URGENT, competent help needed for injured feral cat

Usually I avoid even looking at a cat who, let's say is in the front yard of another house; reason - they will follow me. For some reason I do connect with most, almost ALL cats I encounter. But I met one that is something of a mystery: I tried to get close for a long time but I have no success at all. After almost an entire year of trying everything, he still hisses at me even when I hand him food. He does not have rabies, (drinking water, relative normal, calm behavior) but would not interact with me or anyone else. My interpretation: he either NEVER had a human companion at all or was very hurt. Badly hurt.

The urgent problem: a few days ago he showed up like usually after a couple of days of absence, and it is clear he is pain due to a broken right-front paw.

He limps along holding his injured paw in the air, he eats what I give him and after a while leaves.

A little better news: last two times he didn't hiss at me, but still can't even touch him.

I can't just sit and watch this guy - I named him O'Malley - suffer and I do not trust animal control in this kind of intervention.

I need to somehow, HUMANELLY capture him to get him to a vet, without risking more injury to himself.

I did have broken bones and I know what it looks like and more importantly: how it feels. And I had cats all my life (now I have 6 of my own, all rescues) to know how to interact with all kinds.

But O'Malley is like I have never seen and he needs help urgently. Please, if someone know how, let me know ASAP what to do.

So far I tried to follow and figure out his regular hiding place, but to no result. And I can't make him stay around my house.

Please, anyone, O'Malley ( and I ) need help URGENTLY. The odds for a feral cat with broken paws are...slim at the best.

Thank you all for reading and please contact me with any and all viable suggestions.

Frank

Thanks for trying to help O'Malley. If he can't put any weight on that paw, you are right that it is most likely broken and needs vet attention. Since you cannot approach him, you need a trap. You can usually borrow one from the humane society or cat rescues. Some may even offer assistance in terms of helping you trap and referring you to low cost vets that help ferals.

Thank you, all ideeas are wellcome. My main concern is about additional injuries while in the trap...allthough I do not agree with sedating animals, in general, I was wonderring - given this extreme situation - if that would be something to consider, and how. As an aditional step to trapping him.
Thank you again
Frank

Thank you for your concern and trying to help a helpless animal.
Sometimes sedating medicine has the opposite effect so I'd be cautious about using them.
If he can't put ANY weight on it--even when eating--then I do think his paw may be broken. The other possibility is the actual soft part of the paw got injured, cut. It might heal on its own, it might become infected.
On the other hand, if he can put some weight on it, he may have sprained something, in which case it will heal on its own.
In either case, I would try trapping O'Malley. I find throwing a blanket over the trap as soon as I trap the cat almost always calms them.
And while O'Malley may not like being in the trap, he'll like a whole lot better feeling better.
(PS: If you do trap him and he does have a broken paw, he'll likely need some recuperation time. Do you have the space to do that?)

You can purchase a humane trap at a Tractor Supply store for around $20, and I agree this would be the best course of action. A cat immediately panics when trapped, but when you put a blanket or towel over the trap, they do calm down. If you only put the trap out when he normally comes around to eat and you keep watch so you can immediately cover the trap and transport him to a vet, then he should be fine (this is how I trap cats--I never leave the trap unsupervised). If there is an ER vet nearby you could take him directly there, or to your regular vet if s/he would be willing to see him without an appointment or squeeze him in. The vet can sedate him and examine him, and could prescribe liquid antibiotics you could put in his food (some are tasteless and scentless, which is great for ferals), and possibly pain meds (if you're going to take him into your house). The other thing you could try is to put food inside a carrier and close the door after he goes in (if he lets you get close enough to sit by the carrier). I know how distressing it is to care for a sick or injured feral, and how helpless you feel. I will say a prayer for your cat. I just want to share one word of encouragement, too. I took in a feral who had been shot and had a broken leg that healed on its own. It healed a bit crooked so she has an odd gait, but she managed to survive winter as a feral with it broken, so it is possible.

Good advice from the others here.

Trap with tuna, and immediately cover the trap, it calms them down to avoid additional injury.

Keep him in the trap until he sees the vet, this is how they will sedate to examine, with a "fork" they can slip through the wires to get him down to one end and give him a shot.

Thank You so much for your ideeas and advice. I managed to get a couple of pictures where O'Malley' paw is visible:

I hope the "coastal" store is open tomorrow. Thank you. Every little bit helps. I hope I managed to upload a few pictures of O'Malley, he doesn't put his paw down even while eating.

What a big 'ol cute boy!

Yes it's definitely hurting him.

He needs to be neutered badly!  He looks like a real scrapping kinda guy, and can get himself into some big trouble.

Unneutered cats live very high stressful lives, they fight with the intent to kill the other male, which means alot of damage is done by the fighting.

Unneutered causes them to wander distances, get bites that are always going to become infected and abcessed, and hads a great chance of contracting fiv and felv through the bites.

So, while you have him trapped for his paw, you can do this big boy an enormous favor and improve his existance if you will please neuter him too.

Yeah, he does look like he's hurting. Trap/vet time....
Regarding antibiotics: there is a long-acting shot, lasts around two weeks. Not idea, better if you're able to give a cat a daily/2x daily dose of antibiotic, but good for feral cats or cats who are impossible to pill.

I want to add. Now when he is hurt, and you are helping him, and he knows it, the window of fairly easy socialization is opening up again.  If and when you manage to take him in, it should be possible to foster him. NOW.  What would otherwise take long years with an adult ferale, will take perhaps just some months now.  Especielly as he will of course be neutered too.

