I'm new but need thoughts or advice

Hello all... as I said, I'm new but I've had cats all my life.  I'm currently owned by 2 Ragdolls, 1 Himmy, 1 calico and 2 domestic shorthairs.  The reason I'm here... On Sunday a stray turned up at our door very messed up.  Looks to have been possibly winged by a car and left for dead.  He's quite skinny, his head seems crooked, one eyes looks like it's probably blind, the other seems OK but both eyes and nose have brown discharge, which tells me he had head trauma.  His temp is normal, he's eating, drinking and using the litter box well, he's VERY friendly but hates being locked up in my bedroom and bathroom but I can't take a chance of compromising my other cats if he is carrying anything or further exposing him to outside dangers.  He was dehydrated when he turned up but that has improved greatly.  I'm feeding him 4 times a day and giving him Lysine and NutriCal.  He's walking odd, kind of with a lean and occasionally tips over.  He was splayed out in the hind end Sunday but that's gone now.  Now I know you will say VET TRIP but for a cat that isn't ours a $600.00 vet visit isn't in the budget so I'm doing the best I can with what I have on hand.  I'm kind of looking for thoughts or ideas of anything else that could cause his condition (the obvious imbalance).  I see No head trauma.  No blood, scars, wounds or otherwise.  Just the way he can't straighten out his head (it always looks like he is tilting his head and the fact that his face looks off center, if you will)  He just won't let us near his head to clean his face.  He is intact so we WILL have him fixed one way or another when the Neuter Scooter comes our way.  Shockingly enough he has no ticks or fleas.  I plan on getting a wormer this week.

Any thoughts aside from blunt force trauma that could be causing these symptoms would be VERY appreciated...

Thanks in advance.

From what you describe, other than the discharge, it really sounds like he's had a stroke.  The tilted head,the balance issues, the eyes (I'm thinking one pupil is dilated, one is not from your description).  Could the discharge just be from a URI? 

When he walks, does he walk in circles?  That's another sign of a stroke. 

Aren't you a sweetie for taking care of this poor ole' guy.  Wonder how old he is? 

I hadn't thought of a stroke... regarding the eye that I think is blind, I can't tell if the pupil is dilated or not.  The reason I say he may be blind is because he can only open it about halfway.  We managed to get him to wipe his eyes off himself by letting him rub and cheekmark against a warm damp rag so it's not remaining closed because of a goopy eye it just looks deformed until he brushes it against it and I can see that it WILL open fully with help.  He is not walking in circles so much as he is bumping into things and leaning against the wall occasionally as he tries to navigate.  He is also not doing any jumping on the bed like a normal cat would which shocks me.  I'm guessing he is in the 4 - 6 year range.  He's definitely full grown but not looking at all older.  The stroke is definitely possible.  If he was hit by a car in the head, internal bleeding could have caused a clot as he lay there on the side of the road and broke loose after the fact.  It's times like this I wish I was made of money so I could vet trip this boy to see what is going on and get him the help he needs.  I am going to try to get a picture of his upper body so you can see the tilt of the head and what his little face looks like.  He's so pitiful and just wants attention and love, my heart breaks for him.

The goopy eye could be because it has been scratched somehow.  I just had to take my cat in to the vet because he had an eye that wouldn't open and was all goopy.  He could open it if he wanted to but held it shut most of the time.  The vet said it was an eye ulcer (from being scratched somehow) and gave him a shot.  It was better in two days but I don't know if it would have gotten better without treatment.  Is that a picture of you with the guy from "my cat from hell"?

It is my husband, me and Jackson.  That is the sweetest most humble, genuine person I've ever met.  If you ever get the chance as he is touring I highly suggest going to hear him speak!

I have some eye meds here that may help him, we always seem to have strays with eye issues.  If he will let me, I'll try to administer them.

One last detail, he breathes like he has a stuffed up nose... not surprising, but I wanted to throw that out there.

That is very cool that you met him.  The only other thought I have regarding the cat is that maybe you should continue to keep him confined to a fairly small area (even though he doesn't like it).  I worked with someone who had a dog that had been hit by a car and his pelvis (?) was damaged.  The vet said to limit his movement as much as possible and it should heal.  This seemed to work and the dog is fine although he doesn't move as well as he did before.  Good luck!

I will keep him inside for as long as it takes, no matter how he hates it... that much I can promise him.  All signs look good for the little boy (eating, drinking, using litter box, etc..)  I just want to see some weight on him.  But either way, if he is this unsteady due to head trauma or whatever is causing it, he can never be an outside cat, he wouldn't last a day out there.  We have some pretty tough cats who would love to tear him to shreds just over territory and while I know it's nature, I just can't let that happen.

They are phone pics but you'll get an idea of how messed up this cats head, face and eyes look.  The second pic will show you how his head is always tilted and the way he is in a permanent lean...

I would call around to local vets and see if you can find one that is low cost.  Your vet may know of one or you can possibly call a shelter or rescue group and ask who they use.  The guy really does need to see a vet. 
 

I've checked with the shelter, cheapest office visit around will be $60.00, they won't treat without shots, $120.00 and then comes the bloodwork... and the x-rays... I know he NEEDS to go, but I just don't have the $600 I know it will add up to.  I'm doing the best I can for him... medicating, cleaning, food, shelter, 24 hour care.  If I can come up with the cash I'll take him, but the vets in our rural area don't do much haggling, too many people don't pay as it is... there is no money in our area

Have you searched for any shelters near you? Especially No Kill shelters? Not to release him to a shelter, but perhaps a place that would consider bringing you on as an official foster family, so that the vet expenses could then be run through their program? :dk:

First off, I want to apologize to StephanieTX for coming off as nasty, rude, and snippy.  I reread my response and if I was her I'd be giving me an earful.  She didn't deserve the jumping I felt I gave her so I sincerely apologize.

Now then LDG... that is certainly not something I had thought of or ever even heard of, it's a great idea and I will look into it to see if that option is available.  Even if it's not at least I tried, so I thank you for the idea...

BTW... regardless of the outcome, we have named him Toby.

You might want to see post #7 in this thread:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/258441/financial-assistance-for-vet-care

There are organizations that provide funds for this type of situation. You're going to need researchers!

Also - it's heartwarming to read your account of Toby's story.....so very good on you!

I just read that article LOL!  It has some great advice, thanks

I can't seem to turn my back on an ailing animal, thank God I have an understanding husband!