yourself while carefully moving your pet.
• Is your cat breathing? Look at their chest, is it moving with the breaths?
  • IF NOT call your vet immediately as they may advise you to do CPR.
  • IF they are breathing, check them for wounds. Book an appointment with your vet but be sure to explain the circumstances so they can prioritise your visit if needed.

Second check:

• Is there severe bleeding?
  • IF YES, apply pressure to the wound and go to the vet immediately.
  • IF NO and your pet looks fine. Clean the wound with salted water (1 tsp to 500ml of water) as best as possible. Book an appointment with your vet but be sure to explain the circumstances so they can prioritise your visit if needed.

Road traffic accident (RTA)

If your cat has been involved in a traumatic accident be very careful when moving them. All pets that have been in a road traffic accident should be checked by a vet as there could be internal injuries that need veterinary attention.

What to do if your cat was in a road traffic accident  

First, check your pet:

• Is your cat conscious?
  • If NOT, phone your vet immediately to let them know you are coming and take your cat straight to your vet. Be careful moving them as there may be internal injuries so try to keep their body as still as possible and transport them on a flat surface. Try to use a secure cat carrier in case they regain consciousness during the journey. If you have a plastic cat carrier, these normally come apart around the middle, don't try and put your cat through the door at the front. Simply take the top half off and place them carefully into the bottom of the carrier before securing the lid back on for transport.
  • If partially, you will still need to call your vet and take your cat in to be checked urgently. Be slow, quiet and careful with your handling as partially conscious animals will be confused and likely in pain and may bite or scratch if frightened, even if they are normally very friendly. You can use a thick towel or blanket over your hands if needed to help protect yourself while carefully moving your pet.
• Is your cat breathing? Look at their chest, is it moving with the breaths?
  • IF NOT call your vet immediately as they may advise you to do CPR.
  • IF they are breathing, check them for wounds. Book an appointment with your vet but be sure to explain the circumstances so they can prioritise your visit if needed.
• Is there any constant bleeding?
  • IF YES apply pressure to the wound. You can do this by placing a thick piece of material (such as a towel or piece of clothing) firmly over the area and covering it with non-adhesive dressing, keeping it held down with cotton wool or tape.
  • Take them to a vet immediately.

Gently move them to a safe place:

• Avoid touching the painful area as much as possible.
• Avoid moving your cat too much in case there are internal injuries.
• Don’t let them walk or move around until you speak to your vet. Call your vet.

Fit or seizure

A seizure is an episode of uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which can result in involuntary tremors or full-body convulsions.

Do not hold or try to comfort your cat as this could prolong their fit.

What to do if your cat is having a fit or seizure  

Stay calm and look at your surroundings:

• DO NOT cuddle your cat or cover them.
• DO NOT put your fingers in their mouth.
• Clear the space around your pet, and use cushions or soft materials to prevent any fall or injury during the fit.
• Remove other pets or children from the area.
• Switch off any music or television or keep the noise level at a minimum.
• Turn off lights or close curtains.

These are all important to reduce the fitting time and keep you and the cat safe.

If you can, monitor the time or ideally record the seizure so that you can show your vet. 

Recovering period:

• Monitor how long it takes for them to recover completely.
  • Note their behaviour after the fit, are they confused? Or did they recover straight away?
• Be prepared to stay with them if they are confused, as they may inadvertently hurt themselves or put themselves at risk.
• Check if they have relieved themselves during the fit so that you can clean up.

Report all this information to your vet. When you call, they might advise you to take your pet in once they’re fully recovered.

Electric shocks

Pets chewing electrical cords or cables are a common cause of electrical injury, with some being unfortunate enough to be struck by lightning. Electric shocks can cause burns, organ damage and death in cats, so it’s important to know what to do when it happens.

Stop the shock:

• Turn off the power switch! If you can’t do this safely then make sure to turn the main fuse box off.
• DO NOT try to move them directly with your hands, as you may be electrocuted. Non-conductive materials can help but you must be very careful about which product you use and assess if it’s safe for you to attempt to remove your cat.

When it’s safe to do so, check your pet:

• Is your cat conscious?
  • If NOT, phone your vet immediately to let them know you are coming and take your cat straight to your vet. Be careful moving them as there may be internal injuries so try to keep their body as still as possible and transport them on a flat surface. Try to use a secure cat carrier in case they regain consciousness during the journey. If you have a plastic cat carrier, these normally come apart around the middle, don't try and put your cat through the door at the front. Simply take the top half off and place them carefully into the bottom of the carrier before securing the lid back on for transport.
  • If partially, you will still need to call your vet and take your cat in to be checked urgently. Be slow, quiet and careful with your handling as partially conscious animals will be confused and likely in pain and may bite or scratch if frightened, even if they are normally very friendly. You can use a thick towel or blanket over your hands if needed to help protect yourself while carefully moving your pet.
  •  
• Is your cat breathing? Look at their chest, is it moving with the breaths?
  • IF NOT call your vet immediately as they may advise you to do CPR.
  • IF they are breathing, check them for wounds or burns.
• Then wrap your pet up to keep them warm. Call a vet.

So now you have some basic first aid tips for your cat, you can be more prepared in case the worst should happen. These should not be used in place of a trip to the vet but should be used to keep your pet safer and more comfortable whilst on your way to the clinic.