September 18, 2022, 3:01 am | Read time: 8 minutes

In an accident, almost anything can happen: The cat burns its paw on the grill and gets a big blister. The tomcat misjudges a jump and breaks its hind leg. The animal gets caught in a rose bush and bleeds from the eye. Then it’s time to take a deep breath, calm the cat, and get the first aid kit while possibly already on the phone with the vet. PETBOOK explains which items can be used for initial care in typical injuries.

What belongs in a first aid kit for cats?

Bandaging Materials

• two to three gauze bandages
• two to three gauze swabs and sterile compresses
• cotton wool for bandages
• adhesive tape roll
• self-adhesive fixation bandages

Tools

• tweezers
• tick remover
• scissors with rounded tips
• small flashlight and batteries
• digital thermometer (preferably with a soft tip)
• tools for binding
• wooden spatula
• disposable syringes in various sizes

Drops and Solutions

• mild disinfectant (e.g., hydrogen peroxide 3%)
• antiseptic ointment with octenidine, can also be mixed in a 1:4 ratio with boiled water to create a solution (never use Betadine, as cats cannot tolerate iodine)
• sterile liquid for eye rinsing and wound cleaning, such as saline solution

Additional Accessories

• cold or hot pack
• hot water bottle
• plastic bags
• disposable gloves
• emergency blanket
• kitchen towels
• clean cloth
• first aid manual

Checklist: Injuries you can treat with a cat first aid kit

Eye Injuries

In a fight or accident, a foreign object may enter the cat’s eye or the eyelid may be injured. This is usually easy to recognize if the cat squints or you can even see blood.

First Aid Measures:

• Free-moving foreign objects can be rinsed out with water
• For injuries: cover the eye with gauze and wrap a bandage around the head

Bite Wounds

In a multi-cat household or with outdoor cats, fights sometimes occur. These usually end with small bite wounds, but sometimes with larger battle scars.

First Aid Measures:

• Disinfect bite wounds with antiseptic without iodine (as a solution or ointment) or sterile saline solution
• cover with gauze and bandage

Fracture

Although it’s said that cats always land on their feet, they can still fall and even suffer fractures. Leg fractures in cats are easily recognized by limping or not putting weight on a leg. The jaw may also be broken, which is usually visibly misaligned. In the case of a skull fracture, the pupils are also greatly dilated. A cat with a fracture reacts to touch with pain or aggressive behavior.

First Aid Measures:

• cover open fractures with gauze or a sterile cloth
• transport to the vet or animal clinic on a flat surface and move as little as possible
• it’s best to call the vet or animal clinic in advance and announce the emergency

Also interesting: True or false? 7 myths about cats explained

Insect Stings or Bites

Cats may hunt insects and get stung in the process. They might also step on an insect, and the bee’s stinger remains in the paw. This causes significant swelling, itching, and burning. Some animals are even allergic to insect stings, in which case an emergency allergy shot should be included in the cat’s first aid kit.

An insect sting can be well treated. Special caution is required if the sting is on the eye or nose, or if the insect stung the cat in the mouth, throat, or esophagus. This can severely impair breathing. If the cat licks the insect sting itself, it cools the painful area and provides self-care.

First Aid Measures:

• examine the stung area for a stinger and remove it with tweezers
• for stings in the mouth and throat, give cold water with a pipette to cool from the inside
• cooling compress or cold pack
• for stings and swelling on the nose, the cat’s sense of smell may suffer, and it may stop eating
• for stings on the eye, examine the entire area and pay special attention to whether the inside of the eye is bloodshot, as this may indicate deeper damage to the eye

Shock or Hypothermia

Shock or hypothermia usually occurs in cats in connection with accidents, for example, if the cat is hit by a car or struck by a large object while outdoors. The animal usually reacts to shock with shallow breathing and apathy.

• examine the mucous membranes, which are often pale if the cat is in shock
• measure temperature (the normal body temperature of a cat is between about 100.4 and 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit)
• If the cat is in shock and has a significantly lower body temperature, it must be warmed up slowly.
• lay on its side
• wrap the cat gradually in aluminum or gold foil (emergency blanket) to slowly normalize body temperature

Also interesting: How to tell if your cat might have COVID-19

Minor and Severe Burns

One moment of inattention, and the cat burns its paws on the hot stove, iron, or grill. Even the whiskers can catch fire from an open candle. Minor burns show as red skin, while more severe burns form blisters or open wounds. In very severe burns, burnt fur parts also come off.

First Aid Measures:

• Treat minor burns carefully with a cooling pack wrapped in a cloth or cooling ointment
• If the cat allows, cool under running water.
• Disinfect severe burns with hydrogen peroxide, then cover with gauze and a sterile bandage

Cuts

The cat steps on a shard of glass or a sharp object and has a bleeding wound.

First Aid Measures:

• for minor cuts, treat smaller cuts with a sterile swab
• Once the minor bleeding is stopped, disinfect the area with water or hydrogen peroxide and remove the hair at the wound edge with rounded scissors.
• apply a light bandage
• for severe injuries, stop bleeding with a pressure bandage
• Open wounds must be stitched by the vet, clean and disinfect the wound suture every day, and the cat should wear a cone collar to prevent it from trying to pull the stitches out of the wound.

Heatstroke

Especially in summer, it can happen that the cat’s daily sunbathing doesn’t go well, and it shows signs of heatstroke. The first signs that the cat is getting too warm are restless behavior, panting, and clearly visible, wet paw prints on the floor. As heatstroke progresses, it can lead to apathetic behavior and circulatory problems.

First Aid Measures:

• offer the cat water or, in case of apathetic weakness, drip it into the mouth with a pipette
• slowly lower body temperature with damp cloths

Resuscitation Measures

Cats can become unconscious. This usually happens after a serious accident, or the cat falls into the swimming pool while playing and floats motionless in the water.

• determine if the animal is still alive with a pupil test; if the pupil contracts when light falls on it, the animal can still be saved
• Before starting ventilation, call an emergency vet who can take over after life-saving measures.
• check if the heart is still beating and start chest compressions
• lay the cat on its right side and check if the airways are clear
• Ventilation: close the cat’s mouth and blow air into the nose through a cloth for three to five seconds
• Chest compressions: place the left hand on the cat’s chest and use two fingers of the right hand to press quickly on the chest five to ten times in succession
• The ratio should be 30 chest compressions to two ventilations.

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What information does the vet need?

For the vet to make an initial assessment over the phone, they need the following information:

• What is the animal’s temperature?
• How is the breathing?
• Is the pulse slow or fast?
• What is the general behavior?
• Does the cat respond to speech or touch?
• Was there diarrhea or vomiting?
• What is the color of the mucous membranes?

Tip: Those who practice are also better prepared for an emergency. It’s best to attend a first aid course for cats, where you learn the most important basics. In an emergency, a first aid book, which you always have handy in the kit, can also help.

Sources

• Tiermedizinportal.de, “Emergency Kit for Animals” (accessed on 8/5/2022)
• Kleintierklinik Frankenthal, “Injuries in Dogs and Cats: Reacting Correctly in an Emergency” (accessed on 8/5/2022)