Stray Cat...

angier106

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There is this little stray cat that comes by when it's time to feed my cats.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that he had a big wound on his cheek. Maybe a dog/cat bite or maybe shot by a bb gun.
It destroyed part of the cheek.
Is there any thing I can do for him without taking him to the vet because he is not really mine.
He is also extremely thin but does seem to have a good appetite.
I have been feeding him dry cat food and today I also gave him some warm milk. He only drank a little of it.
It seems that the wound is healing but it is still dripping a little blood and a white substance.
I'm surprised that he does have a good appetite. Could he be in pain?
Anything I can give him for pain or for the would to completely heal.
He is a nice cat. He lets me pet him and wants to rub my leg but I'm afraid that he might hurt his wound.
Also, are my two cats in danger of getting some type of infection if they get close to him?
Thanks.
Angie R.
 

strange_wings

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No, your cats are not going to get that infection. What you're most likely looking at is a bite wound caused by another tom cat because this stray male is either intact as well or still fights with other male cats.

Bite wounds are often fatal due to how badly infected they get from all the bacteria cats have in their mouths. The "white" you see is puss. He is in pain, cats just hide it very well. As the infection spread thorough out his body he will have more pain.
The only solution here is a vet visit. The wound needs to be properly cleaned and maybe even stitched closed (with a drain). The cat needs antibiotics. You can't do this.

You have two choices. Don't feed your cats outside so that the food won't attract other cats that then come to your house for food or accept the cats that adopt you. He may not be "your cat" but you're the one feeding him and there's no one else that will take him to the vet.


If you do take him to the vet, they can neuter him while he's anesthetized for the wound cleaning. He'll also need to be kept inside so you can administer meds and keep him from rubbing his face in the dirt (cats try to do this to help with the pain for some reason). He'll also need to be treated for fleas and worms - then later vaccinated. Nothing says that you must keep this cat if you choose to rescue him, he can always be rehomed once healthy.
 
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angier106

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Thanks for the information.
I appreciate it.
Angie
 

stephanietx

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Unfortunately, the wound sounds like it's become infected and there's really nothing you can do to help him except take him to the vet for treatment.
 

strange_wings

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I hope you can find a good solution to this.

I know you have a couple shelters in your area, though I don't know what they'd do with an already wounded cat when they're probably pretty full as it is. Maybe call them and ask about what rescues are in the area, if anyone would help with costs if you fostered.

I've taken in cats in your stray kitty's state. That's usually how they come to me.
With meds and vet care they always heal up within a couple weeks.
 
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angier106

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I named him Melky. He didn't come by today. He does disappear from time to time.
I really do want to help him but I'm afraid can't afford it right now.
Has any body ever had a vet do home visits? I ask this because of the future when I take my cats.
I know that that would be more expensive but when I get they to the vet, it breaks my heart hearing them cry all the way over there.
They get very nervous.
Thanks for your advice.
Angie
 

tobacat

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Might be worth phoning the vet or somewhere like RSPCA, PDSA or local animal shelter and explaining the situation. Whatever, the poor things does need to be seen by a vet ASAP as I would say the symptons are more likely to get worse than better on their own.

My current vet does home visits and also the one my parents used when I grew up did.
 
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angier106

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came back a few days ago and I noticed that his wound is healing.
There is no more leakage and seems to be growing his fur again.
He eats well.
I hope that he has indeed healed.
It has been about 3 days that he hasn't come back though.
Please send good vibes that he has recovered.
Thanks.
Angie
 

taryn

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I know rescues on both sides of the river here are all full to beyond bursting. I couldn't find a rescue that could take Mama, but I had to choose from a small list though due to her feline leukemia, because they were all full, when she had her rectal prolapse(her intestines were literally hanging out of her butt) and that was in Dec. I didn't want to give her up but I knew she needed help and I had to do what was best. One of the full rescues told me about a low cost vet who could help. It was $150 for them to fix the prolapse and a week in the hospital(we had already had her spayed over the summer.)

I would call rescues(even if it looks like it's healing) and see if one can take him or can refer you to a low cost vet. He needs to be seen by a vet.

