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Cat hit by a car or fell from a height: what to do
After a fall, a road accident or a crush injury, how your cat looks is a poor guide to how hurt they are. Internal bleeding and diaphragm tears often show up hours later, which is why a seemingly fine cat still needs checking.
Signs that this is what you are seeing
- Known fall from height, hit by a vehicle, or caught in a door
- Limping, dragging a limb, or a dropped jaw
- Pale gums, fast shallow breathing, cold paws
What to do now
- 1Slide them onto a firm flat surface — a baking tray, a board, a stiff piece of card — without twisting the spine.
- 2Cover with a towel for warmth and to reduce panic.
- 3Go to a clinic even if they seem fine. Internal bleeding and diaphragm tears show up hours later.
Never do this
- Do not offer food or water in case surgery is needed.
- Do not try to splint or straighten a limb.
- Do not let them run off to hide — injured cats bolt.
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.
- Heavy bleedingControl the bleed on the way to the clinic, not instead of it.