Injury to pets, your cat can be a traumatic experience for both pet and owner. Sometimes damage to your cat can result in severe trauma, generating extreme aggression in an otherwise friendly cat.
However, knowledge of some first-aid tips will help you ef fectively manage the situation before reporting to the veterinary for meticulous care. Here are a few first aid tips for your injured cat.
Keep calm
You probably didn’t see it coming but keeping calm is the primary first-aid tip for your injured cat. The reason is that you want to analyze the situation and environment for additional threats to your cat. Also, during an emergency, the tendency to panic is usually high, especially when there are signs of blood loss.
Unfortunately, your injured cat is alread y in shock and pain. As a result, a display of fear and panic from the owner can elicit aggressive behavior from the cat, which may not be in your best interest. Therefore, it is better to remain calm and instead provide reassurance to the cat while gently observing for signs of severe injury.
On the contrary, if you have tried to approach it calmly and your cat still seems aggressive, you might need a muzzle. Special cat muzzles exist because most muzzles won’t fit a cat’s face. However, if the situation f eels overwhelming, call your vet immediately.
Reduce motion and increase heat conservation
Your injured cat might want to run all over the place in pain. Remember, cats can’t speak, so your cat might be hysterical due to shock. You need to reduce the inju red cat’s movement as much as possible and keep it quiet as possible to reduce the possibility of further injuries.
If you suspect a spinal injury, put the cat in a large box to rest. You can help the cat conserve body heat by covering it with many blanke ts. Heat conservation enables you to assist the cat in maintaining essential internal body functions and prevent further systemic crises.
Stabilize breathing and initial heart function
Breathing is critical for oxygen consumption and sustainable life. A v ital first aid tip for your injured cat is to stabilize breathing. You need to establish the cat is still breathing, then note the breathing rate before seeking stability. Sometimes, your cat might be breathing hysterically due to shock.
If the cat is bre athing too quickly, keep it calm. But if the cat is unconscious or barely breathing, you can apply light pressure to the chest with your palms. Then, feel behind the elbows for a pulse or heartbeat. If the basic CPR fails, you should contact the vet immedi ately.
If a mucus plug obstructs the cat’s breathing, clear the blockage gently and cover the cat to keep warm.
Conclusion
While administering first aid, you should never give human medicines to your injured cat. Also, do not offer food or drinks till the cat is fully stable. This way, you create more room for rapid recovery, especially if the cat needs an anesthetic. While these first aid tips are helpful, never forget that they do not replace the intervention of a professional vet.