Stray with gash/open hole

I am horrified/sick for my stray kitty we found last weekend. I have another post about both strays (titled: vibes for two strays please) but just spent some time trying to bond with the black kitty and found out some disturbing things.
1. He is declawed
2. His gash is worse then I though. It is a long gash with an actual open hole about the diameter of a pencil eraser and probably about 1/4inch deep. It is healing...not bleeding anymore, but not healing closed either.
I feel horrible to just notice it now...and even more horrible that we can't afford a vet visit! Does anyone know an *average* price of stitches/treatment of a wound?

Tomorrow morning I am calling the rescue that we have spoken with and asking if she has any vets she works with that do discounted treatments for strays...and also calling around a couple vets to see if they can quote me a price on cleaning his wound and possibly stitching it...idk if it is too late for stitching it but he needs something. He is the sweetest cat. We posted a found ad, because we thought that maybe if someone had cared enough to neuter him (I can't say "cared" and "declawed" in the same sentence but he WAS someones pet at some point clearly)...but no responses yet.
Also does anyone know of any home remedies or things I can do for his gash until I can get him somewhere to check it out? We did put some peroxide on a cotton ball and dabbed at the wound as much as he would let us but he was getting scared and upset so we let him back down.

**backstory on this black kitty...last weekend hubby and I heard a cat meowing in our shed where we keep blankets, cat food and a heat lamp for strays, and noticed a small black cat horribly starved meowing in the shed. We fed him and were able to pick him up and pet him...but he ran away. We looked all week for him and finally on Thursday he came back into our yard and we were outside...he meowed until I walked over to him and picked him up. We decided to bring him into our guest room where he has stayed since. He is awesome...so friendly and sweet, uses the litterbox like a champ and as soon as we walk int he room runs out to greet us. He just got comfortable yesterday evening with us really picking him up so today we kinda did a body check on him to see his wound and make sure he was neutered and check his claws (idk why we hadn't thought to check his claws before we have had to find 2 other strays homes because they arrive around us declawed..)**

When I was a teenager, I cared for a neighbor's cat who had a nasty abcess---really, a huge hole in his face. They couldn't afford a vet and didn't want us to take him, so I washed it out every day with peroxide and it healed very nicely (he was a very nice cat and let us handle him, though). Also, my dog once ripped herself with barbed wire and the vet said it was best not to stitch it. It looked terrible, but it did heal eventually without any intervention. Get a feeding syringe, and flush that wound at least once every day if you can. If the wound is healing, it may not need vet care. It will heal from the inside out, it's better that way. If it "healed shut" before the inside was healed, it might get infected.

Please don't feel horrible that you have just now noticed that little kitty's wound is worse. You have done a wonderful thing by taking him in and looking after him.

I would definately call any local rescue you can and also the vets. Maybe if you tell them he is a stay they will be able to help or at least offer advice.

Little kitty sounds so sweet and is so lucky he found you!!

Wishing you Lots of Luck!!!!

I agree with your plan on contacting this rescue group and or vets around.

IF you will do some flushing as mentioned above, and after consulting a vet, a workable alternative is salt water.

Recipe of the type. 1 litre water, 1 big teaspoon common kitchen salt. Cook it till it boils a good while. Let it get colder. Use preferably at cat- body temp, ie about 39 degrees Celsius (for you it will feel lukewarm). Flush perfusely, no need to spare nor avoid costs...

Dont spare too long, better to make a new portion.

This is no hokus pokus home remedy, they use this also at hospitals. Cheap, quite effective, and not irritating anything, being essentially "physiological salt-solution".

A word for consolation. If he made it being homeless a good while - he is probably not one of the weak ones - he is surely of more tough wood than many home cats.
Thus - chances are good he manages to heal by himself. Especielly now when he do gets good food and dont need to be afraid and hide at all cost. Like he would be forced to if severly wounded and on his own.

Good luck!

Yeah, a saline solution would probably be better than peroxide (which can damage healthy tissue along with debriding dead tissue). Either way, just keep the wound as clean as possible and it should heal up fine.

One thing after another HUH??? First off, this kitty wouldn't have made it much longer if not for you, so give yourself a ton of credit. Do not wash the gash with Hydrogen Peroxide, that will kill the helpful healing cells. Use saline solution for deep gashes or puncture wounds. Be very gentle with the saline. If you can, clip away hairs around wound, but I don't know if kitty will allow this. Wound must be kept very clean and dry. Obviously, this was someone's cat at some time or another being neutered and declawed. Poor little darling.

Some rescue/shelters that have a deep committment to the community and people such as yourself assisting strays, will help treat your kitty for no charge. I have a wonderful shelter I volunteer for that assists me with my feral's and strays for care. It doesn't hurt to ask. I am sorry your black kitty has these issues, but at least you are caring and loving him, so he is happier than he was recently. You are doing a great job!! Sending out more to you and black kitty.

We called a couple vets today and were told that because it seemed to be healing, a salt water rinse should help. We noticed this afternoon that he was having some trouble walking on his back leg and was crying as he walked. He would not let us pick him up and when his legs stretched out he would cry and hiss/howl.
We got a blanket to try and hold him down so we could administer the salt water rinse and had to fight with him to hold him down so we could check out the wound. We were able to lift his leg and see the gash and there was a kind of bubble on the gash. I didn't see it too well...and as soon as my husband squirted the saltwater on it, it burst open leaking a bloody/pus mixture. As disgusting as it was, he immediately was able to walk without crying and could actually put pressure on his leg. We got him down for two more squirts of the salt water mixture but decided to leave him alone after that so we did not traumatize him much more. We are going to try to get some antibiotic ointment on the wound.
Any advice on what to do from here? Does this sound like it is getting worse, or could it "bursting" be a sign of getting better? We are going to try and wrap it in gauze in the morning when we are able to get some, to try and keep him from licking the area.
I also went to a lost/found pet site for my state and browsed the lost pets and emailed a few people who had ads for lost cats fitting the description of this one..and I also posted a found cat ad describing this cat trying to find his owner. I am really worried about this cat and his gash and am thinking I might need to try again for a vet appt to see about getting antibiotics for him. Is it bad to go to a vet when all I would be able to afford is some antibiotics? I don't want to feel like a horrible person when they start suggesting/trying to get my to have tests run and all this other stuff when I can't afford it. IDK what to do!

