If your cat has broken one of her legs and you can't get in contact with a doctor, you may need to splint it yourself.If your furry patient is conscious, ask someone to help you, as two heads and four hands are better than two.
Step 1: The bandages should be removed from their packaging.
This may seem straightforward, but it's an important step.It's difficult to open the bandages when you hold down an angry cat.You can grab them when you wrap your kitty's leg if you put them out on the table or at a work station.It's a good idea to place your materials in chronological order.The materials will be laid out from left to right if you are right-handed.
Step 2: Pick a table to work on.
The table needs to be large enough to hold all of the materials listed above, as well as the cat itself.If the table wobbles or tips at all, your cat may become even more scared and angry, leading to a higher-tension situation.
Step 3: You can make cotton wool sausages.
This is a medical term.Cotton wool sausages are small rolls of wool that you can stick between your cat's toes.To make a sausage, tear off a quarter of the cotton wool ball and place it between your fingers and thumb.If you make four of these, your cat won't be able to dig into their neighbors' toes.
Step 4: The strips of tape are pre-cut.
It will be a lot easier if you do this.Each strip should be long enough that it can wrap twice around your kitty's leg.Stick the ends of the strips on to the table so that you can grab them when you need them.
Step 5: Someone will help you hold the cat.
It will be easier and less painful to have someone help hold your cat down.The person holding the cat will have both hands free to wrap the splint.
Step 6: There is a table with a cat on it.
Pick up your injured cat once you have someone to help you.She needs to be on the table with her injured leg facing up.If your cat broke her left leg, you should lie her down on her right side.
Step 7: Take care of your cat.
If your cat tries to bite you, don't be offended.She will not be her normal affectionate self as she is in a lot of pain.Extra precautions need to be taken to make sure that you and your assistant don't get hurt.The scruff is the folds of skin on the back of the cat's neck.She will not be able to move around if she bites anyone.When she was a kitten, her mother held her in a way that was painless.Put a towel over your cat's head if she is really aggressive and doesn't calm down.It is possible to soothe the cat and protect your assistant from bites.
Step 8: Make sure your cat's injured leg is extended.
Your assistant should hold your cat's scruff with one hand and gently extend the broken leg with the other.If one of the legs is broken, how she does this will be different.If the foreleg is broken, the assistant should place her forefinger behind the elbow and push the hand forward towards the cat's head.As close to the hip joint as possible, the assistant should hook her forefinger in front of the thigh bone if the back leg is injured.Pulling towards the cat's tail will extend the hind leg.
Step 9: The wool sausages should be between your cat's toes.
Pick up a pre-prepared cotton wool sausage and slide it between a toe and its neighbor.All the toes need cotton wool to separate them.Your cat's foot will look crazy, but you can keep the claw on one toe from getting stuck when you wrap her leg.
Step 10: The first layer of bandage should be created.
If you apply the first layer of bandage directly to your cat's leg, you can make her more comfortable.Wrap the bandage with your dominant hand.Start at the tip of the toes.Place the free end of the bandage over your cat's toes and hold it in place with your other hand.Pull the bandage tight around the paw and it will stay in place without you holding it.Continue to wind the bandage around the leg as it spirals towards the body.The previous layer should be half a bandage width.
Step 11: The bandage should be tight in mind.
The tension on the dressing is important.The dressing needs to be loose.The circulation to the limb could be impaired if it is too loose.You want a grip similar to that of a woman's stocking or a firm sock on your leg.
Step 12: The end of the bandage should be secured.
Once you've adjusted the tightness correctly and have reached the top of your kitty's leg, cut the bandage with some scissors and tuck the end into a previous turn of it so that it stays in place.
Step 13: Pick out the right hand.
The ideal splint is light and rigid.In an emergency, you can use wooden dowels, or similar rigid objects.The paw should be the same length as the broken bone.If your cat's forearm is broken, you need to measure the splint from the elbow to the tip of the toes.
Step 14: Make sure the splint is in place.
The bandaged limb should be held against the splint.Put the end of your cat's toes on the line.If you want to secure the splint to your cat's leg, take a piece of pre-cut Primapore and stick one end to the middle.Apply firm tension to the bandage and around the limb so that the splint can be attached.Place tape at either end of the splint after this process.Extra security can be added by using the final piece of tape.
Step 15: Your cat has a broken leg.
It is important that your cat is as comfortable as possible.Pick up a roll of wadding and, just as you did with the bandage, start at the cat's toes and work your way up towards the body.If you wrap your cat's leg too tightly, the cotton wadding will tear apart, so you can pull firmly on it.
Step 16: Add another layer after securing the end of the wadding.
Use the scissors to cut the end of the roll free when you reach your cat's hip or elbow.Continue this process until you have built up at least three layers of padding.
Step 17: Add some finishing touches.
After you've added the padding, you should add another layer of bandage and a final layer.Start at your cat's toes and spiral upwards until you reach her hip or elbow.Tuck the end of the bandage into the previous layer.
Step 18: Put your cat in a small area.
The point of the splint is to keep the broken bone immobile so that it can heal.When your cat walks or jumps, she may move the broken bone and delay or even stop the healing process.You should keep her in a small room because of this.