Ask the Vet | First aid for a broken cat bone

A broken cat bone can be a very painful and traumatising experience for your pet. While feline fractures should always be treated by a veterinarian, you can perform first aid at home before you take your cat to the vet. Here’s how you should deal with a cat who has a broken bone. 

1) APPROACH YOUR CAT CAREFULLY

If your cat has been injured, be it by a fight, a car accident or a fall, he’ll be frightened and in pain. He may feel bewildered. He may be in such great pain that he won’t recognize you, and may try to bite or scratch as you approach him. 

Remain calm and patient; don’t feel frustrated with your cat. Avert your gaze, as cats find eye contact threatening. Keep your body language relaxed and calm. Make soothing noises and, if he hasn’t suffered any head injuries, you can scratch around his ears and under his chin to help calm him down. 

2) MOVE YOUR CAT GENTLY

Once your cat has calmed down, you can pick him up gently. Drop a large towel or blanket over your cat, especially the head and front paws. Pick your cat up in your arms, supporting the shoulders and the hips at the same time. Move slowly and carefully; you don’t want to make his injuries worse. 

3) CLEAN ANY OPEN WOUNDS

You can skip this step if you’re able to rush your cat to the vet right away. However, if you can’t get to a vet immediately, you’ll want to carefully clean any open wounds your cat may have sustained. Use clean, warm water to rinse away debris. Wrap the wounds in sterile bandages. 

4) MINIMIZE YOUR CAT’S MOVEMENT

If your cat has suffered one or more fractures, you’ll want to minimize his movement as much as possible. At home, you can do this by wrapping your cat firmly in a towel. If the fracture has occurred in one of the legs, you can immobilize it by binding it to your cat’s torso with a towel. 

5) SEEK VETERINARY CARE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Your cat will need veterinary care to treat his fracture. Your cat may very well be suffering from shock, and this condition requires medical treatment. Your vet will administer anesthesia and set any fractures your cat may have sustained. Some fractures may require surgical intervention, especially fractures of the skull and jaw. 

Use an animal carrier to take your cat to the vet. Remember, your cat can’t be counted on to behave normally; an injured cat is already frightened and may panic if placed in a car without a carrier. 

6) HOME MANAGEMENT FOR FRACTURE RECOVERY

Once you’re back home again, make sure your cat doesn’t bite or chew at the casts or bandages he may need to wear while he recovers. An Elizabethan collar might be useful for this purpose. When bathing your cat, wrap the bandaged area in plastic so it doesn’t get wet. 

Be vigilant during the recovery process; your cat is prone to secondary infections of the fractured area. If any medical symptoms manifest, contact your vet right away. by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester

Hope this info helps
Till next week
Dr Ruan 

Ask the Vet: Royal Veterinary Centre
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