Is there anything I can do for this tom?

doraaq · Apr 23, 2016

I have been feeding a tom cat for a while, he comes and goes, and he showed up the other day looking emaciated. I don't think it's worms, because he wasn't very interested in food - he ate a little and wandered off. I noticed a couple of months ago he'd been in a fight and had a big wound on his side, which healed and he was a very healthy w. He is lovely but refuses any physical contact - if I reach my hand out gently, he bites/scratches/runs away, so I won't be able to get him to a vet.I live in the Middle East, with four rescue cats (one pregnant) - and there are dozens of cats around my neighbourhood. They're well fed by myself and several neighbours. There is one shelter in my city but it's a kill shelter and for numerous reasons I would never take an animal there. There's no trap programme here so that's not an option. I could put medication with his food, is there any medication I could try? I can't stand to watch him waste away.

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doraaq
Apr 23, 2016

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Apr 23, 2016

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Apr 23, 2016

catsknowme · Apr 23, 2016

Hello from California and blessings to you for caring for that poor, skinny cat!

You might consider feeding him some coconut oil (it has healing properties) and also look into using a homeopathic/holistic vet online for advice on using herbs. I have used slippery elm and marshmallow root teas for their soothing and healing properties (and in my experience are gentle on the kidneys and bladder) but there are other herbs that are often used by others. He definitely looks "tired" - does he have a safe, comfortable place to rest, such as a box with a comfortable nest inside?

You can also try adding egg yolks to his diet, but not egg white, especially raw egg white, because the albumin is harder on cats' systems than on ours. It's a good idea to give him a little unflavored Pedialyte (there is a good recipe on www.kitten-rescue.com).

If you are feeding a dry kibble, try soaking it first because it will be much easier on his urinary system. The drying of the kibble is to prevent spoilage while keeping costs down which is good for all except the cat, especially older cats and those with weak kidneys. Also, corn and wheat are harder to digest, although those ingredients also keep costs down. I know that feeding ferals is a challenge, especially financially and I applaud the efforts of your neighbors and you. Having people like you in this world are the answers to my prayers!

Thank you for posting the pictures and I hope to see more of them (especially of improvements) soon! Take Care, Susan

di and bob · Apr 23, 2016

If he's like my old tom, he most likely had an abscess which drained and is healing. But that doesn't mean he doesn't still have infection present from the wound. My tom gets very thin too, I think there is a lot of pain involved. It wouldn't hurt at all to get him on an antibiotic if at all possible. I get one from my vet that is over the counter, usually Amoxicillin which comes as a powder and you mix in water. I've seen it on PetMeds and possibly Amazon on the internet too. It's less then 10.00 and on the bottle says cats need to be dosed once daily, which is good because I'm lucky to see him that much. The vet recommends twice daily, so if you can, great. I put it in a small amount of tuna juice which I keep in the fridge to get more then one serving out of a can. He has never refused it. The main trouble is keeping the other cats away while he is drinking, so you have to be present to make sure it is him that gets it. Anything 'stinky' will hide the taste and smell. All the luck!

Norachan · Apr 23, 2016

Oh, poor skinny guy!

Feral tom cats are often FIV+. This is a disease they catch from other toms when they get bitten. It leaves them prone to gum infections, so many infected cats have swollen, painful gums and missing teeth.

Try him on some very soft food. Mix his usually meat or fish with a little water and put it through a blender so he can eat it without having to chew.

Really the best thing for him would be to see a vet, but I understand this is not always possible.

Thank you for caring for him.

doraaq · Apr 23, 2016

Thanks so much Di and Bob for your advice - I just got some amoxicillin from the pharmacy (it's available over the counter here). Actually, the pharmacist said she gives it to her cat sometimes. She told me she gives her cat one capsule of powder a day - but each capsule is 500mg and that seems like a lot. Would you happen to know what dosage you used?

doraaq · Apr 23, 2016

Norachan said:
Oh, poor skinny guy!

Feral tom cats are often FIV+. This is a disease they catch from other toms when they get bitten. It leaves them prone to gum infections, so many infected cats have swollen, painful gums and missing teeth.

