The greatest risks of Cat suffocation: from trinkets to necklaces
The greatest risks of suffocation of the cat, dangerous objects and risky situations for the cat. Let’s see specifically what they are.
Anyone who is lucky enough to live at home with a cat, knows very well what attention to keep towards their cat. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the objects that you leave around the house and also any plants that adorn our apartment. The reason is soon said!
It is well known how strong the cat’s curiosity is and how attracted he is to all dangerous objects and left for distraction within his reach. In this article we will try to identify the greatest risks of suffocation of the cat and how to intervene in order to save the animal.
The greatest risks of cat choking
Choking in the cat is generally caused by a foreign object (such as toys, bone or a furball) that gets stuck in the throat or upper respiratory tract, but can also be caused by objects tight around the neck. The greatest risks of cat choking can be as follows:
small objects or knick-knacks of the house : these are the objects that most attract puppies, their shimmer their format, they are the object of attraction for the animal. Their curiosity pushes them to swallow them during the game and risk suffocation;
plastic bags: plastic bags the cat receives them as a game, but it can become very dangerous. The animal tends to slip inside it and then have difficulty in getting out. This condition gradually deprives him of oxygen until he suffocates;
cleaning products and medicines: these products are generally widely used by us humans and therefore very often at hand. This for those who live with a cat or at least with a pet is the worst of the mistakes. Cleaning products and medicines are toxic to the cat and should always be kept tightly closed and in a place inaccessible to the cat;
windows and balconies in safety: cats are predators by nature and among their passion there is the pursuit of other animals. Very often it happens that this chase can end on the balcony or in front of the windows. These two places are very dangerous for the cat, who feels it is a good balancer but often this is not the case, and finds themselves rushed below. In this case it is useful to install a protection such as putting mesh around the railing or covering the balcony with plexiglass. But you have to rely on a specialized company because if put badly, the protection could be a danger to the animal, which by sticking its head in some open gap, could suffocate. Attention should also be paid to windows with folding doors: the cat may try to slip into them and get stuck;
appliances and stoves: these objects are a fatal attraction for the cat, especially large ones such as ovens or washing machines. These appliances in the eyes of the cat appear as a perfect hiding place a shelter that can turn out to be a death trap. In fact, very often it happens not to notice that the animal is inside them. Another danger could be the stove and electric plates of the kitchen, as the cat attracted by the heat they emanate is tempted to approach or jump on and get burned. A solution is to put on it pots full of water that can speed up the cooling of the stove. Frequently, in winter, the same thing happens to cats that hide in the hoods of cars to warm up with the heat of the engine. For puppies, on the other hand, a strong attraction to the electrical cables is triggered, in fact their favorite game is to gnaw them. In order to avoid unpleasant accidents it is better to cover them with the appropriate plasticized coatings.
candles: the candles that make so much scene and perfume in the house should never be left lit, because the cat could burn or even worse overturn it and unknowingly start a fire in the house. but above all never left unattended because the cat could nibble and suffocate with wax;
collars: the collars for the cat are so useful but also so dangerous, in fact it can happen that cats get entangled for the collar even sticking their paws inside to scratch can get stuck. Unfortunately, both cases are among the greatest risks of suffocation of the cat. This is why it is essential to buy life-saving collars, such as those with breakage, that is, equipped with a safety closure that open in times of difficulty and suffocation of the animal.
How to intervene to save the cat from suffocation
First of all, it is necessary to know how to identify the symptoms of a suffocation for example through the following signals: difficulty in breathing, agitation, tendency to rub the face on the ground, retching and increased salivation.
The suffocation in the cat is certainly a veterinary emergency, it is possible to intervene in the house as first aid, trying to calm the cat but with extreme caution, as panicked and lack of oxygen could be aggressive.
If what suffocates the animal is an external strap, it will be enough to cut it carefully, while if it is suffocated by an object ingested and stopped at the throat it will be necessary to introduce tweezers and try to pull out the object or bone that is. If this does not work, you will have to apply the Heimlich maneuver to the cat and go to the vet immediately to the veterinarian.
The doctor to reduce the difficulties and make it easier to examine the mouth and throat, and then remove any object, will sit the animal. After that he will perform an emergency tracheotomy, that is, he will insert a breathing tube from the neck directly into the trachea, bypassing the obstruction allowing the animal to breathe until the obstruction is removed.
