Cat Shock Symptoms

Feline shock is a medical condition which can be life-threatening if left untreated. When your cat is suffering from shock, blood flow to the body is minimal, causing a lack of vital nutrients to reach the body. According to Cat World, shock can be caused by a number of things, including poisoning, dehydration, heat stroke and loss of blood. Knowing the symptoms of feline shock will help you determine if medical intervention is necessary.

  1. Pulse Rate Changes

    • According to Pawprints and Purrs, a cat's heart rate is usually 110 to 140 beats per minute. When your cat goes into shock for any reason, his blood pressure usually changes, causing the pulse rate to change, as well. If shock is caused by a loss of blood, for example, his blood pressure will likely decrease causing a decrease in pulse. You can take your cat's pulse by placing him on his side and resting your hand over his heart. Then count the beats that occur in 30 seconds. The resulting number is then multiplied by two to get the current pulse rate.

    Gums and Capillary Refill

    • Capillary refill time is generally slow in a cat suffering from shock, according to Pawprints and Purrs. This means the amount of time it takes the capillaries to fill back up with blood is sluggish. This will often result in a change in gum color. At the beginning of shock, the gums are usually normal colored, but as shock progresses can become pale or even gray in color. To check this, place your cat on her side and use your fingers to lift her lips and show her gums. If you visually see a change in color, you know that shock has likely set in. If they still appear normal, you can test for capillary refill response time by using your fingers to apply pressure to her gums for two seconds. This will cause her gums to pale in color. When you release pressure from the gums, they should return to normal color within two seconds; if they do not, this is a sign she is in shock. Eventually, a cat in shock will experience a paling of all her skin, not just gums.

    Shallow, Rapid Breathing

    • Just as humans can hyperventilate, so can a cat. It is not uncommon for a cat in shock to begin taking shallow, but rapid breathes, according to Pawprints and Purrs, due to fear after a traumatic situation, such as an accident. This can lead to a lack of vital oxygen to your cat's body. Eventually, this breathing can result in your cat collapsing or even passing out. If you observe your cat experiencing signs of hyperventilation, it is best to talk calmly to your cat to try and reassure him. Seek medical attention for your cat, especially if he seems disoriented and unaware of his surroundings.

    Hypothermia

    • A cat in shock will also exhibit signs of hypothermia. Generally, a cat's internal body temperature ranges from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Cat World. A cat in shock will sometimes experience a decrease in body temperature leading to hypothermia. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, drowsiness, decreased body temperature and skin that is cool to the touch. There are two ways you can test to see if your cat's body temperature is low. The first is to use a thermometer to check. If you do not have a thermometer available, use your hands to feel the skin around the groin area. If the skin is excessively cool, it could be a sign of hypothermia.