Basic First-Aid, that may save your Cat’s Life!

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Most kittens endure kittenhood relatively unscathed. A few, however, deplete several of their nine lives in the course of growing up. Knowing the principles of first aid can help your kitten survive that turbulent first year of life.

As an interim measure until veterinary care becomes available, the objective of first aid is to prevent a condition from worsening, alleviate pain and suffering and help the recovery process. Getting veterinary help still remains the highest priority.

The Top 6 injuries:
Despite our best precautions, we may find ourselves facing a kitten health emergency. The most common disasters that strike kittens are burns, electric cord injury, choking, bee stings, fractures and poisonings.

1. Burns: Most kitten burns occur from thermal objects such as heating pads, heat lamps or scalding hot liquids. Kittens may jump onto stovetops and burn their feet or tails.

If your kitten experiences a burn, immediately apply a cool, damp towel to the area for 30 minutes. Cover with a loose bandage and take your pet to a veterinarian. Do not put ice directly on the area, and avoid ointments, as they are difficult to remove.

2. Electric shock: Kittens are most likely to chew or bite a dangling electric cord because it is seen as a perfect plaything. Many incidents happen around the holidays.

“The combination of Christmas lights and kittens as Christmas gifts increases the chances of this emergency occurring,” said Steve Baker, DVM, an associate veterinarian at the Pet Care Clinic in Meridian, Idaho. “We encourage our clients to kittenproof their trees, nativity scenes and other holiday decorations. Nobody wants to spend Christmas Eve in an emergency clinic as a result of natural kitten curiosity.” This is why and how the Christmas Tree Defender product came to market.

Biting through an electrical cord can cause, at the very least, a painful electrical burn on the mouth and tongue, which often becomes infected and requires veterinary care. Severely shocked cats can go into cardiac arrest or develop pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs). Kittens that chew through electric cords should be taken to a veterinarian immediately, even if the kitten only appears to have minor burns.

3. Choking: If your kitten gets something stuck in its mouth or throat, it will cough or gasp suddenly. A kitten becomes frantic when scared, so wrap it in a towel and have someone else hold it while you try to look in the back of the throat. If you detect an object, try to spot it with a flashlight, then remove it with tweezers or a spoon handle.

Be careful not to push the object further back into the kitten’s throat. And be careful not to get bitten. Kittens have very sharp teeth and may bite without trying to or realizing it.

4. Bee stings: Kittens love chasing moving objects, including stinging bugs. “Bee stings or spider bites are often suspected but definitive diagnosis is uncommon unless the event is witnessed by the pet owner,” said Steve Marks, Ph.D., associate professor and head of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine’s small animal medicine service.

If a bee stings your kitten, immediately put ice on the sting to reduce pain and swelling. Use a magnifying glass to find the stinger. Pull it out with tweezers if possible. Clean the area and apply an antibiotic ointment. After treating your kitten for the bee sting, monitor it very closely for an allergic reaction.

Although uncommon, allergic reactions can occur, and the kitten can go into shock. The tissues of the throat may swell and obstruct breathing, and blood pressure may plunge. This is a life-threatening complication.

In most cases, symptomatic care is appropriate. However, if the kitten has difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, the pet owner should seek veterinary advice immediately.

5. Fractured limbs: Orthopedic injuries are common in kittens because they love to jump. When a kitten fractures a bone, the initial clinical sign is limping, holding the injured leg up, or walking on only three legs. Simple fractures in which both ends of the bone remain under the skin are not as bad as open fractures in which the bone breaks through the skin. Open fractures are at high risk of becoming infected.

If you suspect a limb fracture, try to apply a temporary splint to immobilize the leg. A pencil, tongue depressor or piece of heavy cardboard works well. To effectively immobilize the leg, the splint must span the joint above and below the fracture. Wrap strips of clean cloth or gauze around the leg and the splint so that the leg cannot bend.

Do not try to manipulate the bones back into place, and do not wash out open fractures. If the kitten becomes too stressed during splint application, stop and take it to the veterinarian immediately.

6. Poisonings: The average household contains many items poisonous to kittens. Common toxic substances include ammonia, antifreeze, aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, bleach, gasoline, lye, paint thinner, rat poison, turpentine and rubbing alcohol. Indoor and garden plants are a potential problem as well. Kittens love to nibble on plants and dried flowers.

Some plants merely cause an upset stomach. Others can be fatal. Cacti, dieffenbachia, mistletoe, poinsettia, acorns, English holly, tulip flower bulbs, oleander, honeysuckle and most lilies are poisonous to some degree.

Always check with your veterinarian before administering medication to your kitten. Signs of poisoning vary depending on the type of poison and quantity ingested. You should be suspicious that your cat has been poisoned if you see signs such as excessive salivation, vomiting, loss of consciousness or seizures.

If you see your cat ingest a toxic substance, call your veterinarian and be ready to describe what the poison is, the active ingredients, how much and when it was ingested, and what signs your kitten is showing. If you visit the vet, bring a sample of the suspected poison in its original container.

If your vet cannot be reached, call a local or national animal poison control center for instructions. Read the label to see if specific instructions for treatment are given. If not, induce vomiting using syrup of ipecac or hydrogen peroxide: one teaspoon per 5 pounds of body weight. Don’t induce vomiting if a strong acid or alkali, or a petroleum distillate like kerosene was ingested.

First aid is not meant to replace veterinary care. However, knowledge of basic first aid allows kitten owners to effectively handle emergencies until a veterinarian can be reached. Knowing the basics may save your kitten’s life.

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