What can it be!? I would take him to the vet, but it's not really my cat. He's more of a wild cat that is afraid of everything, and hisses!! I just feed him, and take care of him. I'm scared to take him to the vet because he is so vicious!! What should I do?
I tried putting some ointment with a bandaide!? It kinda looks like something bit him. Could he die!? What should I do!? He only trusts me, and will come up to me. But it takes him awhile to ease up with me. I ♥ this cat, and I don't want anything bad to happen to him!
2007-03-22 08:32:26 · 16 answers · asked by eastmain700 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
It sounds like an abscess. He probably got bitten by another cat in a fight - a cat's sharp tooth acts almost like a needle, pushing bacteria deep into the victim's flesh. An infection then develops in the tissue under the skin.
Because this cat is wild, the best way to handle the situation is to go to your local animal shelter and borrow or rent a humane trap. Be sure to ask them to show you how it works. Bait the trap with a food you know that he loves, and cover it with a blanket to make it look more like a soft inviting area & less like a cage. When you catch him, DO NOT try to handle him yourself, or you may be bitten and end up with an infection yourself. He's sick and in pain, which makes him more likely to scratch and bite. Just pick up the trap by its carrying handle and take him to the vet in the trap. Put a trash bag on your car seats with a couple of old towels over it, and set the trap on the towels, and drape another towel over the cage to help calm him. Take the cat to your vet for treatment, and be sure to let the vet know that he is wild. Vets are experienced in handling all sorts of cats including feral (wild) cats. The vet will be able to sedate him and treat the abscess (even a pet cat needs to be sedated to treat an abscess, because it's very painful as it must be shaved, lanced, and washed out thoroughly, and antibiotics administered).
Please don't wait to take care of this - I've seen cats end up losing limbs or dying if the infection goes on for too long. Catching him in a trap isn't cruel - yes, he will hiss and fight, but you'll be doing what is necessary to get him well.
Best wishes!
2007-03-22 10:03:30 · answer #1 · answered by Bess2002 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't put bandaid on it (he will only tear the bandaid off anyway). It is probably an abscess that is draining. Allow it to continue draining, possibly using a warm washcloth to wipe it clean. What happens with an abscess is that it fills with fluid until it bursts. Sometimes a vet will put a string through the abscess that he would have the client move through the abscess in order to keep the wound open and draining, until the fluid was gone and then the string would be removed and it could heal up.
I've had a couple of strays get into fights and end up with abscesses, and they've always healed up on their own, with a bit of TLC from me.
But if you are able to take him to the vet, it would be a good idea just to have him get a rabies vaccination and a FVRCP vaccination, just to keep him safe.
2007-03-22 08:45:15 · answer #2 · answered by BVC_asst 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ugh!? Don't you hate when people can not understand you? I know you can't take him to the vet because he is so scared, and vicious. He seems like he is an outside cat, so what I would do...is keep putting some ointment on it, and keep wrapping it with band aides. I would also try and put some peroxcide before the ointment. This will keep it from getting any worse.
Don't worry about it. I know people say mean things and make you sound like the bad guy. Yes, he is your cat because you feed it and take care of it, but he's not a cat you chose to keep right? I'm thinking maybe more a stray cat who you feed, and give some TLC. =)
2007-03-22 08:44:14 · answer #3 · answered by Mel 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My cat had that on his hind leg too. He kept licking it and making it raw. Sometimes it would bleed. Finally I took him to the vet and they said it is actually something. I forgot the name of it but it is caused by stress. They gave him a steroid shot and it went away within a week. The vet said that it is most common on the back of the legs and on the stomach. If you can get him to leave it alone it will heal but otherwise you will have to take him to the vet. The vet told me that sometimes it gets out of control and spreads to other parts of the cats body. Also the reason it's bald is because he's licking it and licking off all the fur in that area. It's not making his hair fall out or anything. The cat is doing that. Hope this helps.
2007-03-22 08:42:35 · answer #4 · answered by Brownie 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you love him and he allowed you to get close enough to him to put a bandaid and ointment on him, then you should be able to catch him and put him in a pet carrier to bring him to the vet. This way, not only can you find out what is wrong with him, but the vet can give him all of his shots that he needs, that he probably doesn't have. He probably got bit by something or got it caught on something. Try wearing gloves to handle him. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling him. Tell the vet his situation so they can take precautions and test him for disease. He will probably need antibiotics if the cut is pussing.
2007-03-22 08:40:27 · answer #5 · answered by pobrecita 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You need to take him to the vet no matter what. You can either try luring him into a cat carrier with special food that he likes, or try getting a towel around him. Cats also like to play in boxes. It's up to you to lure him into something and get him to the vet. Wear some tough gloves to protect you from being bitten too. The vet can sedate him and treat him. Be careful with ointments or medications, just let the vet treat him. Good luck!
2007-03-22 08:58:04 · answer #6 · answered by oo51 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He needs to be seen by a vet . I don't know were you live there my be a cat rescue organization dedicated to finding permanent homes for stray animals in your town. They would be able to help you . The place i got my two cat from, rescue wild cat and treat them for any heath problem and finds home for them. If you live in New Jersey they could help you.
this is there website
http://www.angelpaws.org/homepage.htm
You can also try to contact a vet in your area and explain your situation if they are caring they'll help.
It important that he's treat right away by a vet.
2007-03-22 09:07:29 · answer #7 · answered by CarmenBatista 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try going to a vet and ask them for oral antibiotics that you can stuff into a cat treat and feed to it, since you can't catch it.
If that doesn't work out and the cat loses its leg or dies...sorry, c'est la vie. Life is not pleasant for stray animals.
I totally understand what you mean that you love it even though it's not really your cat, since where I'm from is warm year-round, so a lot of people have "outside" pets that just come home for food.
2007-03-22 09:01:37 · answer #8 · answered by Xenobiologista 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like whatever happened to your cat's leg is seriously infected. If he is wild, and does not like to be handled much, it may be a good idea to call your local humane society for help. They have people there who know how to handle feral and semi-feral animals. Also, if it is not really your cat, they can take him and get him the care he needs. If you are willing, however, to take him to the vet yourself, get a good cat carrier and a blanket to wrap him in.
Treatment for the infectedl leg may be expensive, and it might have to be amputated if the infection is bad enough.
2007-03-22 08:53:11 · answer #9 · answered by racehorsegirl83 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like he got in a cat fight and has an abscess now. The vet can sedate him and treat him. I'd go to the vet.
2007-03-22 08:37:18 · answer #10 · answered by vabeachgirl324 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