Question
Since it's getting close to Christmas, everyone should be on the watch for 'small' decorations around the house. Pets will try to eat them. In case a pet does, in my case a cat, is choking, what is the proper procedure to help??
Answer
Very good point.....
(just like a baby) you need to put little decorations as well as flowers - (some are poisonous) up high so they can't reach.......if you have a cat........you really need to be selective about what you display.
Good luck,
Stefanie
Answer
The bottom quarter of my Christmas tree usually goes undecorated. I used to decorate it, but I'd always come home to ornaments everywhere, some missing. Now I don't bother.
None of my ornaments or decorations are breakable. The christmas balls are plastic. Nothing on my tree is made of glass. All of my other decorations (like coffee table pieces, etc.) are kept high if they're breakable or dangerous. I really don't have much on my coffee tables.
I think that instead of trying to find out what to do if your cat is choking, perhaps you should eliminate this possibility entirely by only placing larger items within your cat's reach!
Another Christmas thing that is terrible for cats is ribbon or tinsel/garland. For some reason, cats love to eat this stuff. For the most part, it will pass through and you'll just scoop it out of the litter box. But the odd time, it will get wrapped around an intestine and tie it in knots. Without immediate (and expensive) surgery, your cat will die. And it is hard to tell if this has happened... there are no outward signs except loss of appetite and general laziness, acting lathargic. A lot of times people wait a few days after seeing these symptoms (because often cats get "moody" like this and the symptoms go away after a few days) but by that time it's too late. On my tree, I have no tinsel or garland. I use the widest ribbon I can find (the wired craft store stuff... looks really nice and my cat (for some reason) isn't interested in it) instead. And if a present is decorated with lots of twirly ribbons, it doesn't get a place under my tree. A friend of mine lost her cat last Christmas to twirly wrapping ribbon.
Having pets is like having kids... if you're going to leave them in a room unsupervised, it better be pet proof!!! Would you leave a toddler in a room with tiny decorations? I think not! So don't leave your precious kitty that way either.
Melanie
(mommy to 1 cat and 1 dog)
Answer
hereubb/smile.gif
None of my ornaments or decorations are breakable. The christmas balls are plastic. Nothing on my tree is made of glass. All of my other decorations (like coffee table pieces, etc.) are kept high if they're breakable or dangerous. I really don't have much on my coffee tables.
I think that instead of trying to find out what to do if your cat is choking, perhaps you should eliminate this possibility entirely by only placing larger items within your cat's reach!
Another Christmas thing that is terrible for cats is ribbon or tinsel/garland. For some reason, cats love to eat this stuff. For the most part, it will pass through and you'll just scoop it out of the litter box. But the odd time, it will get wrapped around an intestine and tie it in knots. Without immediate (and expensive) surgery, your cat will die. And it is hard to tell if this has happened... there are no outward signs except loss of appetite and general laziness, acting lathargic. A lot of times people wait a few days after seeing these symptoms (because often cats get "moody" like this and the symptoms go away after a few days) but by that time it's too late. On my tree, I have no tinsel or garland. I use the widest ribbon I can find (the wired craft store stuff... looks really nice and my cat (for some reason) isn't interested in it) instead. And if a present is decorated with lots of twirly ribbons, it doesn't get a place under my tree. A friend of mine lost her cat last Christmas to twirly wrapping ribbon.
Having pets is like having kids... if you're going to leave them in a room unsupervised, it better be pet proof!!! Would you leave a toddler in a room with tiny decorations? I think not! So don't leave your precious kitty that way either.
None of my ornaments or decorations are breakable. The christmas balls are plastic. Nothing on my tree is made of glass. All of my other decorations (like coffee table pieces, etc.) are kept high if they're breakable or dangerous. I really don't have much on my coffee tables.
I think that instead of trying to find out what to do if your cat is choking, perhaps you should eliminate this possibility entirely by only placing larger items within your cat's reach!
Another Christmas thing that is terrible for cats is ribbon or tinsel/garland. For some reason, cats love to eat this stuff. For the most part, it will pass through and you'll just scoop it out of the litter box. But the odd time, it will get wrapped around an intestine and tie it in knots. Without immediate (and expensive) surgery, your cat will die. And it is hard to tell if this has happened... there are no outward signs except loss of appetite and general laziness, acting lathargic. A lot of times people wait a few days after seeing these symptoms (because often cats get "moody" like this and the symptoms go away after a few days) but by that time it's too late. On my tree, I have no tinsel or garland. I use the widest ribbon I can find (the wired craft store stuff... looks really nice and my cat (for some reason) isn't interested in it) instead. And if a present is decorated with lots of twirly ribbons, it doesn't get a place under my tree. A friend of mine lost her cat last Christmas to twirly wrapping ribbon.
Having pets is like having kids... if you're going to leave them in a room unsupervised, it better be pet proof!!! Would you leave a toddler in a room with tiny decorations? I think not! So don't leave your precious kitty that way either.
Melanie
(mommy to 1 cat and 1 dog)
Answer
hereubb/smile.gif
Melanie
(mommy to 1 cat and 1 dog)
Answer
S.T.A.R.T. II is a nonprofit, humane organization dedicated to alleviating the plight of thousands of homeless and abandoned cats and dogs.
Warning: Choking is one of the signs of rabies. if a strange cat appears to be choking but has no obvious injury, rabies is a possibility. The same is true of any cat that has not been vaccinated. If you do not know the cat, stay away from it and call the nearest animal control center.
Method I
If the cat is one you know and you believe that an object, such as a bone, might be in its throat and obstructing the cat's breathing, reach in with your fingers or tweezers and try to remove it. if the blockage is further down, lay the cat on its side, place the heel of your hand just behind the last rib, angling slightly upward, and push firmly, but not so firmly as to break the ribs. Four quick thrusts should dislodge the obstruction; if not, try again. If unsuccessful, take the cat to a veterinarian.
Method II
Immediately look inside your cat's mouth for any obvious foreign body. DO NOT poke about in his mouth without looking, or you may push a foreign body back into his throat.
If there is a foreign body in the mouth, attempt to remove it (use the tweezers (dull point) or pencil (eraser end) in your first-aid kit if appropriate). However, if the object appears to be deep in your cat's throat, leave it alone or you may push it further down towards his airway.
If your cat is choking, quickly lift him up by his hindlegs so that his head is dangling down, and slap the side of his rib cage with two fingers of your free hand, in sharp, 'cough-like', jerky movements. You should only move your hands a little, in order to stimulate a sudden rush of air from his lungs: this should help to dislodge any foreign body stuck at the back of the throat. Be sensible about the amount of pressure that you apply, particularly with a kitten. Do not slap too hard or you may break the ribs.
As soon as your cat coughs out the foreign body, settle him on the ground and let him calm down in his own time.
Ensure that your cat cannot leave the house.
Continue to watch over your cat. Be careful not to stimulate him in any way, and try to discourage him from moving about.
Contact your vet to tell your vet what has happened. There is little point in doing so sooner (unless you have someone with you who can make a telephone call), as this will waste precious time: your cat's best chance of survival rests with you.
[This message has been edited by plymouth (edited 12-08-2001).]
