help! Abscess on Beautiful

roguethecat

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Beautiful is a feral living in my yard. Last night I noticed an abscess behind her left ear, scratched and oozing a bit but not popped. There is of course no way to handle her... she sleeps in a posh shelter at night and trusts me enough to stay there when I put food in front of it. I've been tempted to trap her in there, which would certainly traumatize her enough never to use it again. Conventional trap isn't an option as there are at least five ferals and some strays around who come and go (every single one fixed). So I'm thinking of organizing a drop trap. But I'm also thinking of ways of how to spare her the experience if possible.

Does anyone out there have experience with abscesses on feral cats? Do they heal themselves? Google says ferals don't have good immune systems because they don't have good food, which isn't true in Beautiful's case who's probably one of the few feral cats who get omega 3 oil regularly.

I'll try to get a picture here so you can see how bad it is.

Meanwhile, I'll go on worrying...
 

di and bob

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My feral gets an abscess at least once a year, he tries to keep other cats away and fights. When I see he has one I call my vet, tell them it is a feral that I'm feeding and that there is no way he could be brought in, it would traumatize him too much, then I ask them for an over the counter antibiotic (usually around 10.00) Since he shows up at the same time every day to eat, that's when I give it to him. I started using tuna to mask the taste and smell, and he eats it right up. The only problem I've run into is keeping the other cats away from the tuna! Call your vet and ask for an antibiotic, which are sometimes on sale too along with healing salves at places like Orschelns or Tractor Supply, or any other farm supply center. All the luck!
 
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roguethecat

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My feral gets an abscess at least once a year, he tries to keep other cats away and fights. When I see he has one I call my vet, tell them it is a feral that I'm feeding and that there is no way he could be brought in, it would traumatize him too much, then I ask them for an over the counter antibiotic (usually around 10.00) Since he shows up at the same time every day to eat, that's when I give it to him. I started using tuna to mask the taste and smell, and he eats it right up. The only problem I've run into is keeping the other cats away from the tuna! Call your vet and ask for an antibiotic, which are sometimes on sale too along with healing salves at places like Orschelns or Tractor Supply, or any other farm supply center. All the luck!
great tip, I'll try that! Beautiful is pretty much at the bottom of the feeding order and rarely shows up on her own, so probably everyone will get a dose
 
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roguethecat

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just called the vet. They can't prescribe anything for a cat they haven't seen. I told them it's a feral, not a pet, but they insisted it would be against the law.

 

detmut

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My feral gets an abscess at least once a year, he tries to keep other cats away and fights. When I see he has one I call my vet, tell them it is a feral that I'm feeding and that there is no way he could be brought in, it would traumatize him too much, then I ask them for an over the counter antibiotic (usually around 10.00) Since he shows up at the same time every day to eat, that's when I give it to him. I started using tuna to mask the taste and smell, and he eats it right up. The only problem I've run into is keeping the other cats away from the tuna! Call your vet and ask for an antibiotic, which are sometimes on sale too along with healing salves at places like Orschelns or Tractor Supply, or any other farm supply center. All the luck!
what does the vet usually prescribe?
 
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roguethecat

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ok, my research says I can get Fish Mox without prescription. Will have to order that though because the pet stores around here seem not to carry it 
 

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Could you call a local shelter or rescue group and see if their vet would prescribe for you? They should have a better understanding of the situation and be more open to not going by the book.
 
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roguethecat

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Could you call a local shelter or rescue group and see if their vet would prescribe for you? They should have a better understanding of the situation and be more open to not going by the book.
I did try my local rescue contact (she hasn't replied yet). Anyway I've ordered Fish Flex which apparently is the best for skin and wound infections  and reasoned that I could spring for fast shipping since I didn't get anything expensive from the vet


Beautiful (and myself) for sure are super glad not to have to go the traumatic drop trap route.
 

di and bob

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I'm sorry I don't remember the name of it, I know it is pink! And you have to mix it with water, it starts out as a powder.
 
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