How to Perform CPR on a Cat

Follow the ABC’s. If your cat is not breathing and has no heartbeat, start CPR.

• If you can’t convince yourself that your pet is breathing and has a heartbeat within 15 seconds, start chest compressions.

Chest compressions.

• One handed technique: Wrap your hand around the sternum at the level of the heart with your thumb on the up side and the rest of the fingers underneath.
• Two handed technique: Place one hand over the other, with the heel of the hand directly over the heart. Lock the elbows, shoulders should be above the hands. Compress 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the chest. Make sure the chest comes fully back up (recoils) before compressing again.

Perform chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute.

Perform cycles of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths.

• Gently close the cat’s mouth and extend the neck to open the airway. Cover the nose with your mouth and exhale until you see the cat’s chest rise. Give a rescue breath over 1 second. As soon as 2 rescue breaths are delivered, resume compressions.

Briefly check for a heartbeat and spontaneous breathing every 2 minutes.

• If there are two rescuers, switch jobs every 2 minutes. Minimize time with no compressions.

Continue CPR until you reach a veterinary hospital.

• In the absence of CPR, there is little chance of reviving a cat beyond 10 minutes. Good quality CPR can buy you the time you need to get the cat to the vet.