I’m sure you have a first aid kit in your home for your family. But do you have one for your cat? Both are essential items in any home. The more complete your first aid kit is, the better prepared you are to treat your pet in an emergency. Old tackle or tool boxes are good containers but I suggest getting everything together first so you can find something that will hold it all. Your cat’s first aid kit needs to have the following items, many of which you most likely have. However, keep them all together in a separate kit from the family’s one. Make sure it is clearly labelled so it can be found quickly.
- Adhesive tape including water proof tape
- Antibacterial scrub
- Cotton swabs, q-tips, cotton wool balls
- Waterless hand cleaning agent, preferably anti-bacterial to clean your hands
- Rectal thermometer
- Rubbing alcohol and/or alcohol wipes
- Gauze pads
- Mineral oil
- One or two rolls of gauze
- Splints – these can be strong strips of sterilized plastic (make sure there are no rough edges if you make these yourself)
- Bubble wrap make a good emergency splint
- Contact lens solution for rinsing out eyes or fresh water
- A bottle of water for rinsing out wounds
- One or two small blankets and/or towels
- Syrup of ipecac
- Small flashlight
- Tweezers
- Rubber bulb ear syringe for flushing out wounds
- Scissors – blunt tip for cutting fur and normal for cutting bandages
- Some old clean pantyhose or knee highs to protect the bandage
- Lubricating jelly
- Razor blade for shaving fur or removing ticks
- Gel packs for hot or cold compresses. You can buy single use packs very cheaply these day
- Contact number for your vet and emergency number for animal poisoning
You are going to be trying to help your pet when it is injured. Having everything together will make this much easier for you both. You will be able to focus on helping your pet knowing that you have the essential tools handy.
You don’t want to wait until an emergency to have these items, get them ready now. If you travel with your cat, take the first aid kit with you. Make sure everyone in the family knows where it is and that they can safely reach it.
No-one expects you to be able to deal with major trauma at home, for this you need your vet immediately. However, there are more minor type injuries that you can treat at home, like grazes, small cuts or minor burns, and having a first aid kit will make it easier for you both.
Cats can do a lot of damage to cables, and themselves.
It is very important to create a safe environment for your cat as, just like young children, cats are very inquisitive and love to explore their surroundings. This can lead to problems if the immediate area is not completely safe.
I have often been asked questions by new cat owners as to what they should do after getting a new cat or kitten.
The most important cat advice tip I can give is to make your decisions before getting a cat or kitten. If you really are considering adding a cat to your family, make sure that it can access safe areas for food, play and elimination. It is up to you as to whether your cat is going to be an indoor or outdoor cat as the requirements are different for each. If you have decided to keep your cat inside, read Keeping Your Indoor Domestic Cat Happy for more information and ideas.
Many people, depending on where they live, are quite happy for their cats to roam at will. Both my cats Tikki and Cassie can come and go as they please and they very rarely do any damage to the native wildlife. Perhaps once every 18 months they might bring in a bird, but every night they both bring in mice. Having a cat flap on the laundry door means they can get in and out easily.
We are somewhat spoiled however, as we live in a rural setting and the house is set back 1km from the road. Both cats have plenty of room to move around safely, the most dangerous thing they may encounter is some kangaroos or sheep.
If you live in an urban setting you will have the problem of cars and other cats to contend with. Cats are usually pretty savvy when it comes to vehicles and are able to get out of the way fairly easily. But being sociable animals, they do like the company of other cats and other people. How often have you had a cat come up and ‘talk’ to you or ask to be petted when you are out walking.
If your cat is to be allowed to roam, a collar with a tag stating the cat’s name and your phone number is essential. As are up to date vaccinations.
If your cat hasn’t been neutered or spayed, it could also be out looking for a mate, especially at night. If you don’t want the hassle of finding homes for kittens, have your cat neutered or spayed as soon as is possible.
Dogs are an obvious problem for cats so you need to be aware of this when creating your safe environment. How many dogs are in your neighborhood? Is is safe for your cat?
People sometimes don’t realize that other cats can also be a problem. Apart from injuries through fighting, your cat can also pick up diseases and other unwanted items such as fleas from associating with other cats.
Within the house, and especially with kittens, you need to get down to their level and see just what mischief they can get in to. Open drawers, open cupboards, under furniture, dangling electrical cords can prove irresistible to an inquisitive cat. This cute kitten could grow up to be a menace to power cords as it hasn’t been trained not to chew them.
A safe environment for your cat doesn’t have to be hard to create. Common sense preventative measures will usually suffice once the decision has been made as to whether your cat will stay indoors or be allowed to roam at will. Read more about providing your cat with a safe environment as well as creating a safe place or a retreat in *Cat Secrets Revealed.
Continue reading about Creating A Safe Environment for Your Cat
