Cat CPR and Rescue Breathing

When I was a little girl growing up in rural Pennsylvania, my parents surprised me one year with the most adorable little kitten. We were inseparable. He followed me around when I played, ate with me when I ate (shh, don't tell my mom), and slept with me when I slept. But then one day, Tigger started choking on a piece of hotdog that I had given him. I didn't know what to do, but luckily my mom was a nurse and was able to kind of wing it. She dislodged the chunk of food from his throat and breathed into Tigger's mouth when she discovered he wasn't breathing. Luckily, Tigger started breathing and was just as good as new. My mom was my hero after this. But would you know what to do in the event of an emergency such as this? In the time it would take to get to a veterinarian, your precious cat could be gone forever.

First you need to check to make sure your cat is really not breathing. Lay him on his side on a flat surface, and then gently tap him while calling his name. Was there a response? If not, look to see if your pet's chest is moving. You should also listen near your cat's mouth while placing your cheek in front of your cat's mouth to see if you can feel any breath. If he is not breathing, pull his tongue out a little, close his mouth, and tilt his head back a little. Give your cat 4-5 little breaths into their nose. Be careful, though! Your lungs are much bigger than your cats. Give them just enough air to make the chest rise. You could do serious injury if you try to push too much air into your cat's lungs.

Next you need to check for a pulse. The best place to find the pulse on a cat is the Apical Pulse, located on the outside of the left front leg, just behind the shoulder. If you find a pulse, just rescue breath for your cat. Give one breath every two seconds until your pet begins breathing on his own. If your cat does not have a pulse, place your hands on either side of his chest right behind the shoulder blades. Sandwich your cat's chest between your palms, compressing approximately ½ to 1 inch deep. Be very gentle when giving your cat chest compressions. For every three compressions, give one breath. Check for a pulse every minute.