Stray with bite wound! New moral support / advice

I started feeding "Walter" about 4 years ago when he showed up and joined my other feral one day. I've always been able to pet him, so he did have human contact prior to me. He was neutered/vacinated also approx 4 years ago. Walter does not like being inside. I have had to shut him inside the garage on really cold nights (30 degrees)& he has a lot to say about it. Cries & cries! He doesn't get mean, just loud, panicky & wants back out.
Now the current situation:
Walter appeared to have a broken leg last week. It looked "weird" & he wouldn't walk on it. He disappeared for 2 days & I assumed he couldn't make it back over the fence and would probably die.
He showed back up last sat and now I could see a huge bite wound in his front left leg!!! Not broken just bitten. I promptly lured him into garage & closed the door!
He has been in the garage for over 72 hrs. Each day his crying periods get louder, and longer - he really wants out. His wound seems to be healing VERY well but the reason I'm keeping him I garage is I don't want him to get an absess/infection.
I'm giving him fish mox (amoxicillian) twice a day in his food. He has hiding place with blankets and is happy(ish) when I visit him for food/petting/treats. He's even using the litter box.
Here's where I need some advice/moral support:
1. Does the bite wound appear to be healing? {This photo is 7 days after initial bite injury. Surrounding Skin isn't red. Puncture holes are scanning over. No smell. No visible puss. Leg is much less swollen than day 1 of quarantine.}
2. How long before an abscess would/could form? Ie: when is he "out of the woods"?
3. Any way to ease his anxiety during his quarantine?
4. I'm planning to keep him for 4 more nights, so he will have had 7 days of antibiotics & I can monitor everything. Does this seem too long for him? My fear is, I release him too soon, he will run off for days and I won't be able I give home antibiotic, view the wound, and it will get dirty- risking infection.
Thanks and sorry for the long post- just wanted to provide all relevant info. Thanks

Is it possible for you to get him to a vet? That would be the best course of action. Yes, he won't like it, but a vet could give him a shot of long-lasting antibiotics and clean and treat the wound, if needed. While he's there, you should get him another rabies vaccine. Ask for the rabies shot that lasts 3 years, not 1. If he's in contact with wildlife (such as raccoons) you'll want him vaccinated for rabies. If there's a mobile vet in your area, you could have the vet come to your home to treat him, which would reduce the amount of stress he'd have with a regular vet trip (but may cost more). The wound holes look as though they're still open, so I think there may still be a risk of infection, that would be my concern. Your other option would be to email these photos to your vet to ask for advice.

Thanks Ms Aimee. I know that a vet visit would be ideal but I just just can't afford it. I believe the amoxicillian is doing the same thing that the injection would do. I know the photos look like the holes are open but I can get really close with a flashlight and they are definitely scabbed over. What are the chances an abscess could still form at this point? Day 4 he had clean pink drainage, and by day 7 the scanning formed. No obvious signs of infection thus far and he is now on day 3 of amoxicillian.

To me it looks like he has ALREADY had the abscess, with the hair loss around the area. His leg probably looked 'weird' and he wouldn't walk on it like they all do right before it bursts and drains, it was the swelling that looked different. The 'drainage' is another sign of a draining abscess. I would say you are well on your way to healing, and giving the antibiotic is what's left to do, that's what I do for my ferals I can't bring in. You could call a vet and describe everything and show them the picture, I would bet they could tell you for sure. All the luck!

If you can't afford a vet visit and he's healing, then stick to your plan of keeping him for at least 4 days longer. I think most antibiotics require at least a week, and some 10-14 days to be effective.  Anything less than 7 days isn't going to be effective. If you let him out, will he return twice a day to get the antibiotics in his food? I guess you have to weigh his stress of being confined against the stress of him not returning twice a day for the next 4 days to get the antibiotic. Do you have a vet that you could email the photo to for direction? My vet clinic, which treats ferals, has given me antibiotics when my outdoor feral has been wounded when I've emailed them pics of the injury (I cannot get him to a vet). Even if yours doesn't, they may look at the picture and give you some direction.

Di and Bob said:

 
To me it looks like he has ALREADY had the abscess, with the hair loss around the area. His leg probably looked 'weird' and he wouldn't walk on it like they all do right before it bursts and drains, it was the swelling that looked different. The 'drainage' is another sign of a draining abscess. I would say you are well on your way to healing, and giving the antibiotic is what's left to do, that's what I do for my ferals I can't bring in. You could call a vet and describe everything and show them the picture, I would bet they could tell you for sure. All the luck!

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I completely agree, this has already abcessed, burst and drained, and is nearly healed.

The truth is you can let him go and not continue with the antibiotics and he will do fine, but it's your decision.

Sometimes holding a cat against their will for too long causes more damage with trust, temporarily but still...

It's not red or swollen, it's basically done except for the remaining small scab spot and his fur needs to grow back, which it will soon.

