Our family addition ~

June 29, I was visiting my daughter when hubby text me, asking I bring home kitten food, litter box & litter! At 9:45 pm my grandson & I zipped to the store before it closed! 

Once home, I found hubby (despite cat allergies!) with a black kitten in his lap. It's paw was badly injured. He said, our neighbor had been trying to coax a cat out from under her car. He had gone downstairs to grill dinner; the cat came out and gimped across the lane right to him! 

While hubby prepared his food and litter box; I prepared for a long first night! Hubby and our grandson chose the name Dodge. 

The next day, we went to the vet. Dodge had a fever from infection—paw too swollen for a clear x-ray-he got a antibiotic injection and one of pain meds. I have to soak it 3 times a day. She said he is about 6 to 8 months old. We returned July 3rd for an x-ray; luckily nothing is broken. You can see the injury. The trap de-clawed him as he is missing his 2nd 3rd & 4th claws. His paw-pad (the padded part on the bottom) is literally separated about halfway down from the rest of his paw. How horrible this is for this poor kitten. 

Abby, Dodge's K-9 sister, is great at sharing her space. She loves getting nibbles of his food.

Hubby may be starting a sinus-infection. I hope it's not from Dodge. 

I know the basics: food, water, litter box and love. I've been questioning everything......dry or wet food......how many times a day.

All suggestions, recommendations, guidelines, etc. are welcome! Meanwhile, I'll be reading all I can on your forum.

What kind of trap declawed him?  You may need to report whoever it is setting traps.

6-8 months old and healing from an injury, I'd say let hi eat however much he wants.  I prefer wet food over dry food.  I'm assuming the paw is wrapped? 

Welcome!

Poor guy! I totally agree about reporting the traps - even if the traps are well-meaning like for TNR purposes, there is no reason to be using faulty traps or traps of that nature if they're causing stuff like that to happen.

You can feed him both wet and dry (but a lot of of us will generally suggest wet over dry), but like @peaches08 said, a young kitten with an injury I would hesitate to limit food on. Since his paws are tender, you may want to observe his litter box behaviour. Some litters can be rough on the paws if they have a large or gritty texture and cause discomfort, potentially resulting to inappropriate litter habits.

Some antihistamines like Benadryl or Reactine or something might be nice for your kind-hearted husband too.

Hi @braysnaner   and welcome 

Kudos for taking in this little one and fixing him up.

None of us have allergies but l've read that a good brushing every day, and a rub-down with a moist towel can reduce the allergens.

Good luck 

Ah!  I should have added that Zyrtec works for me.

I think there is a special place in heaven for people who rescue animals!  Good for you!!!

We were told years ago... ppl with cat allergies will eventually adjust to their cat(s). Took my husband a little over 3 months. Not sure if it is true for everyone.

Thank you for the welcome & suggestions.

Hubby thinks Dodge may have gotten into a rat trap.  We live on the edge of a town.  There's no farm area/no place for trapping or hunting.  There are houses up and down on both sides of the road.

I am using a name-brand wet food.  Peaches08, I took your advice and wet food is now available all the time. I do not think he is drinking much water.   How can I tell?

The litter is "Yesterday's News" --- paper pellets and softer than clumping type.  

We gave him regular milk for a while after he arrived.  Someone told us cats are allergic to it.  So I stopped.   My nana put milk out for the neighborhood cats.  Things sure do change!   We got a kitten milk supplement but he dislikes it.

I could kick myself in the rear.  I was so uneducated when I went to the vet.   My heart was wide open looking for someone to help him.  Tomorrow, I am finding a vet for a second opinion.

The vet didn't seem confident in what she was doing.  Yes, she looked at his paw, by putting it in her hand and looking.  Same thing we do!  She didn't use a light or go in for a close-up look.  

She offered injections of antibiotic and pain meds; told me to soak it 3 times a day; and  gave pain meds for home.   I explained how the pad was separated.   She lifted his paw looked at it and went on giving the injections.   Don't you think they should have cleaned it out?   She didn't!?!?   And no, it isn't wrapped either.  Which I can see not wrapping it since that would hold the dirt/germs in.

Overall, I am irritated.  This poor thing is suffering and I have to rely on someone else to fix him!  The pad area has a discharge from infection.  I can't bear to think of cleaning it out under there without sedation.  

I hope I didn't take on more than I can handle here.   

Hi;

I can't find the first post on this or maybe I am missing something here?

Your cat hurt his paw? Rat trap maybe? How is he doing now? What is going on with the paw?

I would look for a different vet- this one does not seem like the right one at all. Keep us posted on what the second vet says. Though sometimes vets won't wrap cut paws for variety of reasons. Certainly need to keep it cleaned!

Thank you for taking in the cutie- I am sure Dodge is grateful that your husband found him!

Hello Quiet ~~ Here is the link to my first post.  Hopefully, I did this right and it works!

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/281685/our-family-addition

Just a note that I have combined the two threads so it is easier to follow.

Don't beat yourself up, you've already helped this cat just by taking him in your home.  And a second opinion is never a bad idea.  My guess is he needs anesthesia and debridement (cleaning the area which is PAINFUL without anesthesia).  Then he will come home with a wrapped paw for sure. 

As far as moisture, you can add water to the canned if you'd like just to ensure he's getting enough moisture.  Many cats don't drink much water if at all when on an all wet diet.  But you would not be in the wrong to add a tablespoon or 2 of water to canned to be sure.  If not, my guess is the cat is still fine as far as dehydration.  If his mouth is slick/water-like spit, you're good.  If it's sticky, he's dehydrated.

Poor little boo!!! I hope he feels better soon!!!  

Welcome to you and your little Dodge!

Cats in the wild do not eat near where they drink because it can contaminate their water source. Try moving his water to a different area or even just to the opposite side of the room. Let us know if this encourages him to drink more!

It is hard to keep a cat's injury covered in general. They continuously groom themselves and will most likely just chew it off. I wouldn't worry too much about keeping it wrapped, just make sure it stays clean. 

Best of luck new cat mommy!