How can I help in an emergency?
Take a breath
You can’t help your cat or the veterinarian well if you are panicking. Staying calm is very important and will allow you to check for further dangers, assess your cat, and contact the veterinarian efficiently, if necessary. If you find it hard to stay calm in emergencies, a pet first aid course may help you feel more prepared.
Assess your cat
Ensure you are in a safe place where no further harm can come to your cat or yourself. If your cat is in pain or feeling unwell, they may lash out, so approach them gently and cautiously. Check their gum color, hydration, breathing pattern, and responsiveness, and assess any blood loss. This will give you an idea of whether it is a true emergency and ensure you have information ready to pass on to your veterinarian.
Once you have determined that your cat needs an emergency assessment by a veterinarian, call them immediately. If you are unsure whether your dog’s condition is an emergency, it is best to contact your veterinarian for advice.
Apply first aid
If your cat is bleeding, apply pressure to the wound or just above the wound with clean fabric like a towel or t-shirt. You can continue this pressure until you arrive at the veterinary clinic. This will help reduce the amount of blood lost.
Protect Them
If your cat is uncoordinated, behaving abnormally, or having seizures, make sure that they can’t cause themselves an injury by falling down the stairs or bumping into furniture. Once the area is safe, you could film the episode with your phone, time the seizure, or even write a description of what happened to show your veterinarian.
Can it wait?
If your cat is not feeling well, it can be stressful and worrying, and it’s natural to fear the worst. However, it is essential not to allow this fear to make you avoid seeing a veterinarian since no emergency is likely to improve without their help.
There is a severe risk of death, life-changing consequences, or poor welfare for your cat in an emergency. Without treatment, your cat’s chances of a full recovery are greatly reduced, as are their chances of survival. Therefore, if you think your cat’s condition could be an emergency, you must get them checked as soon as you can. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Common cat-emergency questions
Is a cat coughing an emergency?
There are many causes of coughing in cats, and some are emergencies while others are not. The most important things to determine are whether the heart or lungs are compromised in any way. By assessing the previous checklist, you will be able to decide whether it is an emergency. If the function of the heart or lungs is compromised, your cat’s gum colour will be pale pink or have a blue or purple tinge. Similarly, if the lungs are compromised, the breathing pattern will be faster, shallower, or with more effort, and your cat may be breathing with an open mouth.
Is a cat vomiting an emergency?
If your cat is vomiting so frequently that they are not keeping any food or water down, they are at risk of dehydration. You can check their hydration by checking for a skin tent as described above.
Is there a 911 for pets?
Although there is no 911 for pets, you should call your normal veterinary clinic if you have a veterinary emergency. If they do not cover nights and weekends, their answerphone greeting will give you the details of the nearest emergency service provider.
Is a cat with a fever an emergency?
A cat with a fever is not usually an emergency, although a veterinarian should see them within a reasonable timeframe. As long as their gum colour, hydration, and breathing are unaffected and remain stable, they can wait until the morning or the next working day.
Is blood in a cat’s stool an emergency?
Although it looks serious, it is quite common for cats to have some mucus or blood in their stools. The lining of the gut is full of many blood vessels, so small amounts of inflammation or straining can cause these vessels to burst and blood to appear in the faeces. The majority of causes of blood in the stools are relatively minor. However, if your cat is dehydrated, has pale gums, is bleeding or bruised elsewhere, seek veterinary advice immediately.
Is a cat bite abscess an emergency?
Cats often fight or get bullied by other cats, and wounds from teeth or claws can commonly become an abscess. Although there is some discomfort associated with a cat bite abscess, and they can develop a high temperature, as long as they are stable, this is not an emergency. Veterinary assessment can be delayed until the next morning or the next working day.
Hope this info helps
Till next week
Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
Royal Veterinary Centre
Tel: +853 28501099
Emergency: +853 66776611
Email: info@rvcmacau.com
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