First Aid XIII

Cat Burns

There may be a time where a cat is curious about a certain smell or colour in the distance. Curious cats will endeavour to satisfy their curiosity and most importantly their hunger when roaming around outside and inside. It is not unusual for a cat to survey the cooking area in the house and approach the stove. Cats are not entirely temperature aware when wandering around. They will avoid flames but perhaps areas such as electric hobs, kettles and other scolding hot places will be hard for them to recognise. It is in this circumstance where a cat approaches an unprotected area that is filled with hot utensils, stoves and other heated instruments that a burn may occur. Burn type can differ depending on what has happened. From contact with physically hot items, splashing of scorching hot water or even oil burns are possible. This is not a nice experience for any cat and immediate attention is required. A cat may even ingest harmful chemicals or substance that causes internal burns too.

Cats have a natural aid in their bodies that help them recover from burns as the body fluids congregate around the scalded area and forms what we will commonly know as a blister. Cats are no different in this regard and will form blisters when they are burned. An owner should identify the area or areas of injury and avoid touching these sensitive areas altogether. No attempt should be made to burst the formed blisters as the fluid contain within them are helping to avoid infections. The best course of action is to continuously douse the blistered area with iced water to remove as much heat as possible. A cat will be in an excruciating amount of pain at this point and an owner must do all that they can to soothe and relieve the wound as the natural body provides the first layer of natural healing.

Immediate contact with the vet should be made to get treatment advice. Ones cat may have a certain condition that can cause implications and a vet will be able to know this from medical records. Oil burns can also be a little tricky to deal with so be sure to explain to a vet the exact situation to carry out the best form of first aid for the cat.