Kittens and young cats are naturally inquisitive and full of energy. As kittens explore, play and fight with each other, they’re learning about the world around them. Kittens can be more prone to injury than adult cats as their bones are still developing, and they are learning what’s safe and what isn’t. 

Even with lots of precautions and a really kitten-proof home, accidents can still happen. So here's your guide to common kitten accidents and the action you should take if something does happen to your little kitty.

Kitten Fall Injuries

Kittens can’t always accurately gauge heights and distances. They don’t tend to think before they leap! Cats are naturally agile and do have an innate ability to fall on their feet. But kittens can still injure themselves falling from a height, particularly if they land awkwardly or hit something on the way down.

You may wonder how far a kitten can fall without injury? Unfortunately, it’s impossible to accurately say how far a kitten can fall without hurting themselves. This depends on the age of the kitten, it’s general health, the way it falls (relaxed or being chased/scared) and the type of surface it lands on.

Kitten injuries from a fall tend to include damaged claws – as they may try to stop themselves falling and scrape their claws/pads on the way down. Broken bones and sprains can also occur. These types of injury are usually quite obvious but internal injuries are also possible and these may be harder to spot. 

Hard falls can cause internal bruising or bleeding and can even rupture muscles, the diaphragm or internal organs. If your kitten has a nasty fall, it’s always best to speak to your vet for advice.

Leg Injuries and Broken Bones in Kittens

Kitten leg injuries are all too common. Kittens may break bones after falls, being accidentally trodden on or sat on, from objects falling on them and many more scenarios. Kitten paw injuries can happen if they accidentally touch or walk on hot surfaces, or through chemicals.

Paws are also often injured as kittens scrabble to stop themselves from falling, and sprains and strains can happen when kittens run too fast, turn too fast or play too enthusiastically. Some leg injuries are obvious, as your kitten may be unable to walk or be obviously limping, but sometimes injuries aren’t so obvious.

If you notice your kitten is a bit quieter than usual or is excessively licking at a certain area, then this could be a sign they have an injury. Sprains and strains often just need rest and veterinary pain killers. You may need to restrict your kitten to a small area until their sprain or bruise has healed.

Kitten broken legs will usually require surgery to repair. Your vet will advise you what procedure will be needed.

Kittens Head and Neck Injuries

Head and neck injuries can be serious. Your kitten’s skull is still developing and is more susceptible to damage than that of an adult cat. The skull protects the brain and so any damage to the skull can leave the brain vulnerable to injury or infection.

Your kitten’s neck is delicate and easily damaged. It’s especially important that kittens don’t play with larger aggressive cats or with dogs as they will be at real risk of head and neck injuries. This is especially true if their head is grabbed in another animal’s jaws. Heads and necks can also be injured by getting trapped in doors or tangled in window cords or electrical cables.

Head injury in kitten symptoms can include lethargy, vomiting, reduced appetite, loss of balance, neurological signs, seizures. There may or may not be obvious signs of injury like swelling, wounds, differences between the two eyes, etc.

Kitten Poisoning

Kittens tend to explore the world with their mouths, and this can mean kittens are at risk of poisoning. Most cats and kittens will avoid bitter or poisonous tastes, but if they get a chemical on their coat, they’re likely going to lick it off, even if it tastes unpleasant. 

Kittens will try things to see what they taste like and in some cases even just swallowing a tiny amount of a substance can cause life threatening symptoms. Some chemicals actually taste really nice to cats and kittens but are incredibly harmful to them.

For example, cats and kittens love the taste of anti-freeze, but this can kill them! A poisoned kitten will usually be lethargic and very unhappy. They may be quieter than usual and may be off their food. Sometimes their symptoms may include vomiting or diarrhoea and in extreme cases they may collapse or have a seizure.

Always call your veterinary practice straight away if you think that your kitten may have eaten something they shouldn’t have. The quicker you get a vet diagnosis; the sooner treatment can be started.

Kitten Eye Injuries

Kitten eye injuries and eye problems are pretty common. If kittens live with other cats, eye injuries are often a result of kittens playing or fighting. Scratches to the eyes can vary from mild to serious.

Common symptoms to look out for are redness of the eye, watery eye, discharge from the eye, holding the eye closed or partially closed, cloudiness of the eye or rubbing at the face. Always contact your vet for advice. Eye injuries can be very serious and will need veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Foreign Object Ingestion

Kittens will eat the strangest things! If they eat something they shouldn’t it’s known as “foreign body ingestion”. Some objects may cause an intestinal blockage in kittens and these cases may need surgery.

Common symptoms of foreign object ingestion include lethargy, loss of appetite, tummy pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Your vet will need to examine your kitten and may need to perform some tests to work out what the foreign object is.

They’ll also need to decide whether the object will work its way through their digestive system with a bland diet for a few days or whether surgery is needed.

Insect Stings in Kittens

Insect bites and stings are common for cats, and will usually cause temporary discomfort before settling down. However, if your kitten is stung on the face or neck and the swelling is interfering with breathing or if your kitten suffers multiple stings or seems very distressed, call your vet immediately.

Your kitten may also have an allergic reaction, symptoms of which could be struggling to breathe. Try and get an emergency appointment with your vet because your kitten will need veterinary care.

Kitten Road Traffic Accidents

If your kitten is hit by a car you need to assume they are seriously injured, even if they seem OK. Internal injuries may not be immediately obvious but can cause difficulty breathing or massive blood loss very quickly.

Soft tissue injuries include bruising, ruptured diaphragm, collapsed lung, ruptured organs and more. Road traffic accidents are unfortunately very common in cats and can result in terrible injuries and death.

Any kitten involved in a traffic accident should be immediately taken to your vet to be checked over.

Everypaw Insurance for Kittens

Kittens are lots of fun, but they can be a bit accident prone. All too often they will need to see your vet for diagnostic tests and treatment. This can be expensive, so pet insurance can be a good idea!

Covered by our Cat Insurance, Everypaw's Kitten Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your kitty will be well looked after.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.