If one of your cat's legs is broken and you can't get to the vet, you'll need to splint the cat's leg yourself. Ask someone to help you, because more thought and energy will give better results, especially if the hairy patient is conscious.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Preparing the Bandage and the Cat
Step 1. Remove all bandages from their packaging
Although it seems simple, this is something important. It is more difficult to remove a cellophane-covered bandage when handling an injured and very angry cat than it is under normal circumstances. Once all the bandages are removed, place them on a table or in a work area near the table, so you can quickly retrieve them in the process of bandaging the cat's paw.
A good guide is to place the equipment in the order in which it will be used. If you are right-handed, you can place these items from left to right such as: cotton swab, light bandage, splint, "Primapore" (adhesive bandage), cotton pads, end bandage, and "Elastoplast" (adhesive wide bandage)
Step 2. Choose a table as a work area
The table should be a comfortable height for working and large enough to accommodate all of the equipment needed on top, as well as the cat's body itself. You should also make sure that the table is strong enough, because if the table wobbles, the cat can become more scared and angry, and this can trigger higher tension.
Step 3. Make cotton sausage
As funny as it sounds, it's a medical term. Cotton sausages are small cotton rolls that will be tucked between the cat's toes during the splinting process. To make a cotton sausage, take a quarter of a cotton ball and roll it between your fingers and thumb until it becomes thinner, and as you might expect, looks like sausage.
Make four cotton sausages so you can keep the cat's nails from sticking to the toes next to them
Step 4. Cut a few strips of self-adhesive plaster
This will make the splinting process easier. Each strip should be long enough to cover the cat's paw and splint twice. Make four strips of tape and tape the ends of each strip on the table so you can quickly pick them up while you're working.
Step 5. Ask someone to help you hold the cat
Having someone to help you hold the cat will make the splinting process much easier and less painful. This will allow your hands to move freely around the splint.
Step 6. Place the cat on the table
Once you've found someone who can help, gently pick up the injured cat. Place the body on the table so that the injured leg is relaxed and lying down. For example, if your left front leg is broken, you should lay it down so it lies on your right side.
Step 7. Take control of the cat
Don't fight back if the cat tries to hit or bite. He was in pain and wouldn't be as friendly as he used to be. Therefore, it is important that you act very carefully so that you and your assistant are not injured. Ask your assistant to hold the cat's nape (the fold of skin on the back of its neck). This is to ensure that he can't bite anyone, as well as keep him from moving around. This is also a painless way to hold the cat (note that the mother cat also bites the nape of the kitten when the kitten is small).
If your cat is very aggressive and unsettled by the scruff of the neck, gently cover her head with a towel. This can soothe the cat and protect your assistant from cat bites
Step 8. Stretch the injured cat's leg
Your assistant should hold the cat's nape with one hand, while gently stretching the broken leg with the other. The direction and how to stretch it will depend on the leg that is broken.
- If the cat's front paw is broken, your assistant should place her index finger behind the cat's elbow and gently push her hand forward toward the cat's head, to stretch the leg.
- If the hind leg is injured, your assistant should place the index finger in front of the femur, as close to the hip joint as possible. With a soft grip, to pull the paws towards the cat's tail, the hind legs will stretch.
Part 2 of 2: Splinting the Cat's Paw
Step 1. Slip the cotton sausage between the cat's fingers
To do this, take a pre-prepared cotton sausage and tuck it in the gap between each toe. Repeat this until all fingers have cotton separating them. The cat's paw will look a little odd, but this will help keep the fingernails from sticking to the other toe when you wrap the paw.
Step 2. Make the first layer of bandage
You should apply the first layer of bandage directly to the cat's paw to create a layer between the paw and the splint, so that the cat feels more comfortable. Use your right hand or dominant hand to wrap the bandage. Start at the tips of the toes, to splint toward the top of his body. Place the unwrapped end of the bandage on your toes and hold the bandage so it doesn't move with your other hand. Wrap the bandage around the leg and pull it tight enough so it doesn't come off without you holding it. Continue wrapping the bandage around the leg, in a circle around the cat's body.
Each layer of bandage should cover half the area of the previous layer
Step 3. Pay attention to the degree of tightness of the bandage
The degree of tightness in the dressing is important. The bandage should be tight, but not too tight. If it's too loose, the bandage will come off the paw, but if it's too tight, the blood circulation to the cat's leg can be disrupted. You have to wrap it so that it feels similar to a sock that fits over a woman's leg or stockings.
Step 4. Tighten the end of the bandage
Once you have adjusted the tightness of the bandage correctly and have reached the top of the cat's paw, cut the bandage with scissors and thread the end of the bandage into the previous loop of the bandage to keep it from moving.
Step 5. Choose the right splint
The ideal splint is one that is strong but light. You can buy a plastic splint, but in a pinch, you can also improvise with a stick or similar sturdy object. The splint should be the same length as the broken bone, plus the length of the cat's leg.
For example, if the cat's forearm is broken, you will need to measure the splint from the elbow to the tip of the cat's toes
Step 6. Secure the splint in position
Hold the splint against the underside of the bandaged leg. Align one end of the splint with the tip of the cat's toes. To secure the splint to the cat's leg, take a pre-cut strip of "Primapore" (bandage tape) and tape one end to the center of the splint, perpendicular to the length of the bone. Wrap the "Primapore" over the bandage and the leg tightly, so that the splint is attached to the leg. Repeat this process and then apply the tape to the end of the splint.
Use the last strip of tape to add tightness to the points as needed
Step 7. Pad the splint and cat's paw
It is important that the cat is as comfortable as possible after going through the pain. To provide cushioning for the splint, take a roll of cotton pad, and as you would with a bandage, start at the cat's toes and wrap it in a circle around its body. Wrap the cotton pad tightly without hurting the cat, as the cat will tear the coil if you wrap the paw too tightly.
Step 8. Tighten the ends of the pads and add another pad
When it reaches the cat's hip (or elbow, depending on which leg is broken), use a pair of scissors to trim the ends of the loop. Start again on your toes and repeat this process, until you have made at least three layers.
Step 9. Add the finishing touches
After adding some padding, you'll need to add another layer of bandage and a final coat of "Elastoplast" or adhesive wide bandage. Wrap the two layers in the same way as the previous layer. Start at the cat's toes and wrap them in a circle upwards until they reach the hips or elbows. Cut the end of the bandage and secure it by inserting it into the previous layer of bandage.
Step 10. Put the cat in a small space
The purpose of the splint is to ensure that the broken bone is not active, so that it can heal. However, even with a splint, if the cat walks or jumps, it can move the broken bone so that the healing process is delayed or even stopped. Therefore, you should put it in a small space or dog kennel.
