Abscessed Paw

I took Hef to the vet yesterday because his little paw was swollen up. He looked like Mickey Mouse! I assumed he'd been bitten in a cat fight and it was infected. Anyway, it was abscessed and since I'd asked about them giving me a discount on spaying and neutering my ferals (they won't) they said since they will have to anesthtize him to flush it they might as well neuter him then too.

So, anyway, he's home now. He's been given antibiotics. He's in my tiny, tiny bathroom and is not happy and neither are Cammy and Abbey. I really hate keeping an outside cat in my small bathroom (that's my only option) when I know I have put just put them outside again. I guess what I'm asking is, what are the chances of his paw not healing, since he's on antibiotics? He really wants out!

UGH! I get so stressed when I have outside kitty in here! He hasn't rested at all! He's been meowing and banging on the door since he was put in there. Cammy, at least, is bored by his presence for now. Abbey, however, has sent up camp outside his door to listen to him cry and every once in a while stick a paw under the door to antagonize him.

I may just let him outside. At least then he can find some spot to hide and get some rest.

The drained the abcess, right? My vet says that once it's opened and draining, it doesn't need antibiotics and will heal on its own. But since he was neutered, too, I'd try to keep him in for at least 3 days. I once had a male get a bad infection when he was allowed outside right after his neuter. After that, I've made an effort to keep all ferals inside for 3 days after surgery.

Originally Posted by Willowy

The drained the abcess, right? My vet says that once it's opened and draining, it doesn't need antibiotics and will heal on its own. But since he was neutered, too, I'd try to keep him in for at least 3 days. I once had a male get a bad infection when he was allowed outside right after his neuter. After that, I've made an effort to keep all ferals inside for 3 days after surgery.

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Yes, they drained it. It looks much better. He can walk on it. I didn't know they didn't need antibiotics, the vet said he did. Oh well, it was convenia, so it's too late now.

Most vets do give antibiotics for an abcess, I think. And mine probably would, too, if he was neutered at the same time. Hmmm, Covenia is a long-lasting antibiotic shot, right? He might be able to go out sooner than 3 days, if he's really driving you crazy. I'd keep him at least 24 hours, though.

When Squishy had abcesses, he got a convenia shot each time. The vet open/drained the wound, too. That said, he had to have the wound opened up 2x/day & panalog ointment applied, or it healed over & would make it worse. So I had to keep him contained for 14 days each time!

Originally Posted by kscatlady

Yes, they drained it. It looks much better. He can walk on it. I didn't know they didn't need antibiotics, the vet said he did. Oh well, it was convenia, so it's too late now.

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I disagree, (I mean I agree with your vet) a cat with an abscess, (especially from a bite wound!) should be on antibiotics. I was going to suggest you ask for the convenia shot, rather than worry about daily dosing, so I'm glad to see he's already had that.

Abscesses have to be kept open to heal. I hope you can keep him in for a couple of days at least, to give it a good start.

So glad he got nuetered too! Has he been tested for FeLV/FIV? Since you suspect a bite would, you may want to have that testing done in about 12 weeks.

Originally Posted by otto

I disagree, (I mean I agree with your vet) a cat with an abscess, (especially from a bite wound!) should be on antibiotics. I was going to suggest you ask for the convenia shot, rather than worry about daily dosing, so I'm glad to see he's already had that.

Abscesses have to be kept open to heal. I hope you can keep him in for a couple of days at least, to give it a good start.

So glad he got nuetered too! Has he been tested for FeLV/FIV? Since you suspect a bite would, you may want to have that testing done in about 12 weeks.

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Convenia is my best friend! I always ask for it with my ferals and outdoor kitties.

Originally Posted by kscatlady

Abbey, however, has sent up camp outside his door to listen to him cry and every once in a while stick a paw under the door to antagonize him.

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That had me laughing pretty loudly - silly Blasa looked at me like I'd grown another head. Several of mine stick their paws under the door, no matter who is in the bathroom.


Just how friendly/tolerant is this kitty? Can you hold him without him flipping out? Probably not... but if you can and are going to keep him in any more a great way to get that abscess to open and drain is to soak his foot in a bowl of warm epsom salt and water. I've had to do that with a few cats over the years, once they get over the "oh no, water!" reaction most settle down as long as they don't hear any water splashing. Only one really fought being held and a tight towel wrapping allowed me to soak the leg for nearly 15 minutes.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

That had me laughing pretty loudly - silly Blasa looked at me like I'd grown another head.

Several of mine stick their paws under the door, no matter who is in the bathroom.


Just how friendly/tolerant is this kitty? Can you hold him without him flipping out? Probably not... but if you can and are going to keep him in any more a great way to get that abscess to open and drain is to soak his foot in a bowl of warm epsom salt and water. I've had to do that with a few cats over the years, once they get over the "oh no, water!" reaction most settle down as long as they don't hear any water splashing. Only one really fought being held and a tight towel wrapping allowed me to soak the leg for nearly 15 minutes.

