Feline First Aid Trivia Quiz

Answer: Check for normal vital signs.

The normal vital signs for a cat are: Temperature, 100.4 to 102.5 degrees. Pulse, 160 to 240 per minute. Respirations, 20 to 30 per minute. If your cat's vital signs are below or above the norm, take it to the veterinarian immediately. (Cornell Book of Cats)

Answer: To promote recovery.

There are four objectives to feline first aid. The first one is: to preserve life. The second one is: to alleviate suffering. The third one is: to promote recovery. The fourth and last one is: to prevent aggravation of the injury or illness until veterinary assistance can be obtained. (Cornell Book of Cats)

Answer: Oily fish

The inflammation is caused by unsaturated fats, and is seen in cats fed a diet of tuna, sardines and mackerel, or other oily fishes. The cat needs a balanced diet, including anti-oxidants, to guard against this disease.

Answer: Swelling of the mucous membranes in the mouth.

There are three signs that indicate your cat is in respiratory distress. The first one is: the gums and lining of the eyelids may be pale or blue in color (cyanotic), indicating poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood. The second one is: labored respiration may occur, which includes gasping, open-mouthed breathing, shallow breathing, slow breathing.

The third one is: the cat may be unconscious, with dilated pupils. A cat can go into sudden respiratory distress from choking. (Cornell Book of Cats)

Answer: Take your cat outside in the open air, regardless of the weather.

If your cat has inhaled toxic or deadly fumes, the first thing you should do is take your cat outside, regardless of the weather, but never by itself. Then you should take your cat immediately to the veterinarian so the vet can see if oxygen is required.

Answer: False

If your cat has suffered a burn, no matter if it's superficial or not, do not put butter or any other oil based ointment on the affected area. This will only intensify the burning sensation. The correct procedure is apply ice packs or immersing the affected area in cold water. Once this is done, take your cat to the veterinarian to make sure the burn will not become infected.

Answer: Hold your cat upside down by the hind legs to get rid of most of the water.

Although drowning in cats is rare, when cats inhale water the first thing you should do is hold your cat upside down by the hind legs to get rid of most of the water in the cat's lungs. Have someone alert the veterinarian that you are on your way there, and begin CPR and don't stop until you reach the veterinarian. Remember, animal CPR is different than human CPR. If you don't know how to do it, ask your veterinarian to show you the proper procedure, it could save your cat's life.

Answer: False

Cats that fall victim to High Rise Syndrome must be taken to the veterinarian immediately. HRS victims can suffer from epistaxis, a split in the hard palate, and pneumothorax. When cats fall from high buildings, their legs break the fall, but their lower jaw impacts on the upper jaw.

When this happens, the hard palate is split, which results in bleeding from the nose. The chest also hits the ground, forcing free air out of the lungs and into the chest, resulting in labored breathing. It is well known that cats that fall a greater distance will survive the fall, but if a cat falls only a couple of stories, the outcome is more than likely death.

The reason for this is the cat's righting mechanism. When the cat falls from a greater height, it has the chance to right itself and relax.

This can't be done if a cat falls a few stories, because the cat hasn't had a chance to right itself and relax. The highest documented fall from a building is 100 stories. If you don't take your cat to the vet immediately after it falls victim to HRS, the medical problems mentioned above can be overlooked. (Cornell Book of Cats, Cats: Embracing The Tiger (Documentary))

Answer: Immerse the cat in warm water.

When a cat has frostbite, severe or otherwise, the first thing you should do is immerse the cat in warm water. The water should be warm or lukewarm, not hot. Immersing the cat in warm water will slowly thaw out the frozen areas, and bring your cat's body temperature back to normal. You shouldn't use excessive heat or rub the frozen areas.

This will result in further damage and loss of tissue. Take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. It may take five to ten days before new tissue is seen replacing the dead tissue. If you see that healing is not evident, take your cat back to the veterinarian because gangrene may be the cause of the tissue not healing properly.

Answer: Immerse the cat in cool water.

When a cat is suffering from a mild case of heat stroke, the first thing you should do is immerse the cat in cool water. This allows the body temperature to be reduced to normal. You can also wrap the cat in a cool, wet towel to help reduce the temperature. If, after doing this, your cat is still showing signs of weakness of overheating, take your cat to the veterinarian immediately. Your cat may be suffering more severely from the heat stroke and may require oxygen to prevent brain damage, fluid to correct dehydration, and various treatments to reduce its temperature below 103 degrees.