We found him in the morning and his coat looks very clean like he's been taken care of and he has been neutered. He is very, very friendly and won't leave our porch. He has a spot of blood by his nose and mouth and a gash under his eye. We have applied Neosporin to he cuts but then we discovered that there is something wrong with his anus. We have had cats before (between us my husband and I have had 7) and neither of us has ever seen this. It's very large, very red and doesn't look clean despite the fact that the cat is constantly licking himself.
We want to limit our contact with him but he stays right outside the back door. With an infant in the house I'm afraid of the cat spreading parasites. I'm planning to call animal control in the morning, but any ideas what could be going on with him?
I'm guessing he was in a fight.
Also, we have not had any cats in the house for 2 years.
2006-08-30 18:56:14 · 15 answers · asked by mamabunny 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
It's so wonderful that you are kind and caring to this cat. I don't think his problem is that of parasites or a fight/injury. I really think the cat has a ruptured anal gland. I've had two cats who have had these over the past two years. It's uncommon in cats, usually it is dogs with anal gland problems, but cats can get them also. It might resolve itself on it's own but I'm sure the cat would be more comfortable and heal faster if it had a round of anitbiotics. In the mean time, make sure he has lots of fresh, clean water (and cat food if possible).
PLEASE do not just call the pound to pick up this animal. If you feel you can't keep him on your porch until his owners are found, please call a local animal rescue group or a no-kill shelter. The humane society may be an option but sometimes they will euthanize an animal - you will just have to ask them. But it's almost certain that your local animal contol shelter will put him to sleep within a short period. He sounds like a great cat & I'd hate for that to happen.
Also, you could check petfinder.com or craigslist.com to see if anybody has reported him lost. If you turn him over to a rescue group, you probably want to call the pound & tell them so they can tell the owners if they call looking for him.
Here are a few links about ruptured cat anal glands:
http://cats.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/analglands.htm
http://cats.about.com/b/a/231826.htm
Good luck!
2006-08-30 20:54:47 · answer #1 · answered by Girl named Sue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you call the Humane Society, look in the paper and see if someone put a lost add in there. Unless of course you plan on keeping him and then you should take it to the vet. I bet it got hit by a car or someone beat it. This cat is lost, sometimes when people move they let their cats out and the cat trys to make it back to their old house getting lost in between. Don't call the animal control, call the Humane society and then put a found add in the paper letting them know where their cat is, some stores let you put up a poster and i would do that. Ask the neighborhood kids if they know who this cat belongs to. It could have gotten out while kids were leaving for school as well. Some type of trama happened to this cat. It is in trouble. I know it makes you feel like crap, but you really don't have any choice, can't let the sweet thing sufffer. P.S. here found adds are free, hope they are there for you too. Good Luck to you and that poor kitty. I failed to mention, that some cities have a no kill adoption for the homeless, Petco deals with these people maybe another local pet shop, I would call and see, maybe there is help for this cat they always have a vet examine.
2006-08-30 21:57:02 · answer #2 · answered by Dolly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree that animal control is the best choice. Most likely, they will euthanize him within a couple days if he does not have an owner than has already been in contact with them. Most likely, your infant will be fine with a cat sitting outside on your porch. Your infant is just as likely to pick up parasites, then, from the racoons that most likely go into your garage at night, various other animals carrying disease, and field mice. Since your child is no longer in the womb, the threat of taxoplasmosis is not applicable as it would be if you were pregant and her fetus was developing. Plus, you're not scooping his feces like you would a housecat.
If you want this poor cat to be put down, then call animal control and have them cart him away.
If you want to help him out, just keep him on your porch, and provide him with a little food and water-- it's not like he's coming into the house and running his diseases all over your furniture, and limit how much you are touching him if you are concerned as well. Then call a no-kill shelter, and talk to them about your situation. You may also call animal control just to find out if his owners were looking for him, but not to actually take him away. Animal control has little time to deal with taking him in, especially bringing him back up to health. The choice is yours.. but do you really think that an outdoor cat is going to kill your infant child inside the house?
2006-08-30 20:16:35 · answer #3 · answered by ChloeCat 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's lucky he found someone willing to help :-)
It sounds like he's an indoor cat who got out. When our 8 yr. old cat left the house accidentally, he got very frightened and ran across the street and ended up at a house a few streets over. Once he stopped running, he just stayed put. It took us four days to find him. He was in good condition but had horrible bowel problems for days, likely because he ate and drank things just to stay alive. That might be the problem in this cats case. We haunted the humane society hoping he would be turned in so you're on the right track calling animal control. The minute the home owners of the house where our cat was holed up realized he was there, they called animal control and we got him back. When I called to thank them, they said they'd considered just keeping our cat because he was so lovely and they were worried he'd be put down at the humane society. I'm so glad they chose to take a chance so we could have him back.
2006-08-30 19:33:14 · answer #4 · answered by Canadian_mom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's probably gotten himself into a fight with an unknown, or fallen down hard. He's probably got some infected wounds thats making his body react this way. It is a good idea to get him help right away.. but as a sheter volunteer, I would say to first try and contact a local cat shelter/rescue (not humane society etc) - They'll take better care of the cat in the end. But tell them you've got a cat with some prroblems that could be a housecat, but it needs some help. And most likely they'll come and get the cat ( be sure to tell them its very friendly). And if they would rather you bring it to them , it shouldnt be that hard to do. If your unsure just wewar some gloves. The human society is more likely to just put the cat to sleep, when thats unnessicary. If it probably belongs to someone, theres a chance it could be a declawed cat, in which case is another reason to get it right away. No defense!Good Luck! Maybe if you get him to a cat shelter, he'll get healthy enough for you to consider adopting!
2006-08-30 19:28:51 · answer #5 · answered by dreamkillerkitten 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The possibility that he was in a fight is high, you did the right thing with the neosporin, his anal problem sounds very much like impacted anal glands, it will be red, swollen and a bit ... smelly... but harmless to you, just really uncomfortable to him. Hopefully his owners are out there looking for him and he finds his way home! Good luck!
2006-08-30 19:27:43 · answer #6 · answered by moejaymom 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fight is possible, but don't rule out the possibility the cat has been abused.
Best bet is to take the cat to a vet or a shelter.
Animal control may have a handle on the matter, and you have probably made the best choice.
2006-08-30 19:47:14 · answer #7 · answered by Warren D 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The cuts on the face sound like battle wounds, the anus could be abcessed from fighting or an impacted anal gland which has become infected. It needs vet attention.
2006-08-31 03:47:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
go ahead and take him to your local humane society. if he does have an owner, they'll realize that he's gone and should contact any surrounding humane societies. tell them about the problems you've seen and they will take the cat to a vet they're partnered with or if they have one on staff.
it probably was a fight, or he might have fallen onto something.
you're doing the right thing though! take care.
2006-08-30 19:00:34 · answer #9 · answered by 3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope nothing serious is happening with the cat .. also I hope his owners will find him and take him back home .. that way they will save you the trouble
I advice not to touch the cat and let the specialized people do their job .. just to avoid hurt either to yourself or to the cat
2006-08-30 22:23:25 · answer #10 · answered by Ramrum 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