how do you spot cat mange?

Kieka said:

Look like a healing fight wound to me. Either of the others should be more red and swollen looking. That looks like good skin where the fur fell off with a scab.

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AmandaG said:

 
Outdoor cats get in some pretty scary fights, very common. I'm sure he already is but make sure he was tested and vaccinated for FeLV/FIV, since he is outside. These are both spread during fights, FeLV more easily than FIV.  I just lost my baby to FeLV and it is a terrible disease. (he had it when we took him in as a kitten)  Also mange and scabies love to get right in front of the ears on a cat and its more uncommon in a healthy cat. Just wash your hands really well and keep an eye on him for excessive itching and irritated red skin and more hair loss.

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Kieka said:

 
Outdoor cats get into a lot of fights, especially unneutered males. It is best to keep up with their annual vaccines and get them neutered which will help decrease the fighting for mates and help protect against disease that can passed in fights. Neutered males still do fight but more so over territory and home instead of running after females (essentially they fight half as much if neutered and some rarely will fight at all, but that depends on the cats personality). Many of those wounds will heal up on their own but it is a good idea to keep an eye out for wounds that aren't healing, grow in size or have puss, redness or swelling as a vet visit for surgery/antibiotics may be needed.

I know money is an issue and it is your Moms cat. Most areas have a rescue, humane society or a vet who offers shot clinics; usually you can get all the annual shots and/or boosters at these for under $50 a year (sometimes just $15 depending on which shots are needed that year, mine does a flea treatment at the same time for $20). I usually show up at least 30 minutes before doors open to line up and sometimes they start early. A neuter, if needed, runs around $45 at my local rescue group and for males it is a quick surgery with little recovery time. I should point out that my rescue does require a rabies shot in order to do the neuter but if you check their site they have a coupon to add it on for only $5. If you call the rescues and ask about costs they may be able to help you out or point you in the right direction for financial assistance. 

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terestrife said:

 
thank you! i will call around and see what i can do. is there any point neutering just him? will the other cats know he is fixed and hurt him? i cant afford to fix all the cats in the neighborhood, dont have money, or even a car for the past two weeks.

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Kieka said:

 
There is a point in just neutering him if your Mom enjoys him that much. My neighbor feeds outdoor cats and usually around 2 years old the males will start to follow females more frequently if they aren't neutered. She has had many males disappear because they go chasing after a female and either end up too far away to come home or they get in a fight they don't recover from.

The other cats won't pick on him or hurt him because he is neutered. It just ends his desire to chase after females. He is still likely to get in territory fights with males who cross in his territory but he won't fight with males for females. It makes it more likely that he will happily live his life near your Mom instead of dying in his searching for his next female. 

While it would be wonderful to be able to help all the cats in your neighborhood I do know the financial limitations. When you talk to the rescues you can ask if they have a TNR program and volunteer to help out. You could turn him into your first trap and maybe get him neutered for free as part of their TNR program. Volunteering for a TNR program would help all the neighborhood cats at no cost to you other than your time. Plus, if you are job hunting it helps you network and you may be able to find a job with the rescue somewhere or someone at the rescue knows of an opportunity. 

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