Try him on some very soft food. Mix his usually meat or fish with a little water and put it through a blender so he can eat it without having to chew.

Really the best thing for him would be to see a vet, but I understand this is not always possible.

Thank you for caring for him.

Thanks Norachan - I just tried him with some scrambled eggs, and I've tried goat's milk yoghurt - he eats a little, but not much. If I manage to tame him enough, I'll bring a vet to see him - although I've been trying to stroke him for months with no luck!

I'm really hoping it's not FIV+.

doraaq · Apr 23, 2016

catsknowme said:
Hello from California and blessings to you for caring for that poor, skinny cat!

You might consider feeding him some coconut oil (it has healing properties) and also look into using a homeopathic/holistic vet online for advice on using herbs. I have used slippery elm and marshmallow root teas for their soothing and healing properties (and in my experience are gentle on the kidneys and bladder) but there are other herbs that are often used by others. He definitely looks "tired" - does he have a safe, comfortable place to rest, such as a box with a comfortable nest inside?

You can also try adding egg yolks to his diet, but not egg white, especially raw egg white, because the albumin is harder on cats' systems than on ours. It's a good idea to give him a little unflavored Pedialyte (there is a good recipe on www.kitten-rescue.com).

If you are feeding a dry kibble, try soaking it first because it will be much easier on his urinary system. The drying of the kibble is to prevent spoilage while keeping costs down which is good for all except the cat, especially older cats and those with weak kidneys. Also, corn and wheat are harder to digest, although those ingredients also keep costs down. I know that feeding ferals is a challenge, especially financially and I applaud the efforts of your neighbors and you. Having people like you in this world are the answers to my prayers!

Thank you for posting the pictures and I hope to see more of them (especially of improvements) soon! Take Care, Susan

Hello catsknowme - thanks for these tips, I hadn't actually considered homeopathic treatment - but I could certainly get some coconut oil. I'll look up the herbs too. I've been offering him wet and dry food, and goats milk yoghurt and scrambled eggs - although I'll take the egg white out from now on. I didn't realise they don't like albumin.

He seems very tired and lethargic, although it is also very hot here. He has a lot of places to sleep but he currently favours a blanket under a chair, in the shade. The cats around here are very well cared for - many people leave trays of meat out, and bowls of fish out for them. We try to get the friendlier cats spayed/neutered, but the others are just impossible to catch.

Hopefully I can send you more pictures soon, with him looking a bit healthier.

StefanZ · Apr 23, 2016

DoraAQ said:
Hello catsknowme - thanks for these tips, I hadn't actually considered homeopathic treatment - but I could certainly get some coconut oil. I'll look up the herbs too. I've been offering him wet and dry food, and goats milk yoghurt and scrambled eggs - although I'll take the egg white out from now on. I didn't realise they don't like albumin.

He seems very tired and lethargic, although it is also very hot here. He has a lot of places to sleep but he currently favours a blanket under a chair, in the shade. The cats around here are very well cared for - many people leave trays of meat out, and bowls of fish out for them. We try to get the friendlier cats spayed/neutered, but the others are just impossible to catch.

Hopefully I can send you more pictures soon, with him looking a bit healthier.

You can also give goat milk, its OK for cats. If you can find raw goat milk its even better. Veyr healthy and not seldom used as such as remedica for cat animals.

Egg white from scrambled eggs is Ok, its the raw egg white which isnt good in the long run.

I understand you do the easy and neuter the friendlier whom are easier to get hold on. But the result is, these friendlier are taken out from the "breeding programme", its just the most shy and most aggressive whom are left in the "breeding programme".

Try and organize some system of catching them shy / aggressive in traps, that isnt that difficult once you get the catch how to do it practically. Such a cat tends to be aggressive immediately after the catching, so dont try to handle it then. Lay a blanket on the trap, so its like a hidey hole, and let it cool down... Later on if necessary, wrap the cat in a thick towel or small blanket. Immobilized they tend to give up. And or lay something over their eyes. Compare with the birds of prey whom are trained. They almost always have hoods. Why, there are even especial eye masks for cats. I saw once my own vet had it.

