Common kitten Injuries.   

Kittens learn through exploring and play. It’s how they learn about their world and develop their skills for hunting and movement. Kittens have to learn what their limits are when climbing and jumping, and can have tumbles, collisions and falls while they are learning. Kitten injuries are a worry for all owners.

Not knowing about the dangers of exploring can also cause your kitten to become injured. Wandering into traffic or meeting not so friendly animals when out can result in traffic accidents or fight wounds. A study of 22000 kittens found 3.9% had a road traffic accident by 12 months of age.  

How can I keep my kitten safe from common injuries?   

Although kitten injuries and accidents will always happen there are some steps you can take to “kitten proof” your house to try and keep them safe. Almost all vets have treated cats for road traffic accidents, falls from heights and burns.   

Heights: restrict any jumping to less than three feet until their bones are stronger. Kittens are often accidentally injured when they are being carried. They can wriggle and jump from your arms. Incorrectly judging the distance of a jump could lead them to land awkwardly, which can cause damage. They may also fall when trying to climb things, such as curtains or up your legs with sharp little nails that make you jump.   

Safely seal off any small areas your kitten could wriggle through and get injured, such as behind cupboards and appliances, and keep doors and windows securely closed until your kitten is ready to go outside. Be especially carefully if using reclining chairs – make sure your kitten is not underneath when you sit the chair up. 

Stay seated or low to the ground when picking up your kitten to reduce the risk of them falling from a height if they wriggle free. Keep play to activities on ground level. Interactions with children should be supervised to ensure both parties are kept safe.  Teach children how to gently handle kittens.  

If possible, keep kittens out of the kitchen when you are cooking, to prevent them jumping onto the hob or knocking over hot food or liquids.   

What kitten injuries are most frequently seen? 

• Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains and pulled muscles, are by far the most common injuries seen in younger cats. Most will heal with time and plenty of rest, although you should always take your kitten to see the vet to determine the severity of the injury and see if they would benefit from pain relief.   

• Burns – kittens may jump on hot surfaces such as radiators or a hob that is hot.  They may also knock over cups of hot drinks or knock you when you are handled heated food and drinks, then get caught in the spill. 

• Broken tail - A kitten’s tail is an extension of the spine and can be broken. The most common reasons for a broken tail are being bitten by another animal or getting their tail trapped.        

• Broken leg – As kittens are still growing, their bones have not yet fully formed, so there is a higher risk of fracture. Common signs that your pet has a broken leg are limping or holding the leg up, not wanting to move and swelling. If you suspect your kitten has broken a leg, contact your vet immediately for advice. Injuries such as breaks or fractures are very painful and can cause lifelong damage if they’re not treated correctly.  

• Concussion - Kitten head injuries are fairly common. Common signs of concussion include vomiting, trouble walking, seizures and loss consciousness. Contact your vet immediately if your cat/kitten has a head injury.  

What will I see if my kitten is injured? 

Limping and crying are obvious signs that your kitten is hurt but they will often show more subtle signs.  Any change in behaviour or temperament should be investigated as it could be a sign of pain. Your kitten may become withdrawn or suddenly aggressive if you try to touch them.  You may see changes to appetite or reluctance to do something they are normally happy to do.   

You may notice a swelling or changes in how they hold parts of their body. Sudden squinting or blinking could be a sign of an eye injury or shaking the head could be due to an ear injury. Pawing at the mouth or not chewing their food properly could be a sign of tooth or mouth injury following a fall. Blood anywhere needs to be racked to the source and then treated as necessary. 

  
What should I do if my kitten is injured?   

If you think your kitten is injured or in pain, call your vet for advice.   

Try to stay calm and talk in a soothing voice. Gently pet your kitten to reassure them, avoiding the injured area. Always watch carefully for their reaction – flinching or aggression may be a response if you touch a painful area.   

If you need to handle your injured kitten, try to avoid touching the injured area. Where possible you can, lift your kitten with one hand under the shoulders and the other supporting the hindquarters and place them into a carrier or box for transport. If you suspect that there are several injuries, try and slide a blanket under the kitten and lift carefully.

Kittens need the opportunity to learn about their environment through play.   They need to learn essential skills for movement through learning how to use their bodies.  It’s impossible to avoid all risk and injuries bit there are steps you can take to reduce risk