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Actually, Hef is stray. He's the biggest sweetheart ever. He likes being held if I'm petting him. He would probably let me do this. I bought some epsom salts before I decided to take him to the vet, so I'll so this for him every day until it's healed. Thanks!

Great! Get the water as warm as possible, that won't burn him of course, because after ten minutes in it will have cooled.

Since it's just his paw, you'll only need a couple of inches of water. I like to use an old food container (something that ice cream, margarine, etc) came in. Once I'm done with the soaking sessions the bowl goes in the trash. I'm sure ceramic would wash.. .but I'd know!
Sit on the floor, sit "indian style", and put the bowl between your legs. That keeps it from being tipped over. Then just put the cat on your leg or in front of you. Make him step down into the bowl vs struggling to get his foot in.

Let me know how it goes! The worst that will happen is that he may scratch you a little or you end up with wet pants.

You are a good cat mommy!!!! I remember Hef. He's a handsome boy!

Nope, I'm pretty sure he was bitten. There's a big hole on the top and multiple puncture wounds on the bottom.

Ouch, poor boy. I bet that he was fighting with another cat, ended up under the other cat and stuck the paw up there to push the cat's face away and that's how he was bitten.

Did you try soaking his paw last night? How did it go?

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Ouch, poor boy. I bet that he was fighting with another cat, ended up under the other cat and stuck the paw up there to push the cat's face away and that's how he was bitten.

Did you try soaking his paw last night? How did it go?

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That's what I figured. He wasn't a fighter for a long time, but I think when he first came around he was just much younger then I thought. The fighting and chasing females just started pretty recently.

I didn't soak it last night, I was already in bed. And this morning it still looked really good, he let me handle it and he can walk on it, so I let him out this morning. I figured I'd soak it tonight before I fed everyone, and do that every night to make sure it stays clean until it heals.

Do you think since he's neutered all the tom cats will try and kick him out of the colony? I'm pretty sure Gus was neutered and they just pretty much left him alone. Hopefully they will Hef too.

It depends on his behavior towards those cats and how willing to fight certain toms are.
If another cat really wants a fight, they won't care whether the other cat in neutered (or spay) they just see another cat in their territory.

And... some neutered cats don't completely stop fighting. Nor do they forget that they fought with another tom quite a bit. So he could still get into fights, though that would eventually decrease.

If he's as sweet as you say, why not keep him in or find him a home? Provided that he's FeLv/FIV -

Also, I usually prefer to soak a couple times a day due to possible litter box contamination - especially if using clay.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

It depends on his behavior towards those cats and how willing to fight certain toms are.
If another cat really wants a fight, they won't care whether the other cat in neutered (or spay) they just see another cat in their territory.

And... some neutered cats don't completely stop fighting. Nor do they forget that they fought with another tom quite a bit. So he could still get into fights, though that would eventually decrease.

If he's as sweet as you say, why not keep him in or find him a home? Provided that he's FeLv/FIV -

Also, I usually prefer to soak a couple times a day due to possible litter box contamination - especially if using clay.

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Well, DH isn't comfortable with another cat in our small apartment. Especially with the baby coming in September. If we were taking in another kitty, it would be him. I did put him on petfinder, but no one was interested, except some guy in the UK, who I think must have just clicked on the first ad he saw.

The HS won't list him for me, Country Cats Inc would, if he doesn't spray and I can't guarantee he doesn't. What are some other methods? I'd love for him to have a home.

Originally Posted by kscatlady

The HS won't list him for me, Country Cats Inc would, if he doesn't spray and I can't guarantee he doesn't. What are some other methods? I'd love for him to have a home.

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Maybe LDG or hissy have some more suggestions for you? I'm sure they're more networked on this.

If I were in your place I would keep him in as a "foster" with plans to rehome when possible. That's the only way to find out if he won't spray inside and more likely to get people to help list him.

But that's between you and your DH. One thing you may want to use to help your side of it - if he gets in more fights outside, it's going to cost to take him back to the vet. While you'll spend a little more on litter, inside is cheaper since he can stay worm and flea free, too. ...but mind you, I have seven in the house so I'm bias.

Years ago, I was willing to let Sho be indoor/outdoor. He didn't get into fights (neutered), but he kept getting himself hurt. Ripped a pad open, scratches from climbing on/over fences, sliced his ear on a rose bush, ringworm, cut his face open on who knows what, etc. I couldn't handle the stress and cost of having an accident prone cat being allowed outside. He's only had regular check up/care cost since then.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

If I were in your place I would keep him in as a "foster" with plans to rehome when possible. That's the only way to find out if he won't spray inside and more likely to get people to help list him.

But that's between you and your DH. One thing you may want to use to help your side of it - if he gets in more fights outside, it's going to cost to take him back to the vet. While you'll spend a little more on litter, inside is cheaper since he can stay worm and flea free, too.

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Well, that was my plan with Abbey but I fell in love with her. I don't know. My apartment has so much cat damage from Cams and her clawing fetish. I don't know what I'd do if he did spray. I am going to talk to LDG and Hissy and work harder at finding him a home. Even though I know I would cry when I say good bye to him, I'd be happy if he could be an indoor cat.