All cats that have been hit by a car should have a vet check as internal injuries can take a while to manifest themselves. The most common injuries after a car accident are:
- shock - the cat will appear confused and weak, its gum will go pale and its paws will feel cold. If the cat is semi-conscious there is a risk it could vomit and inhale the food into its lungs. Open the mouth, pull the tongue forward and keep the body higher than its head so that any food can spill out
- broken legs - the limb may appear misshapen with abnormal movement. This cat may be in excruciating pain and may scratch and bite hysterically when touched. If you can't get near him throw a thick blanket over the whole body and lift him gently into the car. Take it to the vet for pain relief straightaway. Don't waste time trying to splint the leg as you may only make the fracture worse and may distress the cat more
- internal injuries - the worst ones are when the car actually runs over the cat and causes lung haemorrhage or a ruptured spleen or bladder. These kinds of injuries are the most serious as they may not be obvious immediately. Your vet may need to take an X-ray to check for any problems
Remember shock and internal injuries can be fatal. Don't delay!
Transporting the cat to the vet
A cat that has been hit by a car will be very frightened and want to run away and hide. Keep it warm and if possible place it in a secure container like a cat basket. If your cat is unconscious keep it warm in a blanket with the head tilted downwards in case it vomits.
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Comments (1)
I got run over by a car and very badly injured. You can read my story here. Perhaps if you have a cat who's been badly hurt this might help you get over it.
http://www.archiecat.co.uk
Thanks, Archie
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Comment by archiecat on 18th July 2008