Staying Safe: Making Your Own Cat First Aid Kit
Be prepared the next time your cat tries to use one of their nine lives.
With cats it is best to expect the unexpected since they are masters of getting into trouble. This article is geared towards making a kit that can be used on the go for adventure cats, in addition to a general kit to have in your home. Adventuring with cats is an exciting activity where your feline friend goes with you on hikes, boat rides, camping trips, etc. You won’t want to forget your cat’s first aid kit on trips, it’s important to stay safe.
Put together your own cat first aid kit at home or check out the pre-build kits that we recommend.
Rubber gloves
Pretty self explanatory, but you may need to wear gloves to protect your hands if your cat comes in contact with something dangerous, stinky, or they are bleeding.
Thermometer and petroleum jelly
Normal body temperature for a cat is between 99.5-102.5 Fahrenheit. It’s recommended that you take your cat’s temperature when they are healthy to get a baseline temperature of your specific cat. If your cat’s temperature is above 103.5 ° F (39.7° C), a fever is present.
Blunt ended scissors
These are best for removing bandages to avoid injuring your cat.
Gauze and cotton
Pads or roll to cover injuries, help to stop bleeding, or as the inner layer of a splint.
Tweezers
Useful for removing splinters or picking off parasites, such as ticks.
3% hydrogen peroxide
This solution is used to induce vomiting in cats who’ve just consumed something that is not edible.
Cotton swabs and cotton balls
These are used as an applicator for topical medications.
Oral syringe
For dosing oral medications or give your cat some water if they are not drinking.
Styptic powder
This powder will help to stop bleeding if your cat has a minor scrape or a damaged toenail.
Antibiotic ointment
To put on minor cuts and abrasions to prevent infections from developing.
Towel
Keeping a towel in your cat first aid kit is helpful in a variety of situations. The towel can be used to restrain your cat if they are injured and you need to keep their claws in. You can use it to dry off a wet cat. or warm up a cold cat.
Bandaids
These are useful to have on hand in case your cat scratches or bites you while you are tending to your cat.
Vet wrap
This tape goes around gauze to keep it in place and adds another layer to protect the injury.
Muzzle
These look like a medieval torture device, but are necessary if the cat is putting you and themselves in danger while they are injured. Even the most tolerant cats can become agitated if they aren’t feeling well, so it’s best to have a safe alternative to getting bit from the cat.
We recommend the breathable nylon mesh ones or the regular nylon ones.
Nylon Muzzle
Blanket
In case of hypothermia or shock, this will help to keep them warm. Also very helpful when restricting their movement to use as a restraint if they are injured.
Benadryl
Aka diphenhydramine. You want to get the one without cold + flu or other active ingredients
Flashlight
Useful if you get caught in a power outage, need to read the first aid manual, or your hike lasts longer than you were expecting.
Cat carrier
A carrier is necessary to safely transport an injured cat to the vet. Cats become extremely stressed when they are injured and are likely to move in a way that makes the injury worse, even if your cat rides well in the car, a carrier will limit their movement and give them a safe place to hunker down.
First Aid Manual
A useful print resource with instructions on how to administer first aid, and you won’t need to worry about your phone battery dying to read it. The manual will give you important information about how to check your cat’s vitals and help them in an emergency. Even if you know how to administer some first aid techniques, it’s good to have one of these manuals handy. If you forget in the heat of the moment or run into something that you don’t know how to do, you are prepared.
The First Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats (Prevention Pets)
First Aid Kits
If all of this seems to complicated to put together, here are some ready made kits available for purchase.
Pet First Aid Kits:
RC Pet First Aid Kit
Kurgo First Aid Kit