When you have him inside the trap, and if vet cant take him im immediately, dont panic.  He can be inside 24 hours too, even longer.  Not idealic but OK.  He will also have a chance to calm down, as someone mentioned.

Shy ferales are used to hide in a hole for many hours.

A shy cat whom you bring home, may sit undr your bed even 48 hours, no?  

If the condition as such is deadly, it may be discussed.  He gots help from you. He is sturdy like all survivors.  MsAimee gave a nice example of seemingly deadly wounded ferale who did survived on her own.

But here you will strike at least three flyies in one stroke.  Help with his paw which he needs, help with neutering which he needs, and the extra chance you can perhaps foster him.

Last.   You can perhaps manipulate him into going into a carrier.  After all, he knows he needs help, and he understands you are trying to help him.  He has even ceased with his customary growling.  He Knows.

A trap is best otherwise.

But, if you cant trick him into a carrier, and you dont manage to get a trap, you can perhaps just throw a blanket on him.   wrapped up and blinded, they usually cease to fight.  At least, he cant clave you too easily....

This is the last resort, but it is there if enough desperate.     Much better than catch as catch can and trying to hold be sheer force.  

Good luck!

If he is letting you get that close to him, would it be possible for you to simply pick him up and put him in a carrier? Do you think he could slip out of your grasp with the injured leg? IF you don't think you can grab him, then don't try, because you don't want to damage the trust you have built up so far when he needs you the most. But if you think you could, it would be worth a try.

I agree that socializing an injured feral cat is much easier than a fully healthy one. Even if you don't take him into your home, if you can socialize him during his recuperation to the point of where you can pick him up in the future if needed, it would be great. I know you're conflicted about trying to trap him, but it's clear that he's injured and needs help. Is it possible to put your other cats into a room with the door closed and lure this little guy into your house with a bowl of chicken and broth or tuna? Since he's only moving around on 3 paws, you'd have a chance of catching him while he's inside.  

Yes, the vet will very likely give him an antibiotic shot, it's covenia and ideal for ferals who are unable to be medicated. It has a 2 week life and will help heal as well as keep away any infection.

He may have an upper respiratory infection too, it looks like he has a bit of runny eyes.

VERY common in ferals. The covenia will help this too.

Also what StefanZ mentions is quite true. Somehow even the feralist feral knows when they need help and know when you are helping. This makes for a good time to get better acquainted. Plus they are more accepting of humans when they are injured or sick.

Please use a trap though, if you'd rather not buy one, you can borrow one with a small deposit from feed stores and rescues, also spca and humane societies.

It is always a very handy thing to have though!

Good luck!

Let us know!

Thanks,
He is a tipical "alley cat", but what got me are his eyes...he has such sad eyes. This big boy probably never had a human as friend.

Frank Korosi said:

Thanks,
He is a tipical "alley cat", but what got me are his eyes...he has such sad eyes. This big boy probably never had a human as friend.

Click to expand...

Oh yes, after my own heart! I see the very same

I have a great big soft spot for unfortunate ferals who have never had the chance to know the safety of a home, given a name, the companionship of a human, soft bed to sleep on, a full tummy all the time, and love and pets.

A true sense of belonging in this world rather than lost and alone.

What a sad face he has!   There are people far more qualified than me on here, but I've trapped two ferals in traps, and they do calm down when covered.  I'd definitely make it my first course of action as I wouldn't want to frighten him off by trying to grab him and then he can get the treatment he desperately needs.   I do hope you manage to get him help, he looks such a sweet boy, they really break our hearts don't they? 

May 25th
O'Malley update
I did not post anything because...simply because there where no good news to share. After my attempts to humanelly trap O'Malley, he decided to not show up. I had a few very dificult days, since the longest he missed the dayly visits, was one day. Now, he didn't show up for more than 4 days and that was unprecedented. Just about the time I thought that he didn't survive his injuries, after four days and night of staying awake so I don't miss him in case he came back, just by the time I convinced myself that it was over, one early morning, about five AM or so, my cats who where at the window began to be vocal. When I checked for the reason, he was there. O'Malley, the toughest alley cat I ever saw, was back, and waiting for he's breakfast. As you can see in the picture I attached, he got a portion to make up for what he missed. The best news: he is able to step on the still swollen paw, and he walks much better.
Before he disapeared, I mannaged to add some vitamin C and a few drops of valerian in his food.
Anyway, bottom line - he is back and he is better.
Thanks for all the support, advice and kind words.
This tom cat, deserves his own book...

Thank you for the update. Continued vibes.

Not sure if the trap is new or if you borrowed/rented it, but in case you did just so you know, if the trap was not saturated with a household cleaner like 409 or other then rinsed/hosed off, it will have the smell of fear and adrenaline from the last cat still there, and come hell or high waters, he will not step foot in it.

Just in case it's not new

It also helps to set it up in bushes, where only the front trap door end is exposed. It doesn't look so obvious that it's something strange and scary.

Use tuna, I swear by this over sardines, mackerel, salmon, canned.

Tuna is irresistible!

I am sending you mega trapping vibes.  I know how difficult and frustrating it can be.  I agree that tuna is a winner.  I like to get the kind that is in oil not water.  I dribble some of the juice on the bottom of the newspapers or pee pads.  Then I put just a few flakes all the way to the back where there is a small bowl with some more tuna.  For lining the bottom of the trap, I have used newspapers, but really prefer the puppy pee pads.  I get a 4 pack from Dollar Tree.  They work so well and don't make as much noise as newspapers. 

Good luck and I am hope you are successful.