All that said. Im a little worried, Im. If a succesfull semiferale, whom does gets good food and necessary shelter, rather suddenly gets thin, its not a good sign.

Hopefully you can find some improvement, it may be such an abscess mentioned earlier.

If not, its just to give him as good last time as there is to give.

If he survives, he may even become fully tame. Its not unusual with severly sick cats whom seeks and gets help.

The Window of easy socialization opens up again.

doraaq · Apr 23, 2016

StefanZ said:
You can also give goat milk, its OK for cats. If you can find raw goat milk its even better. Veyr healthy and not seldom used as such as remedica for cat animals.

Egg white from scrambled eggs is Ok, its the raw egg white which isnt good in the long run.

I understand you do the easy and neuter the friendlier whom are easier to get hold on. But the result is, these friendlier are taken out from the "breeding programme", its just the most shy and most aggressive whom are left in the "breeding programme".

Try and organize some system of catching them shy / aggressive in traps, that isnt that difficult once you get the catch how to do it practically. Such a cat tends to be aggressive immediately after the catching, so dont try to handle it then. Lay a blanket on the trap, so its like a hidey hole, and let it cool down... Later on if necessary, wrap the cat in a thick towel or small blanket. Immobilized they tend to give up. And or lay something over their eyes. Compare with the birds of prey whom are trained. They almost always have hoods. Why, there are even especial eye masks for cats. I saw once my own vet had it.

All that said. Im a little worried, Im. If a succesfull semiferale, whom does gets good food and necessary shelter, rather suddenly gets thin, its not a good sign.

Hopefully you can find some improvement, it may be such an abscess mentioned earlier.

If not, its just to give him as good last time as there is to give.

If he survives, he may even become fully tame. Its not unusual with severly sick cats whom seeks and gets help.

The Window of easy socialization opens up again.

Thanks for your message StefanZ - actually raw goats milk is easy to get here, so I'll try him with that.

He did get very thin very quickly - hopefully antibiotics and the foods suggested here will help. I did notice that since he's been sick, he's been willing to let me be closer to him, and will come and lie near me. So perhaps we'll see a breakthrough in his socialisation!

I totally agree spaying the friendlier cats is not a solution - there are a couple of super-aggressive cats here, perhaps as a result of this. Unfortunately there are literally dozens of cats who live in my street alone, and it's not possible financially for me to spay/neuter all of them, even if I could catch them. I'm in the Middle East and I've no idea where to get hold of a trap here, and I don't know of any vets who treat feral animals. There's an urgent need for a decent animal shelter and a TNR programme here. The only shelter in the city has a terrible reputation, the animals are left alone from mid afternoon until the next morning, and I know from a vet who used to work there that it's actually a kill shelter (although the shelter says it is not). So for now, the cats are better off here, where they're fed, given medical treatment where necessary/possible, and provided shelter in bad weather.

Norachan · Apr 23, 2016

DoraAQ said:
Thanks Norachan - I just tried him with some scrambled eggs, and I've tried goat's milk yoghurt - he eats a little, but not much. If I manage to tame him enough, I'll bring a vet to see him - although I've been trying to stroke him for months with no luck!

I'm really hoping it's not FIV+.

FIV+ isn't a death sentence. It leaves them more prone to gum infections and other ailments, but there is no reason they can't live a long, healthy life. You just have to nip any potential health problems in the bud. If ever you manage to get close enough to pet him regular flea and worm treatments do them a lot of good. Other supplements and medications that can be added to their food help too.

fairycatmom · Apr 23, 2016

You're so great for taking care of all of them. The website Petcarerx says that the recommended dose is 5-10 mg per pound every 12-24 hours. Hope he feels better soon.

msaimee · Apr 23, 2016

Once an FIV cat starts getting gum and tooth infections, the FIV is in an advanced state and the cat will have a lot of pain. It's also difficult to get antibiotics in a cat with mouth infections because they stop eating. Another problem is that the infected feral cat can spread the illness to many other cats. I truly hope and pray your Tom doesn't have FIV, but if you get him to a vet and he tests positive for it, the most humane thing to do would be to euthanize unless you can keep him in your home away from other cats. Sadly, I know this from personal and heartbreaking experience.

