Cat first aid, when it matters
A calm, practical reference for the moments every cat owner dreads. Our whole team is feline first aid trained — this is the essential version of what we carry in our heads on every visit.
First aid is what you do on the way to the vet — never instead of the vet.
In any emergency, ring your vet first — they'll tell you what to do and be ready when you arrive. Every UK practice provides or directs to a 24-hour emergency service. For poisonings, the Animal PoisonLine offers specialist advice. Save your vet's number in your phone now, while nothing is wrong.
The golden rules
- Keep yourself safe first. A hurt, frightened cat may bite and scratch the person they love most. Use a towel, move slowly, and mind traffic at roadsides.
- Phone before you drive. Thirty seconds on the phone means the vet can advise you and prepare — it never wastes time.
- Never give human medicines. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are poisonous to cats. No exceptions, no half-doses.
- Keep them warm, quiet and still. Shock kills cats that injuries didn't. A blanket and a calm voice are real medicine.
- Don't feed or water an injured cat — they may need anaesthetic soon.
Common emergencies: what to do
Hit by a car
Do
- Approach slowly and speak calmly — injured cats are frightened and may lash out
- Move them gently on a rigid surface or in a blanket held taut, keeping the body as level as possible
- Keep them warm and quiet, and go straight to the vet — internal injuries are common even when a cat looks unhurt
Don't
- Don't assume they're fine because they can walk — adrenaline masks serious injury
- Don't give food, water or any medication
Heavy bleeding
Do
- Press a clean cloth or dressing firmly over the wound for at least 5–10 minutes without peeking
- If blood soaks through, add more material on top rather than removing the first layer
- Keep the injured area raised where possible, and get to the vet
Don't
- Don't apply a tourniquet
- Don't use creams, ointments or human antiseptics unless your vet says so
Suspected poisoning
Do
- Remove your cat from the source and note what, how much, and when
- Ring your vet immediately — with the packaging in hand if you have it
- Common culprits: antifreeze, lilies (all parts, even pollen), dog flea treatments containing permethrin, human painkillers, rodent bait
Don't
- Never try to make a cat vomit
- Don't wait for symptoms — with antifreeze and lilies especially, early treatment is everything
Choking
Do
- If your cat is coughing, let them try to clear it themselves first
- If you can clearly see the object at the front of the mouth, try to remove it carefully with tweezers
- If they can't breathe, get to the vet as an absolute emergency
Don't
- Don't do blind finger sweeps — you can push objects deeper or be badly bitten
- Don't grab string or thread hanging from the mouth (or bottom) — never pull it; go to the vet
Burns and scalds
Do
- Cool the area immediately with cool running water for at least ten minutes
- Cover loosely with a clean, damp cloth and see the vet — burns are always worse underneath the fur than they look
Don't
- Don't apply ice, butter, creams or gels
- Don't underestimate chemical burns — rinse thoroughly and take the product details with you
Heatstroke
Do
- Move them somewhere cool and airy immediately
- Cool gradually: damp towels on the body, a fan, cool (not cold) water offered to drink
- Ring the vet — heatstroke can cause internal damage that shows later
Don't
- Don't plunge them into cold water — cooling too fast causes shock
- Watch for it in warm cars, conservatories, greenhouses and sheds — cats get shut in
Seizures / fits
Do
- Darken the room, cut noise, and clear space around them so they can't hurt themselves
- Time the seizure and note what it looked like — your vet will want details
- Ring the vet once it passes; if it lasts more than a few minutes or repeats, it's an emergency
Don't
- Don't restrain them or put anything near their mouth
- Don't try to move them mid-seizure unless they're in immediate danger
Falls from height
Do
- Keep them still and quiet, and check gently for laboured breathing, limping or pain
- See the vet even if they seem okay — chest injuries, jaw fractures and internal damage are common and easy to miss
Don't
- Don't rely on the 'cats always land on their feet' myth — falls from windows and balconies injure cats badly every year
Stings and bites
Do
- Bee sting (sting left behind): scrape it out sideways with a credit-card edge, then cool compress
- Wasp stings: cool compress alone
- Ring the vet if the sting is in the mouth or throat, or if there's swelling, wheezing or collapse — allergic reactions are emergencies
- For animal bites, see the vet: cat-bite abscesses are almost guaranteed without antibiotics
Don't
- Don't squeeze a sting with tweezers — it injects more venom
Collapse or not breathing
Do
- Ring the vet immediately and say you're coming — this is the biggest emergency there is
- Lay them on their right side, gently extend the head and neck, and check the mouth for obstructions
- Follow your vet's instructions over the phone en route
Don't
- Don't spend time on the internet — with a collapsed cat, the car and the phone are the first aid
🧰 The cat first aid kit worth having
- Your vet's number (and the out-of-hours number) saved in your phone AND written somewhere visible
- A blanket or thick towel — restraint, warmth, and a stretcher in one
- Sterile dressings, bandage rolls and surgical tape
- Saline pods for flushing eyes and wounds
- Blunt-ended scissors and tick tweezers
- A digital thermometer and petroleum jelly
- Disposable gloves
- A secure cat carrier, always findable — not buried in the loft
- A printed copy of this page in the kit
This is why our training matters
Every member of our team is feline first aid trained — so when we're visiting your cat and something isn't right, the response is calm, correct and immediate. It's part of why we take your vet's details before every single booking. Read more on how we handle a poorly cat while you're away.
Book a first-aid-trained cat sitterSources: this guide is adapted from first aid guidance published by Cats Protection, Purina and VCA Animal Hospitals, alongside standard feline first aid training material.
Disclaimer: this page is general information, not veterinary advice, and no substitute for professional care. If your cat is ill or injured, contact your vet — immediately in an emergency.