need info quickly....

m935

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Ive been calling around and posting on sites to get an answer...

I have a stray/feral cat with a huge open wound on his side - he seems ok but everything i read says I need to get him treated immediately.

I MAY be able to get an antibiotic to him tomorrow.

Is there anything I can use to spray on the area in teh meantime... I read vinegar but htat would burn - I know hydrogen peroxide wouldnt feel any better- but does anyone recommend doing something like this - it may hurt him but if it helps him I may need to do it.

He is very friendly - but he wont let me get near him with a brush to apply the VET cleaning solution I have. Any other ideas on how to just touch the area would be great too. I just thought a spray would be MUCH easier. THANKS

can someone PLEASE give me some ideas... my vet is out of hte office today.
 

farleyv

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Boy if it is a stray cat and won't let you handle him, it could be dangerous for you if he bites.

I really can't tell you any different than you have read....get him treated. Can you trap him in a have a heart? I know it's hard, I have had to do this many times.

But really the only thing I can recommend is vet treatment asap. If funds are a concern, you can apply for Care Credit at www.carecredit.com. You can use it the same day.

Can a friend help you with the trapping? Call the Humans Society and see if they can look at the wound.

You have such a good heart to try to help this poor thing!
 

kscatlady

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If you take him to a vet try and find one that has convenia. It's an antibiotic that's an injection. It's equal to two weeks worth of antibiotics. It's a little pricey, but so worth it, it's perfect for ferals. The problem will definitely be catching him and getting him to the vet. I took a feral girl to the vet because she was sick, but she was a little tame, she'd come to me. As soon as she was in the carrier and at the vet's she went crazy hissing and growling. I'm surprised the vet didn't refuse to treat her. I don't really have an advice, sorry. Maybe you can find a vet that has experience with ferals? I don't know.
 

strange_wings

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A large wound? Catch him and keep him contained. He won't like it but you need to make sure he's not out rolling in anything or scuffling with other cats while it's healing.

If you can't spare a room in your home, can you get a large cage and put it in a shed/garage or whatever? You'll have to figure out a way to provide heating, though.
 

brookesphynx

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I agree with strange_wings. The most important thing (and difficult with a feral) is probably going to be keeping the wound clean. To be honest, I don't think spraying anything on it right now is going to do much good.

I found a cat with a huge hole on his side many years ago. Took him straight to the vet (fortunately he was super-friendly) who cleaned and flushed the wound, kept him overnight for observation & fluids, and then sent him home with a course of antibiotics and strict instructions to keep the area clean.

I never had to apply anything to the wound, but "Newman" had to stay inside, use shredded paper for litter, and it took a full 3 months for the hole to close up. This was a HUGE wound, you could see muscle where his skin was ripped open, and I can't even begin to describe the smell... It was also important not to cover the wound, but to let it "breathe" and drain.

I was going to ask if you'd be able to administer antibiotics to him every day...Covenia was a great suggestion if you can't. IMO it's not the best antibiotic, but fantastic if the cat is difficult to medicate. I think it's great that you're willing to help this hurt kitty, btw!
 
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m935

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THANKS!!

This is also a wound where I can see the muscle. Breaks my heart to see the cats with these wounds - some reason their fighting a lot - all neutered too. I hope its not a wild animal attacking htem....

Anyway I was told to call my clinic tomorrow morning and see if htey have hte Clavamox? If so - Ill definitely be able to get that to him twice a day in his food. Im also seeing about getting a crate early and then trying to trap him and take him back.... sigh.
 

brookesphynx

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Best we could figure with the injury on my Newman, was that he'd climbed into a car engine to keep warm and was still up there when the car was turned on...it looked like a fan belt or something had literally ripped his side open.


But, he healed up beautifully - after his fur grew back, you couldn't even find a scar. And, the whole time he never, ever seemed like he was in any pain. Amazing what these cats can tolerate!

Thanks again for taking care of him.
 

kscatlady

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Yes, thanks for taking care of him. I love knowing there are people in the world that love kitties as much as I do!
 

strange_wings

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Years ago I was caring for a small feral group (catching, spay and neuter). There was one young flame point male that never would go into the trap - he was a smart little cat. One day he turned up with a bullet wound through him - probably a from a .22. To this day I'll never understand how he survived that and healed without vet care. It had to have been pure luck because serious wounds need treatment.
 
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m935

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Actually, Ive always been a dog person.


But with 20+ cats wandering around my condo complex for a year and not ONE person doing anything about it...but complaining - i felt I HAD too. Actually I didnt even know they were around until my maintenance guy said he found 2 litters by his building. I was pissed and started trapping immediately.

