Ask P&A: My cat is bleeding, what should I do?
Here's what to do within the first two hours of discovering a bleeding wound on your cat.
You’ve found yourself in a situation that you wouldn’t wish on your biggest enemy—your mind is racing, there’s a chance you’ve started crying (we’ve been there), and you are wondering what are the next immediate steps to help your pet feel better.
The Parker & Ace vet team is here to guide you through the process—from the first seconds that you’ve encountered a problem to the first two hours. We won’t say don’t panic, because when something stressful happens to your pet it’s hard not to. Rest assured though, that we will get you through this situation.
And, remember you can always reach a member of our support team 24/7.
Step 1: Assess and stem the bleeding
Do this: 0-30 minutes from recognizing the bleeding
Your first priority when your cat is bleeding is to assess how much blood they are losing.
- If they are flowing or spurting blood or if the wound is large enough you can’t cover it with one hand, rush your cat to the nearest emergency vet as soon as possible while applying pressure to the wound with a towel. Not sure which emergency vet to go to? The Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) is located on 925 H street, NE #5, Washington, DC 20002.
- Passed out? If your cat has bled so much they have passed out or become unresponsive, rush them to the nearest emergency vet as soon as possible while applying pressure to the wound.
- If there’s a foreign object in the wound (i.e. a large chunk of glass, a broken arrow, etc.) do not attempt to remove it yourself as you could inadvertently cause more damage or excessive bleeding. Contact Parker & Ace immediately.
If the bleeding is problematic but not immediately life threatening, cover the wound with a clean, preferably sterilized, cloth or gauze. Apply constant pressure for 5-10 minutes and then assess. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, continue holding the wound with pressure until the bleeding stops. If it persists for more than 15 minutes, contact Parker & Ace and/or head to the emergency vet.
Step 2: Wrapping or Transport
Do this: 30 minutes - 1 hour in
- If your cat has sustained a wound serious enough to cause bleeding, it’s always a good idea for a vet to evaluate them. At the very least, we recommend talking to the Parker & Ace vet team about ways to prevent an infection as the wound heals.
As you’re applying pressure to your cat’s wound, call your Parker & Ace vet team to set up an appointment as soon as you are able.
- Flush the wound with clean, cool water. Avoid any peroxide or alcohol at this time. Cover the wound with a fresh sanitary cloth, washcloth, or gauze pad. Using gauze or wrapping tape, wrap the wound tightly enough to keep the underlying gauze pad in place but not so tight that it cuts off your cat’s circulation.
Step 3: Identify the source
Do this: 1 - 2 hours in
The priority is stopping the wound from bleeding and making an appointment with Parker & Ace for an evaluation. Once those things are done, it’s a good idea to try and identify the source of the injury as this can be helpful information for the vet team to determine the best treatment.
Here are some reasons your cat could be bleeding:
- Did your cat fall from an area that was too high for a proper landing?
- Did they get into a fight with another animal?
- Is your cat scratching themselves so much they caused the bleeding?
Knowing how the injury began can help your Parker & Ace vet team determine whether to check for internal bleeding or prescribe preventative antibiotics to prevent an infection caused by another animal.
As with any injury, the best thing you can do is keep your cat comfortable during the healing process—prevent them from licking the injury and overload your pet with cuddles and head scratches.
Remember: help is always just a call or tap away
If you suspect your pet requires urgent care, contact Parker & Ace ASAP and our team will provide expert guidance and next steps. If your pet is in an emergency situation, go to the closest veterinary emergency room—and, update your Parker & Ace vet once things are in control.