16CKuNt09

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Remember that the most serious and most life threateninginjury will need attention first. This may not be the injury thatlooks the most dramatic – for example a bleeding wound orbroken leg may not be the worst injury, there may be othermore serious internal injuries.Wear protective clothing if available – distressed cats oftenscratch and bite. Avoid direct eye contact with the cat as itwill find this threatening and use slow, deliberate movementsand a calm soothing voice. Don’t ‘shush’ as you might with aperson, this can sound much like another cat hissing and canmake the cat more distressed.The cat may be frightened and in pain, so take extra care whenmoving him. Putting a towel over the cat before lifting himcan help to calm him. Use one hand in front of his front legs orunder the lower side shoulder if the cat is on its side. Place theother hand behind or under the back legs and move the catquickly and quietly onto a board or tray, blanket or into a box.Be very careful, not to disturb his position and avoid touchingany obvious injuries. Try to ensure he is contained in a carrier iftaking him to the vets, in case he suddenly tries to escapeShockA cat suffering with shock requires immediate veterinaryattention. Shock can occur as a consequence of any disease,injury or emergency and can be fatal in its own right. It maynot occur until several hours after a trauma and can makewhat was a minor emergency into a life-threatening one.Signs include pale lips, gums and eyes, a rapid heart rate andquick shallow breathing, cold extremities, lethargy, weaknessand collapse. Seek veterinary advice immediately. Use a towel
or blanket to preserve body heat if this does not distress thecat and keep him comfortable. Do not attempt to feed orgive water.BleedingBoth internal and external bleeding can be dangerous so seekveterinary help immediately. Pressure should be applied to anopen wound using a clean towel. If the blood soaks throughthe dressing, apply another on top. Do not attempt to removeany foreign bodies such as debris or nails as severe bleedingmay occur. Avoid attempting to apply tourniquets as these canresult in permanent damage and possible amputation.Fits, seizures and convulsionsFits or seizures can result from epilepsy, poisoning, organfailure or a lesion in the brain. Fits will vary in duration andfrequency. Signs of fitting include changes in behaviour,drooling, rigidity or paddling and muscle tremors and/orloss of bladder control. The cat may lose consciousness orcollapse. If you see this happening, remain calm and keep theroom dark and quiet. Avoid holding the cat and remove anypotentially harmful objects from the area. Observe closely,noting the duration and frequency of seizures and call thevet immediately.PoisoningRoutes of poisoning include ingestion, absorption throughthe skin and by licking substances off the coat. As there areso many different types of poison, there are also a numberof different signs that a cat may show after exposure to atoxic substance. These can include salivation, vomiting anddiarrhoea, twitching and fitting. Your cat may have breathingdifficulties, show signs of shock or collapse and go into a
Page 1 and 2: Keeping yourcat safeESSENTIAL GUIDE
Page 3 and 4: The dangers at homePoisonous substa
Page 5 and 6: A comprehensive list of plants that
Page 7 and 8: Fireworks and partiesWhile firework
Page 10 and 11: RoadsCats are natural hunters and w
Page 12 and 13: SunburnCats with white fur - includ
Page 14 and 15: How do I keep my cat away from haza
Page 16 and 17: InformYou can also let individuals
Page 18 and 19: • difficulties when a female cat
Page 22 and 23: coma. These signs tend to appearsud
Page 24: essential Guides1 Caring for your c

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