Vet nurse Jade shared what you need to do if your cat suddenly collapses or chokes on something, as these steps could help to save their life if you don’t have time to go to a vet
As pet owners, we always want our furry friends to be happy and healthy. This means providing them with a nutritious diet, meeting their daily needs, and taking them to the vet when something appears to be wrong.
However, sometimes there might not be time for you to rush them to the nearest veterinary clinic as you might only have minutes, or sometimes even seconds, to save your pet’s life, such as if they suddenly collapse or are choking on something. For these moments, it’s crucial to be aware of the steps you need to take in order to save your pet’s life.
To help, vet nurse Jade has taken to social media to share what to do if your cat suddenly collapses or chokes on something, as you could help save their life.
“Your cat’s collapsed and they’re not breathing, would you know what to do?” Jade asked at the start of her TikTok video, where she’s seen kneeling on the floor with a stuffed cat toy in front of her.
“So firstly we need to assess the situation and remember A, B, and C,” she said before going on to explain what this means.
First up, A is for airways, and you should examine inside your cat’s mouth as far back as you can to see if there is anything blocking the cat’s airway, if they’ve choked on anything. If so, you need to work to remove that object in order to clear their airway.
“The airway must be clear for your to give effective CPR,” she explained. Once you’ve made sure the airway is free from any blocking objects, you should progress to B, which stands for breathing.
To check this, position yourself so your eyes are level with your cat’s chest and observe whether your cat’s ribcage is moving up and down, indicating they are breathing.
Jade also advised examining the cat’s gum colour inside their mouth, and if they’re turning blue or purple, this signals insufficient oxygen.
“Then we move on to C, which is for circulation,” Jade explained.
For this step, she recommended placing two fingers behind your cat’s elbow to feel for their heartbeat.
“If there’s no heartbeat or pulse, and your cat is not breathing or they’re going a shade of blue or purple, we need to start CPR immediately,” Jade said.
Before attempting this, Jade suggests phoning your vet to inform them of the emergency, as they may be able to provide additional guidance over the telephone. Meanwhile, Jade advised ensuring your cat is positioned on their right side, preferably on a firm, flat surface, such as the floor.
“You’re going to need to give 30 compressions at a rate of a 120 beats per minute. That is two beats per second,” she explained, noting you can maintain this rhythm to the beat of The BeeGees’ song Staying Alive, or Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan.
She further explains you should form a ‘C’ shape with your fingers and thumb, placing them under your cat’s ribcage, with your thumb on top, behind their elbows. Then, press their chest to about one third to half of the depth of their chest, repeating this 30 times.
“If your cat is particularly large, you can do this with two hands, doing the same on each side,” she demonstrated, showing how to position the hands on either side of the cat.
Then, return to deliver another 30 compressions, followed by two breaths. To do this, Jade explained that you should give your cat two breaths by placing your mouth around its nose and mouth and gently blowing, watching their ribcage rise and fall with each breath.
Continue alternating between these steps for roughly two minutes. After this, pause to check for any signs of life.
If they show signs of life, such as breathing or having a pulse, she advises to quickly take them to the nearest vet. If there are no signs of life, continue with the CPR for up to 20 minutes, or as advised by your vet over the phone.