He will continue to clean it himself, no worries about it getting dirty.

I agree the wound looks really good.  Since you can pet him, do you think if needed you could clean the wound if needed? It may not need it now and most cats will keep it meticulously clean.  One of my ferals that I too could pet, had a large wound a few years ago.  It abscessed, burst and drained.  I cleaned the wound 2x each day with soap and water.  He also allowed me to put antibiotic salve on it.  He was a pitiful soul for a few days, but I watched him very closely.  I did not take him to the vet, but would have if I felt he was in danger. 

You can most likely let him out, and still continue to give the medicine when he returns for food. 

Thank you for caring for him and making sure he is receiving the best you can give him. 

OMG THANK YOU everyone!!! I've been so upset day/night about this!! I also thought it was healing fine, but I have no experience w/ bite wounds or abscesses.

The day after he was bit, the fur was not missing and he was not bleeding which is why I thought his leg was broken (not bitten).  He disappeared for 3 days (which must have been when abscess burst). 

Here is photo from sat (first day in quarantine and approx 5 days post-bite):


Looked like dripping clear reddish blood and leg is slightly swollen (blood stains on blanket where he slept that night were light pink. no puss at all)

Here is a photo from Sunday morning (day 2 in quarantine and approx 6 days post-bite):


Looks as though he'd been licking the wound 

Photo from sunday evening 


Fur is now gone and can see visible bite puncture marks - he is walking fine on leg  (started him on anti-biotic)

Photo from monday is in my original post -

No signs of redness/puss/pain - looks like scabs are forming. Appetite is great.

Photo from Tuesday (today)  Still looking good - he's just anxious and wants OUT.



I believe he will come back for food - but there is always a chance he will run off and not return for a while, and I have to consider that as possible and decide if he is doing well enough to risk that. I don't believe the trust will be broken by having him in garage. He is comforted by my presence (purrs/likes to be petted) and I've been feeding him for 4 years.  On the other hand, I've never held him captive this long - so he could run and not return for days due to the trauma of his captivity. 

Should I be cleaning the scab area w/ washcloth? I do have Vetericyn on order and it's coming today. Use that and soap/water? I believe he will let me clean it. I touched the area (w/ clean hands) earlier to make sure it wasn't puffing up w/ pus or anything.

I want to keep him long enough to make sure he's out of the woods and has enough antibiotic in his system. And as long as he will tolerate it and not have a nervous breakdown! He cried incessantly for 3 hours this morning before he finally fell asleep. He is a talker though anyhow, but his cries are EXTRA loud and urgent sounding and he paces back and forth (he can here his bonded feral friend on other side of door and they have conversations) which is not helping! 

You DID say he is neutered correct?

Strange, neutered cats don't normally get bitten.

His wound looks fine, the fur loss happens due to swelling and will come back fine too.

If he cried for 3 hours this am, if it were me I would let him out.

He is clearly stressing out and unhappy, his wound is not in further danger and will not reinfect. It's over now.

On another note.............

Oh how I hate to see outdoor cats who are all white. I have dealt with SO much cancer on white cats in CA, and see you are also here.

The nose is the worst since there's nothing really that can be done, but very commonly it's their ears. 

The tips will start looking dirty, but it doesn't go away.

It progresses from there and will continue to until the tips are removed.

However, this means no more outdoors, or it will return.

Not alot you can do about it, the poor guy is very unhappy inside, so living life outside will have it's drawbacks eventually.

Not all, but as I said, eventually most will get it, and it is very painful, burning, awful.

Just an fyi, for awareness.

Catwoman707,

Hi. Yes, I agree that him being white is not good for outdoor life. He glows in the dark and is constantly in the damaging sun  

He IS neutered. I had him neutered shortly after he showed up at my door, 4 years ago. 

My neighbor said she saw him getting into a disagreement w/ a neighborhood cat (had a collar on) and i don't know why they were fighting.

My other feral (who is VERY bonded to Walter) hardly ever leaves my backyard. Walter; however, likes to wander. I'm not sure where he goes, but i hate it.

With all this good feedback re: his wound healing progress, I am considering releasing him sooner. I just need more MORE feedback before I decide to open that door. 

I just know the stakes are high. I don't want him to get an infection and have to have his leg amputated or something horrific. He can't survive outdoors w/ 3 legs and I know this. 

I wouldn't say the stakes are high, honestly I think the chances of his wound reinfecting are slim to none.

I worry as you do, and I would feel completely safe now to allow him outside.

He's ready

Your decision just the same though! What you feel most comfortable with.

I can't thank you enough for all your support! Walter has between released and is happy to be reunited with his BFF. I had found he was trying to escape through a window that doesn't even open & he was going to get hurt. Because of everyone's reassurancs, I was able to let his free he thanks you too I'm sure!

Yaay for Walter!! Good job!