Call a vet now
How to stop a cat's bleeding on the way to the vet
Controlling a bleed buys you time; it does not replace the clinic. The aim is to slow the blood loss while you are already moving, and to avoid the improvised tourniquets that cause more damage than the wound.
Signs that this is what you are seeing
- Blood soaking through a pad within a minute
- Spurting blood
- Bleeding that has not slowed after five minutes of pressure
What to do now
- 1Press firmly with a clean cloth or gauze and hold — count a full five minutes without lifting to peek.
- 2If it soaks through, add another layer on top rather than removing the first.
- 3Keep the wound above heart level if it is on a limb and this does not cause pain.
Never do this
- Do not use a tourniquet.
- Do not apply antiseptic meant for humans, especially anything containing tea tree oil.
- Do not remove an impaled object — pad around it and go.
Find a vet clinic near you
Open the Felper emergency toolkit to search for nearby clinics and check their opening-hours information before you travel.
Other cat emergencies
- Straining in the litter boxA male cat that cannot pass urine is a life-threatening emergency within hours.
- Ate or licked something toxicLilies, antifreeze, paracetamol and flea products made for dogs are all lethal to cats.
- Trouble breathingCats almost never pant. Open-mouth breathing is an emergency until proven otherwise.
- Fall, road accident or crush injuryCats hide internal injuries well — a cat that walks away can still be bleeding internally.