What to Include in Your Cat’s First Aid Kit? Essential Things

When your cat suffers an illness, injury, or poisoning, knowing what first aid to do (and not do) can have a big impact on their recovery, safety, and comfort.

The fact that you’ll have a strategy to follow whenever a problem arises can also lessen your emotional stress.

Even if you haven’t taken a first aid course or don’t plan to, you still need to have the right supplies and equipment on hand to treat your cat in case of an emergency. Having a good pet first-aid kit (or two) will help in this situation.

Put Together a First Aid Kit for Cats

This list might seem long, but it should be enough to get you through any emergency situation you might encounter until you can get your cat to the vet*.

• Emergency blanket
• Antiseptic wipes – these are sting free and can be used to clean a cut prior to adding a bandage
• Alcohol prep pads – these are ideal for cleaning the surrounding area of an injury to prevent spread of bacteria
• Vinyl/latex gloves
• Non-adhesive pads
• Self-adhesive bandage to help hold the dressing in position. The fur on your cat shouldn’t be touched with anything sticky!
• Tape
• Scissors
• To make you vomit, use hydrogen peroxide. Never use hydrogen peroxide on your cat’s skin or wounds!
• Styptic pencil – to help stop any bleeding
• Tick removal tweezers
• Q-tips
• Instant cold compress
• Oral syringe
• Saline eye wash
• Small flashlight
• To treat any stings, use liquid Benadryl tablets. Because it is simpler to get your cat to swallow liquid tablets, they are advised. For the correct dosage, consult your veterinarian.
• Sting relief pads
• Tongue depressor
• Rectal thermometer
• Towel – to help restrain your cat if needed

What Should I Do If My Cat is Hurt?

Get in touch with your veterinarian right away. They can prepare their gear if they know you’re coming and offer you specific advice from personal experience.

To keep your cat warm and contained, gently wrap it in a blanket or towel. You don’t want your scared and hurt pet to cause more harm by attempting to escape or struggle out of its confinement. Make sure they are always aware of your full support. Try to keep one hand on their chest and the other supporting their back.

• Bites, cuts, burns, and wounds: Avoid attempting to deep clean the wound or probe it. Cleanse the area around the wound by removing any sticks, leaves, or chunky dirt. Apply pressure with a fresh cloth or towel if the wound is bleeding. The majority of wounds require surgical treatment and stitches, and infection is a real and immediate risk. Get to the vet as soon as you can.
• 
  Broken bones: Keep your cat warm and confined. Leave the splinting to the veterinarian rather than attempting it yourself.
• 
  Choking: Never make an attempt to force anything down your cat’s throat. Call your veterinarian or seek emergency care if you think you might be choking.
• 
  Eye injuries: The best course of action is immediate veterinary care, though you can try a saline rinse to get rid of any loose debris.
• 
  Heatstroke: Cats can overheat if they are left in hot cars or rooms (don’t do it!). Try to spot any panting, drooling, or collapse. Get to your veterinarian instead of attempting to treat it.
• 
  Poisoning: The Pet Poison Helpline can be reached at 1-800-213-6680 if you suspect poisoning. See more about pet poisoning
• 
  Seizures: You shouldn’t try to grab your cat’s tongue or touch them. Even if they appear fine afterward, make sure the area is safe around them and call your veterinarian right away.
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  Shock and internal bleeding: Blunt trauma, such as a bad fall or car accident, can result in extremely dangerous internal bleeding or life-threatening shock. Go to emergency care right away if you notice lethargy, panting, coughing up blood, a distended belly, or pale gums.

Read about What to Include in a Dog First Aid Kit

Pet First Aid Classes

Pet first aid classes are offered by some organizations, which may help you be ready for these emergencies.

Google “Pet First Aid Class” & your location to find options near you. Some options are:

• In the US – Pet Tech
• In Canada – Walks ‘N’ Wags
• In Australia – RSPCA

Conclusion

Always prioritize safety when you’re out on an adventure with your cat. To do this, make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit for both you and your feline companion before you leave the house.

Fortunately, first-aid kits made for cats aren’t all that dissimilar from those made for humans, so you probably have a pretty good idea of what belongs in one. In fact, buying a first-aid kit for humans and adding a few essentials to it is a good place to start when putting together a kit for felines. A cat-specific kit is also available from your neighborhood pet store or online.