Emergency care of the cat with multi‐trauma

FELINE ‘multi‐trauma’ is an increasingly common presentation in small animal practice, as cats are now more popular pets than dogs and most are allowed some access to the outdoors. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the fourth most common cause of death in cats, after old age, cancer and renal failure, and there is evidence to show that young, male, non‐pedigree cats are most commonly involved. Due to their small body size, cats often present with trauma to multiple body systems, but most survive if found in time and treated appropriately, as injuries are often relatively minor. Other traumatic injuries, such as bites or ‘high‐rise’ injuries, are less common, but can occasionally prove equally challenging. This article presents a systematic approach to assessing the traumatised cat and prioritising treatment.