First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- Fast breathing, open-mouth breathing, or obvious belly effort.
- Pale or white gums.
- Unable to stand, dragging a back leg, or in obvious pain.
- Bleeding from the nose or mouth, or a jaw that looks out of line.
- Brief loss of consciousness after the fall.
Contact your vet today
- Walking after landing, but with an odd gait and unwilling to jump.
- Hiding, refusing food, breathing faster than usual.
- Straining to urinate, or blood in the urine.
Record and observe
- Already under vet care: record energy, breathing and urination, and bring the record to the next visit.
Before you set off
- The height and what it landed on: grass, concrete, a canopy.
- When it happened, and whether the cat lost consciousness.
- The breathing rate and the gum colour (photos help).
- How to move it: support the whole body on a board or in a box, never lift by the belly or a back leg.
- Do not let the cat walk about, do not offer food or water, and do not give painkillers.
- A list of medicines and the time of the last dose.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: the height, the surface, and when.
- Ask: any loss of consciousness, and any behaviour change since.
- Do: a full physical and neurological examination.
- Do: X-rays of the chest, abdomen and pelvis.
- Do: ultrasound for internal bleeding and fluid around the lungs.
- Do: oxygen, pain relief and fluids, with admission for severe cases.
- Do: an oral and jaw exam, and watch for breathing problems that appear later.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- Clinics with CT
- Clinics with inpatient care
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.