How to help a bleeding cat

Bleeding from small wounds on cats usually stops on their own within a few minutes. However, severe bleeding requires immediate first aid. Here you will learn how to put a pressure dressing on a cat while waiting for the vet.

How to put a pressure dressing on a cat

Cats can become scared and stressed when they are injured. If your cat is worried or trying to bite, you can gently wrap them in a towel to protect both yourself and your cat.

Note: Points 2-5 can be difficult to achieve in reality, if it is not possible to apply pressure bandages, it is better that you press some compress or similar against the wound and then quickly try to take the cat to the vet.

1
Place a tightly rolled compress, clean cloth or similar directly against the wound and press until the bleeding decreases or stops.
2
Wrap a bandage around the area to keep the pressure in place. The dressing should be tight enough to stop the bleeding, but not so tight that the blood circulation is choked.
3
Temporarily ease the dressing every 20 minutes to check blood circulation.
4
If the blood continues to bleed through, reinforce the bandage with additional compresses and bandages on top of the first one.
5
If possible, keep the damaged area in an elevated position.
6
Transport your cat to the vet as soon as possible

Severe bleeding requires urgent first aid

Heavy bleeding is always an acute condition and the cat needs veterinary care urgently. Squirting or pulsating bleeding is indicative of an arterial haemorrhage and requires immediate pressure dressing. The blood is then often bright red. Heavy bleeding can quickly lead to severe blood loss and shock.

If pressure dressings are not enough, it may be necessary to tighten above the wound in an emergency (for example with a bandage or lanyard) - this should only be done if nothing else works as there is a risk of permanent damage.

If pressure dressings cannot be applied

Some parts of your cat's body can be difficult to apply a pressure bandage to. If so, you can try to stop the bleeding by keeping firm pressure with your fingers against a compress or clean cloth directly on the wound. Keep applying pressure until you get to the vet.

What to do with minor wounds that bleed

For minor wounds, it may be enough to hold a towel or apply compression using a gauze directly against the wound for 10-15 minutes. To make the blood solidify as quickly as possible, avoid lifting to look at the wound. If possible, apply a soft bandage before going to the vet to have the wound examined and possibly stitched. Remember not to tighten the bandage too tightly!

Wounds that need stitches

For best results, wounds should be stitched within 8 hours. A wound that is stitched usually heals faster and with less risk of complications. Even if more than 8 hours have passed since the injury occurred, the wound should be examined by a veterinarian to determine if it needs stitches.