Common Cat Injuries and How to Spot Them
Cats offer the perfect balance between being playful and affectionate, and being self-sufficient. This means cats are easy to nurture on a day-to-day basis. Unfortunately, it also means it is hard to spot when they are experiencing discomfort, injury or illness.
Cats have a tendency to try and hide their injuries, so it is important that we, as owners, are attentive. To help you give your cat the care he or she deserves, we go through some of the most common cat injuries. Here, we summarise those injuries and reveal how you can spot them.
Bites, Scratches and Broken Bones
Cats are curious and like to explore their environment. Occasionally, this can lead to encounters and disputes with other animals, or attempts to navigate unfamiliar territory. Naturally, a scrap with another animal or an unexpected fall can result in wounds or broken bones.
Bite marks from a large animal are easy to spot because they bleed more. However, while they can be more severe, they are also easier to find and clean. Smaller bite marks, like from other cats, close up faster. They might not be as life threatening, but they fill with bacteria and form painful abscesses. While petting your cat, look out for any small puncture wounds and unusual growths or swellings.
Bites, broken bones and inflamed ligaments can also cause an awkward gait, difficulty jumping, and unusual rest positions. If your cat stops going to hard-to-reach spots they normally enjoy, this could be a sign of physical discomfort.
While most scratches heal normally, damage to the eyes can lead to long-term problems. Regularly inspect your cat’s eyes to see if they are bloodshot, and take them to your vet if you think they have suffered an injury.
Heat Stroke
The UK may not be the hottest country, but it doesn’t take much for cats to overheat; especially, kittens, overweight cats or those with a lot of fur.
Common signs of heat stroke include vomiting, rapid breathing, a red tongue, and lethargy. If you suspect heat stroke, bring your cat to a cool space and give them lots of cold, fresh water while they recover.
Kidney Failure and Poisoning
Sadly, kidney disease is extremely common in cats. Symptoms are painful and the disease can be fatal, especially if not treated quickly; so, it is important for owners can identify the signs.
Cats with kidney failure struggle to retain water, so they have a dry mouth, drink more, urinate more, and lose weight quickly.
One common cause of acute failure is your cat eating something toxic. Other signs of poisoning include vomiting, lethargy, and bloody stool or urine. You should see your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has eaten something toxic, and take extra care to ensure your cat cannot reach anything poisonous in and around your home, including plants and chemicals.
No owner can protect their cat from harm completely. So, instead of trying to guard them 24/7 and making them unhappy, make a habit of regularly spending time with your cat. The bonding time will be great for your relationship, and it will encourage you to inspect your cat’s physical and behavioural condition for anything unusual. After all, no-one knows your cat like you do.
Good information to have. Merci mille fois!
You are most welcome. 🙂
Thanks for sharing some very important details there. Cats are independent and whilst those that live out can and will often get more injuries, the indoors can get them too.
Toodlepips and purrs
ERin
Thank you Erin. 🙂
Great info! I will share the post. Thank you
Thanks again for sharing. ^^
@ComplicatedGame
Thank you for the warning signs. As far as plants go, lilies of all kinds lead to kidney failure and death in cats.
Another point to be made is about declawing. (I know, you have the right to do with your cat as you see fit and don’t want to hear another lecture. So, I won’tlecture, just inform. ?)
While it’s illegal in many countries, it is still very popular in the United States and many other countries. Declawing should be listed under injuries because of some of the side effects: bone fragments, claw regrowth, tender toe bones, infections, etc.
Bone fragments and claw regrowth is the equivalent of walking around with stones in your socks. No matter what surfave you walk on, it will hurt you to walk.
Because cats are masters at concealing pain, we as owners of declawed cats need to look for the signs and symptoms of those side effects. Some of these signs are obvious, such as limping, and complaining. But most others are not. These include biting, litter box avoidance, sitting with the paws hanging over the edge of whatever is being sat upon, changes in gait, arthritis in the skeletal system, shaking the paws, obesity, a glazed look on the cat’s face, and many more.
While the ultimate way to prevent these side effects is to NOT declaw, having your declawed cats’ toes x-rayed every year can show the beginning signs of discomfort.
Once these side effects are found, your vet can contact the Paw Project for assistance in helping your cat become pain free.
Oh I’m so glad declawing is illegal over here. :/
Pingback: Common Cat Injuries and How to Spot Them - Katzenworld Shop
Didn’t know tulips are toxic for cats. Very useful article, thanks for sharing!
Not as bad as lily plants but yeah not great for them. Glad you found this useful. 🙂
Very good topic to cover
THanks so much 🙂