When it comes to first aid, pet owners find that cats are small and relatively easy to provide care for. But when it comes to a drowning situation, you need to act fast in order to save your cat’s life. This article will explain how you can know if your cat is drowning or near-drowned, as well as what steps you should take in order to give your pet the best chance of survival during these times.
What to Do If Your Cat Is Drowning
If your cat is drowning and you’re unable to get her out of the water, remove her from it as quickly as possible. Next, start CPR and chest compressions, as if she were a person. Call your veterinarian immediately–do not wait for help to arrive before beginning these life-saving measures!
If you are unable to resuscitate your pet on your own, bring her into a warm place and cover her with towels until help arrives or she revives on her own (which can sometimes take hours). Keep checking for signs of life while waiting–it’s important not to give up hope! If possible, contact your vet immediately; they will be able to provide further instructions on how best to care for your animal during this traumatic event and ensure it receives the necessary veterinary care.
How to Save Cats From Drowning
If you see a cat struggling in the water, don’t try to rescue it yourself. If you see a cat struggling in a swimming pool, don’t try to rescue it yourself. Call for help if you are not able to rescue the cat. If you can, throw a towel or blanket over the cat and try to pull it out of danger with the towel or blanket. You may have to try saving a drowning cat from a distance; remove them from the water quickly by grabbing their scruff with both hands (the loose skin between their neck and shoulders). After removing them from danger, cover their head with a towel or blanket so they cannot breathe until they recover from being submerged under water. If you have time, place the cat in a safe location where it cannot fall into the water again. Check for breathing, heartbeat, and pulse as soon as possible.
Near-Drowning
If your cat has been in the water for longer than an hour, get it to a vet as soon as possible. If it’s been less than an hour, and your cat is breathing and alert, follow these steps:
- Call or take them to an emergency veterinarian immediately. You can also call your veterinarian if there is one nearby and need assistance getting help for your pet. The vet may perform a complete blood count to assess the cat's health and rule out potential conditions.
- Do not try CPR on cats; instead, attempt mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by breathing into the nose of the animal until he or she begins breathing again on their own (do not force anything into the mouth). If this doesn’t work after five minutes of trying multiple times throughout those five minutes (it may only take one breath), then move on to step three below before calling your veterinarian/taking him/her to an ER vet clinic immediately because they may require more advanced care than what you can provide at home!
- If possible keep him warm by placing him inside a blanket with another warm object like a hot water bottle wrapped up in cloths etcetera–this will increase his body temperature which helps prevent shock from occurring due to hypothermia.
First Aid for Near-Drowned Cats
If your cat has been in the water for any length of time, call a vet immediately. You’ll need to warm him up as soon as possible by putting him on a heating pad and giving him oxygen if possible. In severe cases, the vet may need to use mechanical ventilation to provide oxygenation. Do not give the cat food or water until it has seen a vet–this can be fatal for them! Do not give any medication to help with symptoms such as nausea or pain either; only take them if instructed by your veterinarian after they’ve examined your furry friend.
If possible, try to get help from someone else who knows CPR before trying it yourself; if no one else is around, just follow these steps:
- Bend over so that you’re face-to-face with their nose while holding onto their hind legs firmly (but gently)
- Blow gently into their nostrils until they start breathing again
A cat can survive a near-drowning
If your cat has fallen into a pool or been trapped in water, don’t give up. Cats are strong and good at hiding their injuries, so it’s possible for them to survive a near-drowning.
Cats can swim, but not as well as dogs: they have shorter legs and less body fat than dogs do, which makes them less buoyant in water. Also, because of their fur coats and thick skulls (which help protect their brains), cats tend to sink more quickly than other animals when they fall into deep water. However, if you see your cat swimming around happily after being rescued from a dunking accident then chances are that he’ll be fine! However, be aware that water aspiration can lead to pneumonia and other issues in the lungs, and there is always a risk of further complications or even death if not treated promptly.
If your pet can still breathe after the near-drowning incident then head straight over to the vet; otherwise wait until morning before taking action - this gives time for any internal bleeding or swelling caused by inhaling too much liquid (from swallowing) during submersion time periods such as these ones.
Conclusion
Cats are amazing animals, and their ability to survive near-drowning is proof of that. You may have thought that your pet had drowned, but with some quick action and first aid techniques, you can save his life. The vet may also perform chest x-rays to check for any potential conditions such as aspiration pneumonia or fluid in the lungs. If you ever find yourself in this situation again, remember what worked last time: call your veterinarian immediately and move quickly to get your cat out of the water (or bathtub).
