Emergency First Aid Guide for Cats: Quick Steps to Save

Before any handling of a cat, keep the following points in mind:

1. Stay calm and avoid making loud noises to prevent further startling the cat.

2. If there is a wound, do not touch it directly with your hands. Instead, cover it with a clean towel or gauze.

3. Avoid using medication without professional advice.

4. Temporarily withhold water and food to prevent discomfort and vomiting.

5. Comfort the cat to alleviate emotional tension.

6. If possible, take the cat to a veterinary hospital as soon as you can.

7. Then, respond to each emergency situation with appropriate first aid measures.

Low Body Temperature:

The normal body temperature for dogs and cats ranges from 37.8°C to 39.2°C. A temperature below 37°C indicates hypothermia.

Mild Hypothermia: 32°C to 37°C

Moderate Hypothermia: 28°C to 32°C

Severe Hypothermia: Below 28°C

Hypothermia can lead to reduced liver enzyme activity, decreased coagulation function, and oxygen deprivation, causing coma. It commonly affects young and old cats, with no distinction between breeds or genders. Shorthaired cats are more prone to hypothermia. Cats may develop low body temperature if they are exposed to cold, damp environments, cold water, injuries, or after anesthesia.

General Warming Measures:

1. Use an electric blanket for warming.

2. Employ external heat sources like a heat lamp, hot water pad, or blanket.

3. Wrap the cat's limbs in plastic foam or glassine paper to prevent heat loss from the feet.

Heatstroke/Heat Illness:

Cats are relatively resistant to heat, as they are desert animals. Their tolerance for warmth is generally good. Cats can regulate their body temperature, and when overheated, they will pant, dilate blood vessels, and seek cooler spots.

The ideal temperature for cats is around 26°C to 28°C. When heat absorption surpasses the cooling mechanism, and the body cannot accommodate excessive heat, heatstroke or heatinduced illness can occur. Older cats and those with chronic diseases are particularly susceptible.

Signs of heatstroke include a higher abdominal temperature, openmouth breathing, conjunctival congestion, and symptoms like drowsiness, weakness, collapse, or coma.

Blood Loss Management:

1. Rinse the wound with plenty of warm water and clean it with paper towels or gauze.

2. Apply a bandage or a wide cloth strip tightly around the wound, close to the heart, to stop bleeding.

3. Seek veterinary care immediately.

Drowning:

Drowning is a terrifying experience for cats, as they are not swimmers. If submerged, they can inhale large amounts of water, leading to vomiting and death within 24 hours, or even sudden cardiac arrest.

Symptoms of cat drowning may include rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, coughing, respiratory arrest, tachycardia, bradycardia, vomiting, coma, and cardiac arrest.

One of the primary emergency methods is to help the cat expel water. Grab the cat's hind legs and gently tap its back, then shake the cat until it vomits. Another method is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).