How to Make Your Own First Aid Kit for Your Cat

When a cat faces a medical emergency, time is critical. It's important to get the cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible. If for some reason you can't make it to a vet's office very quickly, having a first aid kit could come in pretty handy. Having a first aid kit for your cat can also be helpful for minor emergencies.

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It's possible to buy your own cat first aid kit. I found this one on Amazon that seems pretty thorough as far as emergency supplies go. You can also make your own cat first aid kit if you're up to it. I've designed a complete list of supplies to add to your cat's first aid kit.

Make Your Own First Aid Kit for Your Cat

Once you've collected all your first aid supplies, you'll need something to place them in. Preferably something that's waterproof and can be sealed well. A plastic box or tote is probably your best bet. 

Even a plastic fishing box can be used. These come in handy because they have lots of compartments to store things in and the handle makes them easy to carry around. Many of our crash kits at the vet clinics I worked in were fishing boxes or plastic tool boxes.

Always keep your kit organized. Time is important in emergency situations and you can save a lot of time simply by keeping your first aid kit neat and organized. 

Here's the list of emergency supplies for cats to add to your first aid box or bag - 

• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Hemostats
• Nail Trimmers
• Light (penlight, flashlight, and/or glowsticks are all good things to have)
• Rectal thermometer
• Lube (KY Jelly is fine. This is helpful when trying to take a rectal temperature and can come in handy for a number of other situations.)
• Styptic powder (this is mostly used to stop bleeding during nail trims. If you can't find it, cornstarch will do.)
• Oral syringe 
• Brush
• Hand sanitizer (For the human to use in case they can't wash their hands.)
• Baby wipes (Could be used for the human or the cat.)
• Plastic gloves
• Cotton Balls
• Q-tips
• Gauze
• Telfa pads or non-stick pads 
• Towel or Blanket
• Instant heat and cold packs
• Bandage tape
• Roll gauze 
• Vetwrap bandage material
• Karo syrup (Given to cats in case of low blood sugar.)
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Hydrogen Peroxide (Can be used to make cats vomit in case they eat something poisonous. Always check with a vet before administering this!)
• Triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin is fine.)
• Eye ointment (GenTeal is a good brand.)
• Saline
• Benadryl (Good for allergic reactions.)
• Ear cleanser
• Leash (Sounds weird for a cat first aid kit, but it could be useful. Caution should be used with this.)
• Muzzle (I think this is optional... they do make cat muzzles, but I have found that none of them work very well.)
• Water
• Food (Canned may be a good choice.)
• Emergency contact numbers (Your cat's vet, emergency vets, and pet poison hotlines.)
• Medical documents (Keep copies of important papers regarding your cat's health and care handy in your first aid kit.)

This list includes some very basic essentials for your cat's first aid kit. There may be some more items you'd like to add to fit your cat's personal needs, which is a great idea. You can also exclude anything you don't feel like you'll need. The nice thing about making your own first aid kit for your cat is that it can be personalized however you like. 

Common Feline Emergency Situations

To go with the list of first aid supplies for cats, here's a list of common feline emergency situations. You should always seek emergency pet care as soon as you possibly can in these situations.

• Respiratory distress and open mouth breathing - I've personally seen many cats with breathing problems decline rapidly. Seek veterinary care ASAP!
• Cat straining to urinate or can't pee - This is an emergency and common in male cats.
• Seizures - Cats can have seizures for many different reasons, so it's best to find help from a veterinarian quickly. 
• Cat has low body temperature and lethargic - Try to warm up your cat as much as you can while you transport them to a veterinarian.
• Trauma - Trauma includes things like being hit by a car, attacked by a dog, broken legs, etc.
• Poisoning - If you think or know that your cat has ingested something toxic, call your vet to get their recommendations before trying any sort of at-home treatments. The ASPCA has a great list of plants that are toxic to animals. 
• Cat has pale gums - If your cat is acting sick, check their gum color. The gums should be a bright pink or red color. If your cat's gums look pale or white, it's time for a quick trip to the doctor.

These lists should help you be more prepared in the event of a feline emergency, although I hope you never need to use them. Special thanks to our friends at Fur Everywhere for requesting a post on this topic. If you have a pet health related topic you'd like to see at Pawsitively Pets, just let us know!