A company which manufactures a non-pharmaceutical, anti-inflammatory device which works as an electromagnetic treatment for cats has listed the four most common injuries from which a cat may suffer. I don’t know how reliable the list is. However, it is useful to hear what they say. It is useful because it may help people to think of ways of protecting their cat from these injuries. In other words if people know the most common injuries they can take proactive action to prevent the injuries happening.
The number one injury for a domestic cat according to this company, Assisi Animal Health, is torn claws. What they say is that if the nail is unclipped it can catch easily on many surfaces which causes the nail to break. This can be painful. They say that the treatment is to stop the bleeding and to bandage it up while keeping it clean to allow the wound to heal naturally. In my opinion, this sort of injury can occur even if the claw has been clipped or is worn down naturally.
The second most common injury is insect bites. This probably applies to America as the manufacturer concerned is based in the USA. The likelihood of an insect bite occurring must depend upon where the cat lives and the climate of that place. Nonetheless insect bites are the second most common injury. They are not life-threatening. They can cause discomfort. The cat should be taken to a veterinarian for treatment and to ensure that any allergic reaction is dealt with.
Third most common injury is puncture wounds. These commonly occur because of fights between tomcats. They can cause abscesses around the head and on the ears et cetera. A veterinarian should be involved in treatment. She will probably clean the wound and administer antibiotics. The owner will be asked to administer further antibiotics during a set course of treatment.
The fourth most common injury suffered by domestic cats is forelimb damage. This injury would commonly occur when a cat jumps down from a height onto an uneven surface which will twist the paw, or break a bone in the paw or fore leg et cetera. Alternatively, the damage may be caused by a road accident. It is easy to tell that this has happened. Your cat will limp and show signs of being in discomfort and in pain.
Assisi have listed these injuries because their device helps to reduce inflammation so what they’re doing is marking their device but that’s fine provided we have some useful information.
I believe that it is helpful to know this sort of information because we should be tuned into the possibility of our cat suffering injury for the reasons stated above.
I had cat (Buddy) who (I heard behind me) followed me up an aluminum ladder to our roof. I heard the rattling of the ladder and one “Meow”. I rushed back and what I saw absolutely astonished and shocked me. Buddy was hanging from the top of the ladder by one rear toe! Just hanging there looking at the ground, then at me… I flew into action and quickly grabbed him forward of the shoulders to hold his weight up (talking to him to keep him calm, as if he needed it), as I extricated that lone toe claw from where it was caught. Had he panicked and thrashed, I think he would have lost it, but he did not suffer the slightest injury. I mean I checked – he was fine, but I wasn’t. Yes, from that day on I clipped any long nail from any of my cats… you never know what kind of mischief they might happen into. I have to say he was quite a character – he simply trusted me to get him out of that weird predicament. Amazing.
I trim Mitzy’s nails for two reasons: 1) so she doesn’t dig into my flesh when kneading on my arm. Ouch!
2) As a polydactal, she has more claws than the average cat, and they get hung up on a blanket or fabric. Also, they seem more likely to curve under, and into the pad. That happened with Mitzy’s mom, and she had to have surgery.
It’s never a pleasant task for either of us, but we’re both patient, and it doesn’t have to get done in one sitting. I just trim the sharp tips with regular nail clippers. It’s easier than using pet nail trimmers. And they’re smaller, so she doesn’t see them coming!
She just recovered from an insect bite in the ear. I didn’t take her to the vet, but used Neosporin, and Cortisone ointment for the itching.