How To Give Cats CPR: Step by Step

It’s absolutely terrifying to imagine your cat in a life-or-death emergency. But knowing what to do in those situations could very well save their life.

As a responsible cat parent, you want to be prepared. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to give a cat CPR and give you the confidence to spring into action when your cat needs you the most. We worked with a veterinarian to create this resource, and you should talk to your own veterinarian if you have any questions or need more advice.

Keep in mind that CPR for cats is a life-saving, last-resort measure. Don’t attempt to perform this procedure unless it’s absolutely necessary and you’re confident you can perform it safely. CPR courses for pet owners are also available through the RECOVER initiative or the American Red Cross.

CPR for cats: The basics

When does your cat need CPR? The warning signals are: unresponsive, no breathing, or no heartbeat. If your cat is showing any of these signs, they need CPR immediately.   

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an emergency resuscitation technique that tries to restore breathing and circulation when the heart or lungs have stopped working, also known as cardiopulmonary arrest. 

Before you begin, make sure you remember the ABCs: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. 

A: Make sure your cat’s airway is clear. See if the nose and mouth are free of fluids or objects, and extend the tongue to check the back of the throat. If your cat is awake, do not put your hand in their mouth as this poses a serious bite risk. 

B: Check if your cat is breathing. Look for chest movement, listen for breathing sounds near their nose, and feel for air on your hand.

C: Check for a pulse or heartbeat. The easiest way to do this is to feel for a pulse on the inside of the thigh, near the groin.

Remember: If your cat is choking, you may need to perform the Heimlich maneuver, which is not the same as CPR. You can use the Heimlich to try to dislodge a foreign object that’s obstructing your cat’s airway. (This is done by placing one hand below your cat’s rib cage while pressing upward.) 

Knowing these basics is the first step in being prepared for a cat health emergency. Next up: How to perform CPR on cats, step by step.

CPR for cats: Step-by-step instructions

Knowing when and how to give cats CPR can save your pet’s life, but you need to act quickly and decisively. Take a deep breath and follow these steps: 

1. Lay your cat down on their side

Lay your cat on either of their sides on a firm flat surface. If you can, move your cat to a safe environment away from potential hazards or distractions.

2. Wrap your dominant hand around their chest

Next, place the heel of your dominant hand on the widest point of your cat’s chest. 

Then, place your non-dominant hand against your cat’s spine to support and keep them stable. If you’re doing CPR on a small cat or kitten, use 2 fingers instead of a full palm to prevent using excessive force during compressions.

3. Start chest compressions

Once you’re positioned, compress the chest with your dominant hand at a rate of 100-120 compressions (about two compressions per second) — a common trick is to follow the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the BeeGees. 

With cat CPR, one-handed compressions are typically safer than using two hands because of their smaller chest size.

Press down on the chest about one-third to one-half of its width with each compression. But be careful about applying too much force because it can cause injuries like fractured ribs, lung contusions, or damage to internal organs.

4. Give rescue breaths

After every 30 chest compressions, you need to give two mouth-to-nose rescue breaths, aiming for approximately 10 breaths per minute. Close your cat’s mouth and extend their neck slightly.

Cover their nose with your mouth and gently exhale until you see their chest rise. Make sure you don’t give forceful breaths, which can damage the lungs. Rescue breaths should be quick as you never want to pause chest compressions for more than a few seconds during CPR.

Although mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is no longer recommended in human CPR, so far veterinary professionals and the American Red Cross have deemed rescue breathing necessary for pets. Only perform rescue breaths if there is no risk to the rescuer, such as from infectious disease or narcotics residue.

5. Continue CPR cycles

Continue the cycles of 30 compressions and two breaths. Every two minutes, reassess your cat for breathing and a heartbeat. If possible, switch people performing CPR to avoid getting tired.

If your cat starts breathing on their own, you can stop CPR but you must seek immediate veterinary care.

6. Head to the emergency vet

Even if you successfully resuscitate your cat, you need to get them to a veterinarian immediately. 

There may be underlying issues or complications that need professional veterinary treatment. Or they may have sustained injuries during the chest compressions. 

If your cat is still unresponsive, don’t give up right away! Continue performing CPR even on the car ride until you reach a veterinary hospital. However, based on human CPR guidelines, If you’ve been performing CPR for at least 20 minutes without any signs of life, or if you are physically exhausted and unable to continue effectively, it may be appropriate to stop.

Seeing CPR in action can also be helpful, so watch this YouTube video from Dr. Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, a veterinarian and pet media expert who also shares content on Facebook and Twitter (or X, if you prefer the new name).

Best practices for giving cat CPR

Performing CPR on catscan be physically and emotionally draining — it’s okay and normal to feel upset. Focus on the task at hand, and remember you’re doing everything you can to help.

Stay calm and act fast

It’s a stressful situation and hard not to spiral — but that’s precisely why you need to stay calm and level-headed. Panicking will affect your ability to think clearly and perform the steps correctly.

“If your pet is non-responsive and requires life-saving CPR, this is not the time for emotions,” Dr. Sarah J. Wooten, DVM, CVJ, said to Pumpkin. “Do you what you need to steady yourself, and then focus on what needs to happen.”

Take a deep breath, assess the situation, and act quickly — you’ve got this.

Tag-team CPR (if possible)

Performing CPR takes a toll on you. It takes a lot of energy to keep those compressions going strong. If another person is available and knows how to give CPR for cats, switch roles every two minutes to ensure compressions and breaths are as effective as possible. 

The best approach is usually one person on compressions and the other on breaths, then switch. Or, one person can handle both, and then swap with the other.

Don’t give up too early

It can feel utterly devastating and hopeless after several minutes of effort with no success, but every minute counts. 

Sometimes, it may take several rounds of CPR for your cat to respond. Even if they seem unresponsive initially, their body might still be fighting, and you may be their last hope. 
While it can be difficult, try to continue CPR until one of the following happens:

• Your cat starts breathing normally and has a heartbeat
• You arrive at the vet and are able to get veterinary care for your cat.

Take your cat to emergency care

CPR is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Instead, think of it as a last-resort technique to buy time until you get your cat to a veterinarian. Your cat will need immediate veterinary care. 

Even if they’ve regained consciousness, they may still be suffering from the underlying condition that caused their situation. They may also have sustained internal injuries from CPR that need medication or surgery right away. Getting your cat to the vet quickly significantly increases the chances of a full recovery. We know that emergency vet costs are the last thing you want to think about when your cat’s life is at risk. With a Pumpkin Cat Insurance plan, you can stay focused on your kitty’s health during emergencies.

Is there training available for animal CPR or first aid?

Absolutely! In fact, we recommend it for all pet parents. 

Many organizations offer training in animal CPR and first aid. There are also courses that teach you how to recognize pet emergencies, apply first aid for common injuries, and transport injured pets safely. 

Reputable organizations like the American Red Cross and the RECOVER Initiative offer certified in-person and online pet CPR courses. You can also reach out to your local animal shelter and humane society to inquire about public classes. Some vet clinics also host or sponsor pet first aid and CPR training.

Getting yourself prepared and knowledgeable for pet emergencies is one of the best ways you can protect your best friend in a crisis. In emergency pet situations, there’s no time to waste. Being equipped with knowledge really can be the difference between life and death.

Cat CPR FAQs

---

---