How To Apply A Cat Tourniquet

If you’re reading this, it’s likely that your cat is bleeding. That’s normal, because cats are often injured in ways that involve cuts or scratches to their legs and paws. But sometimes those injuries can be severe enough for you to need to apply a tourniquet to stop the blood flow. It’s a temporary fix until you can get your pet to a vet who will remove the tourniquet when the leg has been treated and the bleeding has stopped. In this article, we’ll talk about how and why you might need an emergency tourniquet for your cat (or dog) before going over exactly how one works—and what not do while trying one on!

If you see your cat bleeding, it’s normal to panic!

If you see your cat bleeding, it’s normal to panic! But don’t worry, we’re here to help. First of all, don’t move the cat until you’re sure that they need to be moved. If they bleed too much in a place where they can get help on their own (like if they’re laying right next to a vet), then it’s okay to leave them there until someone comes by who can do something about it.

If the wound on your cat is serious enough that they need immediate medical attention (if they’ve lost a lot of blood and are very pale), then call 911 immediately so that someone else can take care of it. Don’t try to stop the bleeding with your hands—it won’t work and will probably make things worse! You may not know what kind of damage has been done internally yet; there might already be internal bleeding happening somewhere else inside their body which isn’t visible yet.”

What is C-A-T Tourniquet and how to use it properly?

Before doing anything else, do a quick assessment.

Check the cat’s pulse. You can find it in the inside of the thigh, or by feeling along their neck near their shoulder blades. If you don’t feel anything, this is called “pulselessness”.
Check for breathing, which should be fast and shallow – if it’s slow or absent then CPR may be needed immediately to keep them alive until they get to a vet!
Check for skin color: pale (white-ish), grayish blue color can indicate shock; pale pink indicates good circulation; dark red indicates low blood pressure and insufficient oxygen supply to body tissues; pale white indicates severe shock with insufficient oxygen supply to body tissues (this means you need to start CPR).

Put on gloves.

You’ll need to put on gloves before you can begin. You’re doing this to protect yourself from blood-borne diseases and other germs that may be present in your cat’s fur. It may also help to protect your cat from you, since we don’t want our hands all over their raw flesh. And if the tourniquet is tight enough, the glove will create a barrier between your hand and the environment, preventing any debris or dirt from getting stuck under there (and giving us peace of mind).

Finally, wearing gloves is yet another layer of protection for your cat—this time against people who might try to pet him as he lies there helplessly in pain. If you think about it objectively, most cats would prefer not being touched by strangers when they aren’t feeling 100%.

Take stock of any surrounding materials.

When performing a cat tourniquet, it’s important to take stock of any surrounding materials. This can be anything from shoelaces or belts to string or ribbon. It’s also helpful if you have something that is already on the cat (like one of those temporary ID tags) so that they are more comfortable with having their paws wrapped up. If none of these options are available to you, don’t worry! You can always improvise by using an item like a crayon wrapper or even a piece of cardboard and some adhesive tape as makeshift tourniquets.

Once your cat is restrained and you’re wearing gloves, locate the source of the bleeding.

Once your cat is restrained and you’re wearing gloves, locate the source of the bleeding. Look for a wound (cuts from sharp objects), a broken bone (broken leg), a foreign body (penny in paw), puncture wounds (from cat trying to catch snake), bite wounds or cuts that are bleeding out of control. If you’re unable to find anything on first inspection, don’t despair! Take another look around before proceeding with this method as it may require multiple attempts before finding where the blood flow is coming from.

It’s time to apply pressure.

Once you’ve wrapped the gauze or cloth around the limb, apply pressure. The goal is to control bleeding until you can get your kitty to a veterinarian. You can do this by pressing on the wound with a clean cloth or bandage, which will help to stop blood flow from getting into or out of your cat’s body. You can also use an elastic bandage (like those used for sprains) instead of regular tape; it tends to stick better and last longer than traditional medical tape does in this situation.

If there is any bleeding, apply firm pressure for 15 minutes before removing any wraps or dressings that were put in place earlier (use new ones if necessary).

Use gauze or a clean cloth if possible.

If you have gauze or a clean cloth, use it. If not, tear up an old shirt into strips for dressing material. You can also use a clean towel or washcloth if needed.

If you have no gauze or clean cloth with you, tear up an old shirt into strips for dressing material.

If you are in a situation where gauze or clean cloth is available, use that for the dressing material. If not, tear up an old shirt into strips for dressing material. Do NOT use a tourniquet as a permanent fix on your cat!

A tourniquet is a temporary fix until you can get to a vet who will remove the tourniquet when the leg has been treated and the bleeding has stopped.

Using a tourniquet is only appropriate for an open wound, not for a closed wound (one where no blood is visible).

You should only apply a tourniquet if you are unable to transport your cat immediately to see a veterinarian. If possible, take them directly to the nearest veterinary office.

Conclusion

As you can see, applying a tourniquet is not complicated. The key to success is to remain calm and focused on your task. You may need some practice before you feel confident doing this procedure, but with time and practice, it will become second nature. Remember that using a tourniquet is only a temporary fix until you can get an injured cat to the veterinarian for treatment of the wound or limb injury.