Now I love these guys as my own cat. I always wanted to DO something for animals instead of just donating money to charities - now I am and i really love it - just wish they would stop getting hurt! Thats when i get depressed and panicky.
 

ondine

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If you are able to to him to the vet, do like kscatlady said - get the Covenia. It's a $25-30 shot but it works like a miracle. Whether you keep him caged or let him free after treatment, giving him Clavomax is chancey. If you can't touch him you can't pill him and he may not eat the food if you put the liquid Clavamox on it.

I say Covenia every time - I use it on my own cats, who are all pretty easy going. It is just plain easier for all concerned.

Good luck and bless you for taking care of him
 

kscatlady

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That's how I was, I was a dog person, but I moved into this apartment and there were so many cats living here. I started feeding them, then realize they would just keep multiplying unless I did something about that. So I started TnRing too, and then you can't just ignore if one gets hurt or sick. Now I have two indoor cats, both from right outside my door. And I love my outside cats as much as Cammy and Abbey. I've gained the trust of a lot of them too.
 

kscatlady

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Originally Posted by Ondine

If you are able to to him to the vet, do like kscatlady said - get the Covenia. It's a $25-30 shot but it works like a miracle. Whether you keep him caged or let him free after treatment, giving him Clavomax is chancey. If you can't touch him you can't pill him and he may not eat the food if you put the liquid Clavamox on it.

I say Covenia every time - I use it on my own cats, who are all pretty easy going. It is just plain easier for all concerned.

Good luck and bless you for taking care of him
Yes, convenia is just easier. It's so great for hard to medicate cats.
 
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m935

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I know my animal control officer pretty well... but if he has to pick up an injured wild cat - they have to be put down. So he would tell me to wait for hte clinic.

Im seriously PRAYING i can catch him tomorrow.

He runs to me every time he sees me and rubs against my legs - sometimes I cant walk becuase he walks so close to me... the most amazing thing about him is he disappeared for over a YEAR! I actually already mourned his death a year ago - i think he was living with the other half of the colony (would make sense) - but I cant go thru losing him for real.

and then i think - what if these wounds happen again??? I mean ill be lucky if i can trap him once - dont think he'll fall for it too many times...
 

the_food_lady

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Definitely ask for the antibiotic Convenia. It's such a risk to try and put antibiotics in a cat's food. Most will turn their nose up at it and with this boy you only have one shot. I've used Convenia many times with my cats (it's intended for soft tissue infections in cats), of all ages, and never any side effects. As someone mentioned, it's great because it lasts for 14 days. Clavamox can cause upset tummy and diarrhea so I'd really be firm about needing Convenia.

God bless you for trying to help him, sounds like he sure needs it
Would be so great if you could keep him, or find an indoor home for him.
 

ziggy'smom

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I'd agree with getting a Covenia shot too instead of the Clavamox. If the kitty is going to be outside during treatment there is always the risk that he won't show up for feeding or that another animal gets his food. Too many risks, IMO.
I once had a similar situation too. A completely feral cat with a huge gash. You could see muscle and if it wasn't so bloody I think you could have been able to see bone too. It was bad. Luckily I was able to trap the kitty and get him to a vet that put him under to treat him. They were able to close the wound, gave him a Covenia shot and he was released two days later (they neutered him while they were at it too). He healed up very well. He won't come anywhere near me after the trapping incident (he runs at the sight of me, even from far away he knows it's me) but he's doing fine.

If you go the Clavamox route maybe it would be a good idea to give him a Penicillin shot too to give him a "kick".

If he rubs up against your legs he's just a stray, not a feral, so that should make it easier for you to get him. Stinky food always helps. If you take some time to just sit with him over a few weeks he will begin to trust you enough for you to be able to touch him which will make it easier to deal with him in the future. He may even become adoptable.
 
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m935

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I couldnt get him... he KNEW i was up to something in fact he ran FROM me when he saw the cage.

One cat did go in twice and thought he would see that and go in - but he stayed FAR away. I did pick him up and try to put him in - but he wasnt having it. I had gloves on - but just getting all 4 legs in was impossible. (i cant even get my own house cat into his crate)
Unfortunately Im not like a lot of trappers - Ive heard of using a net and just fighting with the cat until its in the trap- its just not in me - not only fright of getting hurt - but just what im doing to the cat....

so... i got the clavamox.... he should eat it from a dish that i hold. (thats how i medicated the other 2 cats that needed it...)

but as far as ever trapping any of these cats again - i just think were done -its going to be clavamox from now on....


thing is if one of the unfriendly cats that still fear me ever has an issue like this - i have NO idea how i will ever treat them.... this is tough
 
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