Eating doesn't mean much. Mama was still eating even with her intestines hanging outside of her. She also acted normal. If it hadn't of been obvious that there was something seriously wrong with her you never would have known.

I'll admit I thought it was hopeless. I almost turned around on my way there to take her to the SPCA to have her put down(when she tested positive for leukemia she would have been put down and I figured even if she wasn't no one was going to get her treated so either way it would have been a death sentence to her.) I drove on, it was a good 30-40 mile drive so I had a lot of time to think with a growling hissing cat in the back seat, covering her carrier with a towel didn't help. I got there expecting them to tell me it was hopeless and I'd have to have her PTS, which is why I was thinking of just giving her to the SPCA as a stray since I couldn't afford to have her put down(I had just paid over $200 to get Attitude spayed, and I mean that literally, Attitude was spayed the day before I had to help Mama.) I then thought that she'd die alone in a room with no one caring about her. I knew if she had to be put to sleep I didn't want her to die alone with no one giving a crap about her. If it had to be done I wanted to be with her.

He really needs help. If he comes back he has to see a vet. If you won't do that(and I can understand being short on money) at least find a rescue that will help him. I'm not meaning for this to sound mean, but I know inflection doesn't show on the internet. I'm only saying it so if it sounds mean or rude I apologize, that is not my intent or my inflection. I totally understand not having the money for a cat that isn't "yours", I have the money for mine but helping one of the outside ones can be hard or impossible.

If you want to try and keep an eye on him then you can but it is very likely he now has a closed infection instead of an open one so he really does need a vet. Just remember the longer you wait if he goes downhill the more expensive it will be.

I will say honestly if I thought Mama would be happy inside she would be an inside cat. She hated the week she was inside, she was supposed to stay inside for 2 weeks but she let herself out after a week and I wasn't about to force her back in.

Taryn
 
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angier106

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Thanks for your response.
Don't worry. You never sounded rude to me and I do understand what you are saying.
Hope he comes back soon and I will call our local shelter and see what they say.
Unfortunaely, I have surgery scheduled for myself so taking him to the vet isn't an option right now.
Thanks again.
Angie
 

taryn

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Like I said I know inflection doesn't transfer over the internet so I didn't want you to think I was being rude or anything less than caring. Like I said I've been in your shoes, there have been times when they are sick and I either can't catch them to get them to the vet or I just don't have the money. Paul paid for Mama to get her fixed up otherwise I don't know what I would have done(I guess dug deeper to find the money.) Hers wasn't something I could do a 'wait and see' on. She had been outside like this for 4 days which was how long it took for me to catch her in sub-zero temps and windchill even lower. I didn't see her the morning I took Attitude to the vet and I honestly thought she was dead. I was so relieved to see her again but I couldn't catch her and I needed the carrier for her which was at Mitzi's because I knew she wouldn't dig being inside. She had an owner at some point since she knows what a litter box is, it's intended use and that if you are inside that is the only place you go. Cats that grew up outside only usually don't know what one is and that they are expected to always use it. I brought in a box from outside, filled it with fresh litter and she used it without issue.

I could have just said 'oh well' and let nature take it's course but I just couldn't do that, especially considering she was tough enough to make it for 4 days like that(like I said it took me that long to even catch her) in subzero temps and windchills. She definitely isn't short on fight, will to live and tortitude.

They really grow on you and I know you feel bad for him, but it's especially hard when they seem to show up every once in a while. Last time I saw Sylvester he had an abscess on his back near his scruff, I haven't seen him since so I'm worried he didn't make it. I couldn't have caught him if my life depended on it, he would run if you came outside and wouldn't approach if he saw you. It hurt because I could tell he wanted human attention he was just too afraid. He would watch you and not run but if he felt you were too close he'd dart.

Like I said if you want just keep an eye on him to make sure he really is healing, which I know is hard(if not impossible) because just like Sylvester he only shows up when he feels like it, it isn't a daily thing like with my 5(or 6 depending on if Blue thinks my food is better than the neighbor's, he usually shows up at some time daily, usually at night.)

Taryn
 
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angier106

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I haven't seen Melky since the last time I posted.
I just hope that he is fine and that somebody is feeding him.
Thanks.
Angie
 
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