When the Unthinkable Happens
Whether your cat has a sudden critical disorder or has suffered some sort of trauma, the most important thing you can do is to stay calm. You can't help your cat if you aren't thinking straight. Pause for a few seconds, take a few deep breaths and approach the situation calmly to provide needed care. Make sure that the scene is safe. If not, move as soon as possible to a less dangerous area — to the sidewalk, for instance, if your cat has been hit by a car. Then try to determine the nature of the problems and prioritize them. If several things are wrong, deal first with the more serious problems, then worry about the secondary ones. Be firm, so that you can examine the cat thoroughly, but gentle, so that you do not exacerbate injuries. If the cat is uncooperative, it may need to be restrained; try to enlist the help of another person.
Check the cat's vital signs: breathing, pulse and temperature. Be sure to write down your readings; even an excellent memory is unreliable in a crisis. You should already know your cat's normal vitals, so you can note any differences. A cat should breathe at a rate of about 20 to 40 breaths per minute, although on hot days or after exercise breathing can be a lot faster. Watch your cat's chest for in-and-out movement and hold a piece of paper or a mirror in front of the mouth and nostrils to check for breathing. Measure the cat's pulse: It should be identical to the heart rate, normally between 130 (resting cat) and 200 (agitated cat) beats per minute. To gauge your cat's temperature, rather than using a thermometer (bad idea if he is injured and too time-consuming), just judge how his ears, nose and extremities feel. Are they warmer or cooler than usual? A low temperature may indicate shock.
If your cat is ill or has minor physical injuries, transport him to the vet in his carrier. If he has severe injuries, the less handling and movement the better; gently immobilize him on a homemade stretcher.