It's also possible he has parasites. Can you get a de-wormer over the counter or from your vet? If you put the dewormer in his food and also give him the antibiotics, that would cover your bases.

Antibiotic dose is based partly on cat weight. It's 5-10 mg per pound once or twice a day. For a 10 lb cat that would be 50-100 mg once or twice a day. 500 mg is way too high and will give him diarrhea.

Bless you for caring for this cat.

doraaq · Apr 24, 2016

MsAimee said:
Once an FIV cat starts getting gum and tooth infections, the FIV is in an advanced state and the cat will have a lot of pain. It's also difficult to get antibiotics in a cat with mouth infections because they stop eating. Another problem is that the infected feral cat can spread the illness to many other cats. I truly hope and pray your Tom doesn't have FIV, but if you get him to a vet and he tests positive for it, the most humane thing to do would be to euthanize unless you can keep him in your home away from other cats. Sadly, I know this from personal and heartbreaking experience.

It's also possible he has parasites. Can you get a de-wormer over the counter or from your vet? If you put the dewormer in his food and also give him the antibiotics, that would cover your bases.

Antibiotic dose is based partly on cat weight. It's 5-10 mg per pound once or twice a day. For a 10 lb cat that would be 50-100 mg once or twice a day. 500 mg is way too high and will give him diarrhea.

Bless you for caring for this cat.

Thanks MsAimee - I'm sorry you have personal experience of this.

I gave him a does of antibiotics dissolved in goats milk and he drank it - he hasn't stopped eating but he only eats a little of what I give him. He sits and looks at the food sometimes, which makes me think he wants to eat it but he can't because of a mouth/gum infection. I use revolution on my other cats but I can give him an over the counter dewormer instead as I can't get close enough to put the revolution on him.

I live in a small flat with four other cats, one of whom is pregnant, so it's not possible to keep him isolated indoors. I'm hoping he will become manageable enough to get him in a box so a vet can see him.

doraaq · Apr 24, 2016

FairyCatMom said:
You're so great for taking care of all of them. The website Petcarerx says that the recommended dose is 5-10 mg per pound every 12-24 hours. Hope he feels better soon.

Thanks FairyCatMom - I googled and couldn't find anything so thanks for that!

msaimee · Apr 24, 2016

That is very hopeful that you got the antibiotics in him. If you can get more in him the next few days, he will feel better if it's an infection. Antibiotics should be given for at least 7-10 days or the infection won't clear completely.

Is there someone who could help you catch him? Do you have a pet carrier? Does he let you sit near him? You could place the carrier vertical (opening side on top) and have it near you and the cat. Throw a blanket over him and scoop and drop him into the carrier. It's better if someone helps you, but if he doesn't allow anyone else near him, you have to do it alone. You'll only get one shot at this-so wait to see whether or not he improves with the antibiotics. If he gets sicker, he will allow you to catch him. If he starts to drool and stops eating, you need to try to catch him. Good luck.

doraaq · Apr 24, 2016

MsAimee said:
That is very hopeful that you got the antibiotics in him. If you can get more in him the next few days, he will feel better if it's an infection. Antibiotics should be given for at least 7-10 days or the infection won't clear completely.

Is there someone who could help you catch him? Do you have a pet carrier? Does he let you sit near him? You could place the carrier vertical (opening side on top) and have it near you and the cat. Throw a blanket over him and scoop and drop him into the carrier. It's better if someone helps you, but if he doesn't allow anyone else near him, you have to do it alone. You'll only get one shot at this-so wait to see whether or not he improves with the antibiotics. If he gets sicker, he will allow you to catch him. If he starts to drool and stops eating, you need to try to catch him. Good luck.

Thanks MsAimee - I'll try with the antibiotics for 10 days, and hopefully he'll improve. If not, I'll put on some protective clothing and go in for a catch! He lets me sit near him - as long as it's a couple of feet away, he's very calm and even follows me around, but as soon as I move a hand close to him, he runs. But I should be able to get him with a blanket.

Is there anything I can do for this tom?

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