Injured Stray

Hi all

Maybe someone could help me out, I work at a restaurant where we have two strays that pretty much live there. (in the wooded area/vacant houses around us) However, they are there all the time, we have named them and have been around over 2 years now. I have come to love both of them and they are so sweet and friendly, you can pet them (if you walk up to them slowly and dont scare them) Anyway, within the last week sometime, I noticed I havent seen one of them as much as the other... well come to find out we saw the one limping around on 3 legs and we are all heartbroken and at a loss of what to do. It is her rear right foot... and it doesnt appear to be like she has been run over (which is what our first instinct was) but getting a closer look at her.....it looks as if it is a bite of some sort. I wanted to take her into the vet to have her checked out, but catching her is an issue. Does anyone have any suggestions on making her feel comfortable or get the healing process started? I read online I can give her Amoxicilin.. what do you think? Ill attach a picture of the injury. We thiink it may be a raccoon, snake, or dog. Wonder why shes missing a little fur? Any help would be great! Thank you

First, thank you for caring.

Has she (to your knowledge) ever been to the vet (how do you know it's a she); has she been spayed/neutered.

More importantly, has she had a rabies vaccination?  This is germane for several reasons:  raccoons are vectors for rabies.  If you take a cat to the vet and the vet believes the cat has been bitten, the cat may be quarantined (or worse) for two weeks (if you can prove rabies vaccination) or to up to six months.  This is to make sure the cat doesn't develop rabies.

The injury could also be from cutting its paw on glass.  (I feed a feral cat colony around a dumpster--lots of glass.)

The point is:  if the vet isn't sure what caused the injury--if he suspects an animal bite:  well, you got a problem.

I don't know where you live so I don't know what feral cat rescue organizations are close to you.  I would call the local SPCA/Humane Society/cat sanctuary/feral cat rescue org and explain the situation:  explain you can't catch the the cat and was wondering if the vet will give you some antibiotic without examining the cat (liability issues).

If the bite is deep enough, it really needs to be stiched closed.

Ideally, you'd take the cat to the vet; he can give the at a long-acting shot of antibiotic so you don't have to pill the cat every day.

No idea why she's missing some fur, it could be the cat has licked the area so much, the fur is coming off.

If you can prove she's up to date on her rabies vaccination, write back and we'll give you some ideas as to how to catch the cat.

Alright. So I dont think she has had a rabies shot, actually im almmost positive she hasn't. Andddd, your right, I am not sure it is a female or male, with all the fur i cannot tell. I live in New Port Richey, FL. And I've learned here in Florida they clip a cats ear when neutered. So Yes, he/she is neutered. I had called the walk-in vet and they obviously said it would be my liability for costs and what not and just to see the doctor was $62. Okay fine, thats okay, I just want to see him/her happy again. Should I buy a cage and lure him/her in with food? It tough, Im not sure he/she will go in a confined place like a cage....

ashleighx0 said:

Alright. So I dont think she has had a rabies shot, actually im almmost positive she hasn't. Andddd, your right, I am not sure it is a female or male, with all the fur i cannot tell. I live in New Port Richey, FL. And I've learned here in Florida they clip a cats ear when neutered. So Yes, he/she is neutered. I had called the walk-in vet and they obviously said it would be my liability for costs and what not and just to see the doctor was $62. Okay fine, thats okay, I just want to see him/her happy again. Should I buy a cage and lure him/her in with food? It tough, Im not sure he/she will go in a confined place like a cage....

Click to expand...

I would get a trap if you can.  You can place some newspapers down and then dribble tuna and tuna juice all the way to the back of the trap and then place a small amount of tuna in the back.  Alley cat Allies has a great video on how to trap a cat. The video is on trapping an entire colony, but you can see how to place the newspapers, food and how to cover the trap.  If you have an animal shelter near you, they often allow you to borrow a trap.  Here is the link to the video.

http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=555

It might be difficult to lure him/her into a cage or carrier, but you could try that too.  Many of us here have to trap our ferals/strays when they become injured as it is the safest way to get them help.

Thank you so much for caring for this pair.  It is heartbreaking when they are injured. 

If the cat has been TNRd, he's been given a rabies shot; it's required by law.  But the rabies vaccination has probably expired (although there is some indication a one year shot lasts much longer than one year).

I would try to trap the cat and take him in to the vet.  Alley Cat Allies video is quite good--though it's not as complicated as it may seem.  Kentucky Fried Chicken (original recipe, skin removed) is also very popular with cats, you could use that as bait.

Here is a link for Pasco County's spay program.  Obviously the cat doesn't need to be neutered again, but the animal hospitals listed would have experience in dealing with semi-feral cats and the problems associated with them (like unexplained, unknown origin of injury).  I would first ask their policy about treating a cat who has been TNRd, though you don't know when, and the cat's paw has a cut/bite on it.  I wouldn't want you to take in the cat only to be told the cat must be quarantined first.  (I ran into a situation with a male cat we had to get neutered asap, but who had a wound on its ear.  When I took the cat in to be neutered at a private vet clinic, I told the receptionist that in addition to getting the cat neutered, I'd like the cat's wound to be checked.  The receptionist said "I didn't hear you say that" because if you can't prove rabies vaccination, we'll have to quarantine the cat.

