First aid for cats

If the cat is conscious, open the cat’s mouth and try to remove the foreign object with your fingers. Take care that the object does not slip further down the cat’s throat and that you don’t get bitten. If the object is too far back in the throat, lay the cat on its right side with its back to you and place your hand under its breastbone. Now press forcefully in an upwards and forwards movement. Alternatively, you can gently but firmly give a slap between the cat’s shoulder blades. This should make the cat cough and spit the object out.

Use a pressure bandage to stop heavy bleeding – to prevent greater loss of blood, do not rinse the wound. Bring your animal to a vet as soon as possible. For other wounds you can apply a paw bandage for the duration of transport to the vet: Rinse the wound with wound irrigation solution, cover it with a sterile pad and fill each gap between the toes (incl. dew claw) with cotton wool. Now bandage up the paw. With burns, cool the wound under running water and cover with a sterile cloth.

When cats are suffering from heatstroke they are apathetic and usually laid on their stomach, panting. Animals that are found lying on their sides must be taken to the vet immediately. Cool the animal down, but not too quickly, for example, cover the cat with cool (not cold) cloths. Carry the cat into the shade and moisten the fur with a cloth. Offer it fresh water. If the cat cannot drink by itself, you can carefully drip a few drops onto its tongue – only do this if the cat is conscious.

While you are waiting for help to arrive you can begin with the first aid ABC (ABC stands for Airways, Breathing, Circulation):
 

• 1. Airways: Open the cat’s mouth, carefully pull the tongue forward and free the airway of any foreign objects, mucus or vomit.
• 2. Breathing: If the airways are free, always lay the cat on its right side to prevent the heart (which is on the left-hand side of the body) form having to cope with more pressure. To perform mouth-to-nose respiration, gently pull the cat’s tongue forward and cover the muzzle with your hand to create as airtight a seal as possible. The cat’s neck should be extended. Now blow air into the cat’s nose until the cat’s chest rises. Remove your hand from the cat’s muzzle so that the air can escape. Repeat this approximately 20 to 30 times per minute, until the cat begins to breathe independently. Repeatedly check the cat’s pulse.
• 3. Circulation: You can feel the cat’s pulse on its chest or the inside of the upper thigh. If you cannot feel a heartbeat, begin heart massage. Lay one hand flat on the cat’s chest, about level with the height of its elbow. Then, in rapid succession, use your index finger and thumb to press in the direction of the cat’s throat (100-200 times a minute in total). Pause for 15 seconds, then give the cat mouth-to-nose respiration for 10 seconds. Repeat this so long until you can feel a pulse and the cat begins to breathe independently.

Body temperature: 37.8 to 39.2 degrees Celsius is normal. To be measured in the rectum with a digital thermometer.

Breathing rate: 30 to 50 breaths per minute are normal, visible rising and sinking of the chest.

Heart rate: 100 to 160 beats per minute are normal. These can be counted on inner side of the upper thigh or on the chest, at a height level with the height of the cat’s elbow.

Pupils and lid reflexes: Test the pupil reaction with a torch.

Circulation: The mucous membranes in the cat’s mouth should be pink. Press for 3 seconds on the mucous membrane of the top lip to test this. Normal amount of time it should take to return to normal: 2 seconds.