Help Determining Stray Cat drooling problem

Hi, I have been caring for a stray cat for a year now from afar (he doesn't let me near him at all). He seems to be healthy except for this horrible discharge from his mouth. It has been constant for a year but hasn't kept him from eating or drinking. I would like to know if it is possible to cure him of this by adding antibiotics from the vet into his food. I don't want to scare him away by having the animal control people come out here and catch him. Also, I am broke from just having paid $700 to help out another stray cat I found before him.


His fur is matted from sleeping on it because of the drooling/puss. Other than that, I don't think he is in pain or anything....Does anyone out there know what disease this is could be? Or maybe he has a bad tooth? It has lasted a year, though. I feel bad for not being able to help him before now. I am just always broke from fixing the cats around here that immediately need help

Gosh, he doesn't look healthy at all in that photo

His right eye looks half closed and kind of stuck together and weepy.  His fur looks terribly matted which must be painful for him. Also his nose looks busted up.  He's dirty and really unhappy looking, I would imagine he is in pain from the looks of him.  

Have you tried reaching out to local rescue organizations?  I know you are worried about scaring him off but honestly, he really looks like he needs medical assistance of some type, sooner than later.  Cats that are "ok" groom themselves and he does not look like he has been doing so.  I see plenty of feral cats, and none look as unhealthy as that one.

Excessive drooling could be indicative of rabies, and it's important to get him off the street if he is infected with it - although it's been too long for that I think, but still something is going on which is not normal there.

I'm not an expert, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's either a bad tooth or gum disease (or something related).  Based on his condition, whatever it is looks severe.  I agree with the idea about reaching out to a rescue organization.  You might try calling some of the local vets in town to see if anyone would give you a free evaluation (it doesn't hurt to ask).  Someone might be willing to look at him and get you a diagnosis. 

He's lucky to have you to look after him, but it looks like he is in need of some serious help.  (((HUGS))) and Good Luck!

That poor boy needs medical attention. I care for feral cats, I have for 11 years. If wherever you are is his territory, if you use a humane trap to trap him and take him to the vet, and then you release him where you trapped him, he will not run. (Well, he may at first, but he'll come back). This is home, this is where he eats. In fact, all of the ferals we've had spayed & neutered have kept closer to home and become more friendly after being to the vet. We've re-trapped a number of them to get medical attention.

I believe they inherently understand we are trying to help them, even though all of their instincts make them fight it.

Are you able to be near him when he eats? You can either start feeding him in a rather large crate to get him used to that - his being under the car makes me think he might not mind eating in a crate. But that method works only if you can be near him when he eats, because you have to be able to shut the door quickly.

The other option is using a string on the crate door - set it up so when you pull, you pull it closed. Run the string through a window - and make sure you can secure it REALLY WELL when you go out to completely close the door, because an upset feral trying to get out can get it open if it isn't darn tight.

The best thing would be a trap, potentially a drop trap.

I would call around to local shelters and vets to ask about renting or borrowing a trap. We can help with trapping tips.

But if he's drooling yet eating, I'm thinking he's got dental problems which are VERY painful. You don't think he's in pain because cats, instinctively, are FABULOUS at hiding their pain.

This boy is a survivor. :heart2: But he needs your help. :heart2:

Find a vet where you they can either just fit you in, because this is a "scared stray" (I'd put it that way!). OR find a vet that will let you drop him off, so they can examine him when they can get to him without an appointment. A head's up for you - he may need to be sedated for the exam. It's so very hard to tell - between the cat and the vet, you never know. Some of our most "feral" ferals are just so scared at the vet, the vet can completely handle them. But that's the vet that's good with cats. The vet that isn't good with cats thinks every darn cat we bring in there is feral, even the friendly strays. (She's not allowed to see the cats we bring in there any longer).

But please, please, please figure a way get him to a vet. :heart2:

I thought I should update; I wasn't calling the animal shelter for so long now because I knew they would simply put him to sleep due to how unhealthy he looks. But when the weather got down to 20 degrees out, I had no choice. They came and got him. Now they tell me that since he is too feral to examine, they are going to euthanize him. The vet took a look at him and determine that it is not good to waste their resources on him considering they have 70 "friendly" cats they need to attend to. I told them that I would certain adopt him right away if only they would fix him up as best as they could. But since he tried to bite their hand, they will not even figure out whats wrong with him first before putting him to sleep. Is this not screwed up? I am going to go there tomorrow and take him away from there and to a vet (it's the only way they will allow me to take him back). I can't afford thousands of dollars though. I didn't know that by calling the shelter, I called death upon him. He looked so betrayed.....