The CAT tourniquet is an essential piece of equipment for both special operations teams and line units of the U.S. Armed Forces. It has been actively used in Iraq since 2006.

Compact and lightweight, but at the same time reliable and strong, the tourniquet completely stops the flow of arterial or venous blood in an emergency situation.

Its exceptional reliability is ensured through the use of a self-adjusting tensioning system and a jerk-resistant buckle.

CAT Gen 7 Tourniquet Differences

1. New single route buckle for faster application, reduced blood loss, effective slack elimination, fewer twist rod turns and easier training through protocol application standards.

This buckle allows one-handed pulling of the tourniquet strap, making it suitable for the wounded warfighter.

2. Reinforced windlass rod with increased diameter for enhanced strength and aggressive ribbing for improved grip.

3. Double sided clamp for quick fixation of the twist rod and double sided clip for increased strength. It allows you to secure the twist rod in a way that prevents the harness from loosening.

4. Improved tape on the twist rod welded to the windlass for permanent contact. The tape color has been replaced with tactical gray (black tourniquets only) for the purpose of masking the wounded. The tape provides secure protection for the windlass rod and a place to document the time of application.

5. Reinforced stabilizing plate with beveled contact bar.

6. Signature red elliptical tip (Red Tip Technology®) provides visual cues during application.

7. Patented free-moving internal band for true evenly distributed circumferential pressure.

8. Convenient Velcro fastener allows tourniquet application to the arm or thigh regardless of muscle mass volumes.

CAT Tourniquet Gen 7 Features

Awarded as one of the “Top 10 Greatest Inventions” by the U.S. Army.

Official Tourniquet of the U.S. Army.

Used by both conventional and Special Operation forces.

Proven to be 100% effective in occluding blood flow in both upper & lower extremities by the U.S. Army’s Institute of Surgical Research.

True, one-handed application tourniquet.

Quickly controls life-threatening extremity bleeding.

Recommended by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care.

Designed to perform in all weather conditions.

Small and cost-effective.

Protected by U.S. Patent Nos. 7,842,067 and 7,892,253.

NSN: 6515-01-521-7976

CAT Gen 7 Specifications

Open length: 95 cm / 37.5 in

Packaged dimensions: 16.5 x 5 x 3 cm / 6.5 x 2.4 x 1.5 in

Weight: 76 g / 3.04 oz

Shelf life is unlimited

Read more about the NAR Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T) on our blog:

Tourniquet Application Instructions

Alternative way of folding the tourniquet and its subsequent use in case of wounding