Good luck and let us know if we can help you some more.

That's sounds good. I appreciate the help. Would you recommend an amoxicillin if I am unable to catch? Just to help the infection?

I think you should call a vet and ask them; we're not vets and don't want to lead you astray.

I don't know if amoxicillin is available without a prescription.  You'd have to be really careful with dosing (amount).

ashleighx0 said:

That's sounds good. I appreciate the help. Would you recommend an amoxicillin if I am unable to catch? Just to help the infection?

Click to expand...

Definitely get the cat to the vet and allow the vet to give the appropriate medication.  I hope you can catch him/her and get the paw looked at.

So, heres an UPDATE. I was able to get him today (he's offically a HIM) took him to the vet, and the vet said it looked like he was bit by another cat. Anyway, they weighed him looked at him etc. said he had some ear mites, fleas, etc. I said I just wanted to focus on the foot for now. They said they would give him some meds to make him a little loopy and try and get some of the infection out.

Now before all of this i wrote on the paper work that the cat may need a muzzle and that he was a stray.... so..

Anyway, they took him in the back to give him some meds and within like 10 min the Dr came back in to tell me that the cat bit one of his techs and "got her good" he said. Drew some blood on her.... so now by law they have to keep the cat for 10 days quarantined and what not.... what does everyone think of this....?

I was a littled worried... i dont know why... just how I am.... but they said theyll see how the 10 days goes... and that the tech needs to go to a doctor now. but they also said they would be giving the cat the meds and stuff so i wouldnt need to worry about it so its for the better anyway? i dont know.. very confusing situation... just hope hell be okay!
 

You gave them fair warning about him being a stray, so I wouldn't feel guilty about the tech being bitten. Accidents happen. The quarantine sounds standard, as he is a stray and they just want to make sure he's healthy and rabies free since he bit someone. On the bright side, his wound will be monitored everyday and should be pretty much healed when he gets out. They'll probably treat him for the earmites and fleas as well, so they don't spread through the clinic.
When I worked at a vet years ago, I got mauled by a cat the idiot owner had loose in her car. Of course, the cat was freaked out and jumped out of the car and ran off. I was able to follow and catch the cat. It got frightened again and tore me up as we tried to place it in a cardboard carrier. I still have scars, lol! It's just part of the job. The only reason I was upset was that the owner was careless. You have done everything right, so try not to worry. And thank you for taking good care of this stray kitty He's a very pretty boy.

Yes I did the the warning. I appreciate all your kind words, puts a good feelig in mind. I will be calling the hospital that has his later on to see how things went over night. I cant see how he has rabies, he is super sweet and just perfect. I wish I could keep him. I would bite someone too if they werre squeezing on my injured paw too Anyway. Thank you for all your input, I hope they are super nice too him, I worry becasue he is a stray.. and not really my pet.....and they know that... but we will see!
 

Agree with HappyPaw--you gave them sufficient warning, their fault/problem if they didn't muzzle the cat.  The definitely, the quarantine is standard--just glad its for only ten days.  And FWIW, some household cats (i.e, not stray/feral) freak out at vets and have to be (should be) muzzled or sedated.

And he should be getting super good care, now.

And hopefully a rabies shot.

His ear is tipped so he has had a rabies shot at some point in his life... just not sure when? Is he in quarentine to see if he shows any signs of rabies? How likely is it that youthink he has rabies.. he is so so friendly. I dont think he has rabies...  im praying they dont put him down because he bit a tech....
 

I doubt he has rabies; it is relatively rare (where do you live?).  But by law he should be given a rabies vaccine.

And given he is an outdoor cat, you *might* consider giving him the FVRCP vaccination, may protect against the cat flu and cold.

I would advise you to also get him tested for FIV and FeLV--especially since he was probably bitten by another cat--but you may not want to know or be able to do much about it should the test be positive.  Vaccinations against both are available, but not really helpful.

I dont think he has rabies either. (Which leads me to think positive that he will be able to return to him home and cat friends lol) I live in New Port Richey, Florida. I will ask abou the vaccine when I pick him up.... I called the Animal hospital where hes at and asked.. and they told me he ate and drank water last night and seemed to get himself comfortable in the cage, and that the techs were giving him medicine now... so thats a plus!
 

Well he is home!!

It looks like it's healing well. And I hope the vet would tell you if he thought it was broken. Watch him closely for the next couple of days. You should be able to tell if it is healing properly. He sure is pretty.

I also hope the vet was able to take care of the ear mites and other parasites. My cat Josie had untreated ear mites before we found her and she's deaf now as a result. We have to take her in every three months for an ear flushing because she developed an auto immune response and over produces ear wax.