My vet says that once an abcess has burst, it doesn't need antibiotics. . .so if you keep flushing it as often as you can it should heal up OK. If he ever feels like he has a fever or something he would need meds.

Went to check on black kitty a couple times today and he seems to be in much better spirits. He is actually walking around and eating and not just crying in pain. When my husband gets home, he is going to sit up there with him for awhile since I have not been able to. We are going to put a warm compress on the wound for a few minutes...as long as he will let us, and then flush with some more lukewarm salt water.
Last night we were able to get a little antibiotic ointment on the wound but he licks it so much we didn't put a lot on. We are going to try to put some on, and put some on some gauze pads, then use long wrapping gauze to try and wrap the wound so he doesn't lick it...but with the location of it, we may not be able to successfully wrap it.
Still not luck finding his previous owners...we thought maybe he was a pet that got lost but so far all the missing pet ads I have responded to, he is not theirs. I did get a "lead" that a neighborhood near ours has a few signs up about a missing black cat, so we are going to drive to that area to find a flier and contact those people as well! If we can't find his owners and it turns out to be a case of a dumped kitty...we will get him better then work at finding a new home for him. He is so sweet, once this gash is healed he will make someone an amazing pet.

I am sooooo glad to hear that the little guy is feeling better!!!!

I am sending lots of love and luck out for all of you!!!!

You have done a wonderful thing for this little kitty!!!!

What a great heart you have and so caring . I think you are a saint what you are doing for this kitten. It would be great if that flyer you saw was really someone who has lost their beloved black kitty and they take him back home and never let him outside as he obviously got lost and thanks to you he is thriving now!!! Please keep updating as to whether that was the kittens home

Hi, once the abcess bursts - healing begins...It's gross but a step in the healing process. It's so incredible that you rescued him.

I rescued an enormous tux with a huge gash and a limp a few years back. His gash injury was on his side and I think he got it from a metal fence..it was bloody and open. He was difficult to handle but I was eventually able to help him. I did not take him to a vet for the injury and the wound healed with cleansing and antibiotic ointment. I used warm compresses (a wash cloth) to gently cleanse the area. I had no problem with using the antibiotic ointment (like a neosporin) on the cat. But that part is up to you. This big boy is now our fat house cat.

You are doing a great job. Helping a poor wounded kitty is not easy. Good luck.

Don't bother with wrapping it, it's better for it to stay open to the air.

Glad to hear he's feeling better!

Any news? How is your the black kitty doing? Just checking in

Black kitty is doing well! We are continuing the salt water rinses....his leg still looks scary but it is getting better. It is still red but he is walking fine, jumping onto/off the futon without crying, able to be picked up with no growling...all the things he did the night he was in a ton of pain he hasn't done again. He is a trooper! He is sooooo sweet. When we walk into the room he cries and jumps down to get petted. He purrs all the time! Once he is better I am confident we will find him an awesome home because he is so loving...and he is front declawed which a lot of people seem to like.
I am just so so so glad he turned up in our shed and meowed to alert us of his presence, My hubby swears I am getting too attached and will want to keep him, and I would love to keep him but I know we can't!! Having 9 is tons of work already, especially with running a daycare on weekdays....we just cant have anymore.But I will find him an awesome forever home once the time is right.

I am very happy to hear your news.!! This kitty sounds like a total love and I know how you feel about getting so attached and wanting to keep them all. I still want to foster/rescue so I have to set a limit so I can keep saving kitties.... You have nine cats?! Yes, that must keep you very busy on top of the daycare . What a wonderful thing you are doing for these cats and I am sure you can find a new loving home very soon.

I am getting worried about his gash. It is just not looking better. He is walking on the leg fine, and not seeming to be in any pain at all...but his gash is still bright red and looks new. We have been doing salt water rinses. I have not gotten as much antibiotic ointment on it as I had hoped (generic a&d ointment for people). I have put it on a few times but I worry because he tries to lick it off pretty soon after I get it on. Is it save to use a couple times a day even if e licks some of it off?
Does anyone know of any other ways to try and treat this wound? If it doesn't start getting better within the next week we are going to try to get him to the vet but are hoping to get it cleared up at home.

If it really does look very red and still not healing. I would get kitty to the vet better now when the infection has not spread to the bone...Bone infections do happen and then your running into alot of money for you and pain for the cat..

The remedy for licking is to use an elisabethian collar, or a body sock. Probably impossible with a semiferals, and difficult with cats who dont trust you entirely. Worth a try with this cat.
An Elisabethian collar can be home made from a big paper plate.

I too recommed you to contact the vet again, if you feel the vet is good. Do phone at least as a first step.


Good luck!

You might be rinsing it way too much now. It won't heal with daily rinsing and it won't close up. I would leave it be for a day or two (nothing on it) and see if it starts to dry up on it's own. You have probably been cleaning it too much, no fault of your own, you are taking wonderful care of this kitten. Then if after a day or two and no better, take kitty to the vet or even a phone call and they can advise you that way as well. You do not want this to turn into a nasty infection and require antibiotics, etc. AWWWWWW much luck to you and black kitty