Wound care in cats: follow these steps for a quick recovery

As a responsible pet owner, it's important to know what steps to take if your pet is injured.

Professional treatment of an injury can sometimes save a cat’s life.

What to do step by step if your cat is injured

1.) Try to stay calm in all situations

Your pet can sense when you’re stressed, so if you can keep your cool, it can be reassuring for your cat. Act quickly but calmly!

2.) Assess the damage

The next, and one of the most important, steps when caring for your cat is to thoroughly examine your pet’s wound. Injuries can be divided into two categories:

• Minor injuries: these include minor cuts and bruises. These injuries do not require immediate medical attention, but should be disinfected, kept clean and seen by a doctor within a reasonable time.
• Serious injury: serious injuries include cuts, deep wounds and fractures. These always require immediate medical attention. For the health of your pet, don’t try to treat these wounds at home, seek medical attention!

3.) Steps to treat an injury

For less serious injuries:

1. Cleaning: rinse the wound with clean water or physiological saline solution.
2. Disinfection: use an appropriate disinfectant on the wound. Dilute 1:10 so it won’t sting.
3. Dressing: if necessary, cover the wound with sterile gauze and secure it with an elastic bandage to prevent infection, contamination and further injury.

For serious injuries:

1. Bleeding control: if the injury is bleeding heavily, you must control it! Apply a compression dressing: you can reduce blood loss by pressing a clean cloth or gauze over the wound.
2. Immobilisation: in the event of a fracture, try to immobilise your pet to prevent dislocation of the damaged bone or further injury.
3. Immediate veterinary care: it is important to see a vet immediately for any serious injuries!

Other health challenges

Poisoning

If you think that your cat has eaten something poisonous, be sure to call your vet and follow their instructions. Under no circumstances should you induce vomiting your pet without a doctor’s orders! You may cause more trouble than good.

Burn injuries

In the case of a burn, the first step is to cool the injured area for at least 10 minutes. Then seek medical attention for further appropriate care.

Aftercare and monitoring

Always follow your vet’s instructions after medical treatment!

• If necessary, take your animal back for a check-up and a bandage change.
• Follow the dosage of medicines prescribed by your doctor. It’s worth writing a reminder on your phone to make sure you don’t miss a dose.
• Always keep a close eye on your cat; if you see any changes in their behaviour or condition, see your vet immediately.

The best thing an owner can do for their pet’s health is to seek veterinary help as soon as possible. In most cases, pets get a collar, because not even a simple bruise can heal if it’s being constantly licked by a kitten. The doctor can also provide painkillers and antibiotics for the animal.