Regardless of the popular saying that cats have nine lives, feline furballs of any size, age, and breed can be injured fairly easy. Therefore, it’s best to be prepared just in case.
Younger kittens and senior cats are just as vulnerable as their middle-aged counterparts. And when your kitty gets hurt you have to offer first aid, unless you’re lucky enough to be living with a veterinarian.
Seeing your pet injured is scary and frustrating, but the first thing you need to do is remain calm. Panicking will not only slow you down, it will further stress your cat and may result in you unintentionally injuring your furry pal even further. Thus, before you try aiding your cat, you must calm yourself and then call your vet.
Regardless of the type of injury, you’ll also need to calm down the cat and possibly offer first aid if the vet’s office isn’t located nearby.
When Do Cats Require First Aid?
First aid may need to be administered when it comes to both internal and external injuries.
Keeping your feline furball strictly indoors is the best way to minimize any threats which the outdoor world poses, such as infections, diseases, predatory animals, and so forth. Unfortunately, kitties aren’t invincible and even the indoors pose risks for your fluffy pet. Below you’ll find the most common cases in which your kitty may require assistance.
Stings and Bites Treatment For Cats
Stings and bites from pests and insects are common for people and cats alike. Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, bees, wasps, and other creatures can seriously injure your pet. If the injured spot isn’t near the throat and head area, you’ll need to offer first aid to your cat.
Remove the stinger by pulling it out and apply sodium bicarbonate for bee stings or a mixture of water and vinegar for wasp stings. Use some ice to soothe the sore spot and wrap your kitty in a blanket to keep it warm. Stressed out and injured cats can go into shock, so you should have a warm blanket on hand.
If the insect stings and bites are close to the throat, immediately take the cat to the vet’s office as it can result in throat swelling and respiratory issues.
External Wounds and Injuries Treatments For Cats
In the case of an external wound or injury, you must alert the vet immediately and if necessary, offer first aid before you take the cat to the clinic. Here are just some of the most common types of injuries that require immediate action:
- Scratches
- Bites and other fight-based wounds
- Abscesses
- Skin irritation
- Electric shock
- Eye injuries
- Tail injuries
- Road accidents
Multiple felines living under the same roof or roaming the outdoors freely often get themselves into trouble. Cats are territorial creatures, especially when it comes to their food and when they’re in heat.
Accidents like scratches, abscesses, tail injuries, and bites are bound to occur. Even if your cat is the only pet residing in your home, it can still get eye infections or skin irritations from pollutants in the environment.
In the case of external wounds and injuries, it’s best to calm down your pet, wrap it in a towel or blanket, and take it to the vet. If there are open wounds, gently wash them with lukewarm water and apply some disinfectant solution. Be careful to minimize all movements of your cat, otherwise the additional movements might worsen the injury.
Using a recovery collar or cone might be necessary so that the kitty won’t try to lick or paw at the affected spot. If needed, you can administer a mild relaxant to help your pet calm down.
Internal Health Problem Treatments For Cats
Even the healthiest cat breeds suffer from numerous health-related problems. You might not want to admit it, but your own feline furball could be suffering from an undiagnosed problem and need help in the following common cases:
- Bladder and urinary tract issues
- Respiratory problems
- Seizures and strokes
- Allergic reactions
- Constant vomiting
- Bloody feces and diarrhea
- Poisoning
- Choking
If your cat is having problems urinating and defecating properly, make sure you’re giving it lots of fresh water as it could be dehydrated. Diarrhea and bloody stools are common signs of internal health issues. Explain the symptoms to the vet as thoroughly as possible and take stool and urine samples with you. If untreated, bladder problems can lead to lethal outcomes.
If your pet is constantly puking or is choking, check to see if a hairball or something else is stuck in its throat.
In case of seizures, strokes, allergic reactions, and respiratory problems, you need to be cautious not only with the kitty’s health, but also with your own well-being. When trying to resuscitate a feline, be careful to not get scratched or bitten.
In the case of broken/ fractured bones and troubled breathing, immediately call the vet’s office and follow the doctor’s instructions as to how to move the cat. Sudden and excessive movements may worsen its condition.
First Aid Kit For Cats
Your typical kit won’t do justice to your feline furball. Fortunately, you can make your personal first aid kit for cats. Here are the basics that you’ll need to include in it:
- Tweezers
- Curved-edge scissors
- Adhesive and open-weave bandages
- Cotton pads
- Sterile saline solution
- Eye dropper
- Disposable gloves
- Wound disinfectant solution
- Syringe
- Thick towel or blanket
- Cat carrier or cage
- Recovery cone or collar
You can stock up on an antibacterial products manufactured specifically for cats, as the chemicals in human-based products can severely harm your furry pal.
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SynergyLabs Antiseptic Spray For Cat Injuries
SynergyLabs’ antiseptic and antifungal spray is specifically manufactured for cats and dogs.
It features a veterinary formula which is 100% pet safe and lacks any parabens or other harmful chemicals. Suitable for kitties with sensitive skin and various conditions like abscess, pryoderma, and dermatitis, this spray helps heal and soothe your pet’s skin in the same time.
The ingredients include soothing moisturizers including aloe vera and lanolin.
Fortunately, it’s not only effective, but also affordable. You can store it in your kit or among your other cat-related items as it comes in an easily storable 8-oz bottle.
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Don’t ever make the mistake of neglecting your feline furball’s health. Even if the issue doesn’t look like a pressing emergency, it might still be! Sometimes the difference between administering first aid for cats and immediately taking it to the vet’s office can be the difference between life and death.
