What to do if Your Cat is Choking?

Seeing your cat choking can be an incredibly scary experience. However, staying calm and knowing what steps to take can help save your cat’s life.

This article provides a detailed overview on how to recognize cat choking, perform first aid, prevent future incidents, and get prompt veterinary care. With this knowledge, you’ll be prepared to take action if your feline friend ever has an obstructed airway.

Recognizing If Your Cat Is Choking

Cats can sometimes make noises that sound like choking when they are actually coughing up a hairball.

So how do you know if your cat is really choking and unable to breathe? Here are the most common signs of true choking in cats:

• Gagging, retching, heaving without anything coming up
• Pawing at the mouth
• Salivating or drooling excessively
• Making raspy breathing sounds
• Turning blue in the tongue and gums (cyanosis)
• Collapsing or losing consciousness

If your cat is making these choking indications, time is critical. Call your vet right away as you begin first aid.

Performing First Aid For A Choking Cat

If your cat is showing clear signs of choking, quick action on your part can save their life:

Step 1: Restrain The Cat

Start by securely wrapping your cat in a towel or blanket to restrain them, leaving only the head exposed. This protects you from scratches and allows you to open their mouth. Have someone help hold the wrapped cat if possible.

Step 2: Open The Airway

Tilt your cat’s head back slightly, then open their mouth by gently pressing their upper lip and lower jaw. Use one hand to pull the tongue forward so you can see the throat.

Step 3: Look For The Obstruction

Check if you can see what is blocking their airway, but be careful not to push it in farther. If you can easily remove it with tweezers, do so. If not, move on to step 4.

Step 4: Perform The Heimlich

Position your cat’s back against your chest with their head lifted up. Place a fist under their ribcage and thrust inward and upward 2-3 times quickly. This upward pressure mimics the Heimlich maneuver and can dislodge obstructions.

Step 5: Clear The Airway

After doing the Heimlich, wipe away any fluids from the cat’s mouth with a cloth. Check their tongue color - if still blue, continue Heimlich on the drive to the vet.

What To Do If Your Cat Loses Consciousness

If your cat loses consciousness while choking, take these actions:

• Open the mouth wide and look for obstructions you can remove.
• Position the cat on a slope with their head lower than heart to drain fluids.
• Begin rescue breaths, seal your mouth over their nose and blow gently every 3 seconds.

Get your unconscious cat to emergency veterinary care immediately. Call ahead so they are prepared for your arrival.

Preventing Choking Accidents In Cats

While choking is rare in cats, you can reduce the risk by removing these common hazards from your home:

• String, yarn, ribbons, tinsel
• Rubber bands, hair ties
• Paper clips, tacks, staples
• Plastic bags, packaging
• Bottle caps, buttons
• Feather cat toys, pom poms

Also supervise playtime to ensure your cat isn’t eating pieces of toys. And consider a puzzle feeder if your cat gulps food too quickly. Stopping choking before it happens is the best approach.

Getting Veterinary Care For A Choking Cat

Even if you successfully dislodge an obstruction at home, it’s crucial to get prompt veterinary care. Potential injuries from choking or the Heimlich maneuver need to be evaluated. Key vet care steps include:

• Examining the throat and airway for damage
• Taking X-rays to check for remaining blockages
• Stabilizing breathing with oxygen therapy
• Monitoring for aspiration pneumonia

Follow your vet’s instructions for care and observation at home. Choking is extremely serious, so veterinary assessment is critical after an incident.

What Causes Choking In Cats?

Common causes of choking in cats include:

• Eating inedible objects like string, fabric, plastic
• Trying to swallow too large morsels of food
• Unique anatomical issues like cleft palate
• Diseases like cancer obstructing the esophagus

Kittens are at higher risk as they explore objects with their mouths. But any curious cat can accidentally ingest something problematic.

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Choking Or Coughing

It can be hard to distinguish choking from other respiratory issues like coughing up a hairball. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Choking

• Gagging without bringing up a hairball
• Noisy breathing or high-pitched sounds
• Blue/purple tongue or gums
• Pawing at the mouth

Coughing

• Retching that brings up a hairball
• Intermittent coughing
• Otherwise normal breathing
• Pink tongue and gums

Coughing alone does not indicate choking, but either symptom warrants a veterinary visit. Hairballs can be a sign of underlying gastrointestinal disease.

FAQs About Cat Choking Emergencies

Here are answers to some common questions about cat choking:

What if my cat gags but can still breathe?

Gagging without complete blockage of breathing may indicate a partial obstruction or severe hairball. Call your vet, monitor breathing closely, and go to emergency vet care if breathing worsens.

Should I offer water after clearing a choking obstruction?

No, do not give any food or water after a choking episode until your vet does an exam to ensure your cat’s throat and esophagus are clear and uninjured.

How soon after choking is aspiration pneumonia a risk?

Aspiration pneumonia can develop up to 72 hours after choking if fluids got into the lungs. Monitor for pneumonia symptoms like fever, cough, breathing issues. Call your vet promptly if concerns arise after choking.

Can I prevent hairballs to reduce choking risk?

Yes, reducing hairballs can lower choking risk. Daily brushing, hairball prevention treats, feeding wet food, and hydration help eliminate hairballs before they form.

Conclusion

Here is a quick summary of the steps to take if your cat is choking:

1. Stay calm and call your veterinarian.

2. Restrain your cat in a towel or blanket for safety.

3. Check their airway and see if you can remove the obstruction.

4. Perform Heimlich maneuvers if you cannot clear the obstruction.

5. Rush to emergency veterinary care right away.

6. Monitor breathing closely until the vet exam.

7. Discuss preventative steps with your vet after treatment.

Being prepared if your cat starts choking can greatly improve outcomes. We hope this guide helps you feel empowered to take quick action and get timely veterinary care if ever needed for your cat.