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Cats’ accidents ways to deal with them.
The primary sources of accidents in cats are collisions with a car, falling from a balcony or roof, thermal, chemical, or electrical burns, and poisoning. They can lead to severe trauma and, in the worst case, the animal’s death.
Summary
Car accidents or falls, causes of
severe trauma
Burns
Poisoning
The cat’s natural curiosity and its need for independence sometimes play nasty tricks on it because the world around it is full of dangers. A few appropriate actions will often help him relieve his suffering and heal quickly.
A car accident or fall causes severe trauma.
Cats that go out at night are often victims of collisions with vehicles. Those confined to an apartment can fall from a balcony or terrace. In both cases of cat accidents, limb fractures are common.
Signs
The shocked animal shows accelerated breathing and heartbeat. Its mucous membranes are coloured purple or, on the contrary, turn white in the case of internal bleeding or severe shock. In these cases, the cat may quickly lose consciousness before gradually falling into a coma.
Emergency actions to be made/not to be done
What to do:
Gently lay the cat on the right side and warm it with a blanket.
•If the animal is intelligent, try to limit its movements as much as possible. If the spine is fractured, keep the cat as straight on rigid support as possible to avoid aggravating the lesion and causing irreparable paralysis.
•If he loses consciousness, stimulate him to breathe by gently pulling his tongue out. If necessary, perform a heart massage.
•In the case of an open fracture, immediately surround it with a clean cloth to avoid dirt and the immediate risk of infection.
•If the animal bleeds, compress with one finger and apply a band around a tight compress.
•In the case of internal bleeding (pale mucous membranes), warming the animal while waiting for help is the only thing to do,
In any case, what not to do:
•Don’t put a brace on yourself may aggravate pain and lesions.
•Don’t give any medicine.
•Never put a tourniquet on.
For transport,
•If the vet can move, manage the wait as best you can. Move the animal calmly by keeping it warm to compensate for possible hypothermia following a state of shock. You can try to rehydrate it by giving it to drink in small amounts.
•If you have to go to the vet yourself, put the cat in a crate adapted to its size to keep it well. Drive while avoiding shaking as much as possible and limiting braking.
Burns
The cat is a curious animal of nature that does not always have a sense of danger. Attracted by the smell of food, it can quickly be burned in contact with a hot saucepan, a gas, a dish… Corrosive products and electrical outlets are also the cause of cat accidents, so be sure to store all your household products.
Signs
The affected part is burned like the skin of a human being. If the cat has electrocuted itself by chewing an electrical wire, its tongue and mouth will be burned. Ce type d’accident de chat peut provoquer un choc majeur et un arrêt cardiaque.
Emergency actions to be made/not to be done
For an electric burn
They are common in kittens, especially in the mouth. Start by cutting off the electricity before moving the animal. Take him to the vet quickly.
For a thermal burn
•Cool the burnt area with cold water (or ice surrounded by a cloth), repeating this action several times for 15 minutes.
•When the wound is cooled, apply fatty tulle for a few days with a covering dressing.
•If the injury is severe, take the animal to the vet.
For a chemical burn
•Start by washing the affected area with plenty of water.
•Then wash it with a mixture of
bicarbonate and water.
•Take the cat to the vet.
Poisoning
Signs
•Drool formation around the mouth
•Vomiting
•Diarrhea
•Staggering approach
•Convulsions, revulsion or movements
•abnormal eyes
Emergency actions to be made/not to be done
•Try to find out what your cat has ingested. This will facilitate the vet’s work and save time.
•If the animal has been poisoned with raticide, the remedy to be administered as soon as possible for this cat accident is the injection of vitamin K.
•In any case, consult your veterinarian and never give milk to a poisoned cat.
How to handle a cat that is injured and suffering?
If you have to take an injured cat, protect yourself from possible claws by keeping your face away. The cat defends itself only because it is afraid of hurting and in shock. Hold it firmly by the skin of the neck to immobilize it and put your hand under its rump and hind limbs to better support it.
Read also How do I know if my cat is in pain? What can I do?
