Not all cat owners know exactly how to behave if a cat chokes. Nevertheless, we must act as quickly as possible. The health of the animal, and sometimes life, depends on the speed and fidelity of actions.
Signs that the cat has choked: The animal cannot breathe; coughs; rubs his mouth with his paws; vomiting or drooling may begin.
It must be understood that with the sensitivity of the larynx, which is characteristic of cats, spasms develop rapidly to such an extent that the airways are blocked. Choking can occur after such a short period of time that it may not come to veterinary care. In such a situation, it is worth calling the veterinarian only in order to warn that the cat will soon be brought to him, but you will have to save the animal yourself.
Wrap the cat in a thick towel, leaving its head open. In this way, you can control the movement of the cat, while providing it with support. Hold the animal's head so that you can look inside its mouth. Pull the lower jaw back and hold it with your finger.
If you see something that is preventing the cat from breathing, remove the foreign body with tweezers. Do not try this if the subject is too deep or you cannot see it. Fingers cannot be inserted into the cat's mouth: firstly, it will immediately bite you, and secondly, the foreign body is pushed even deeper.
It is best to involve an assistant to perform this operation.
Now you need to knock the cat between the shoulder blades - this must be done with the utmost accuracy, but firmly. Squeeze the ribcage of the animal several times from the sides. This operation is performed as follows:
- sit on the floor, hold the cat in your hands so that it is turned towards you with the back of its head;
- lift it up and squeeze it between your knees, the front legs should be on the floor;
- Place your hand on the sides of the chest and squeeze several times - sharply, but not very strongly.
The purpose of these actions is to get the cat to cough. Repeat the squeezing movements 4-5 times - this is usually enough so that with the help of a cough, the cat itself pushes the object interfering with breathing.
After removing the foreign body, see your veterinarian for an examination. Try to calm the animal and go to the clinic immediately.
