Even if your vet has 24-hour emergency service, you should also know the location of the nearest walk-in emergency clinic. When the Unthinkable Happens Trauma Eye Injuries Difficulty Breathing Burns Weather-Related Complications Seizures Main Menu

Accidents happen. No matter how careful you are and what precautions you take, even your indoor cat can fall seriously ill or become badly injured. Knowing what to do in an emergency may make the difference between life and death for your cat. But keep in mind that the first-aid techniques described here are only stopgap measures. The ultimate goal is to get your cat to a vet as quickly as possible. Even if your vet has 24-hour emergency service, you should also know the location of the nearest walk-in emergency clinic. Post these numbers, as well as that of an animal poison-control center, near your phone. You might consider taking a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cats, or your vet may be able to show you how to do it. Only attempt CPR if you know how.

Before a calamity happens, take the time to gather the necessary first-aid supplies, keeping them together in a readily accessible place. Know exactly where to find anything you might need that doesn't fit into the kit (such as a board to serve as a stretcher). You can buy a first-aid kit designed specifically for pets or put one together yourself.